What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book was more of an experiment. I wondered if I actually sat down and wrote, could I make a full book. I’ve been writing as long as I remember, but nothing book length. So I was interested to see if this story floating around in my head would be the length of a book.
I am actually one of those people that writes down dreams and turns them into stories. I’ve always had very vivid dreams (and nightmares) and my first book was actually two different dreams with the same characters.
How did you come up with the title?
I struggle with titles sometimes. There have even been a few stories I wrote without titles that I would have to sit for hours afterwards thinking of what the title should be. But once you get the title, it is an ah ha moment; and when you get the right one, you just know that is what it should be.
What books have most influenced your life most?
That is a hard one. I have read so many books (even in the last two years alone) and I would say they all influence you somehow. There are good books that make you want to read over again- and I do read some of them over again and try to analyze more of what is draw me into the story. There are some books that do annoying things and I always try to take notes so I don’t fall into the same mistakes when I write. I take a much more analysis mode to my reading- but I still get a few in just for enjoyment sake also!
What book are you reading now?
Gosh- that’s a tough one. I’ve been getting through about a book or two a week, so by the time this interview is posted, I will probably be two more books ahead….. I will say I am looking forward to a few books- Allegiant by Veronica Roth (yes, I am a divergent fan- can’t wait to see how the movie turns out) Origin by Jennifer Armentrout (she is one author that just awes me with all her writing- when does she find time to write so much??!!) and Iniquity by Amy Bartol.
What are your current projects?
Book 3 of the Blue Eyes Trilogy is actually already written and with the editor. We are aiming for a fall release. So that one except for the edits is pretty much written and I am onto my next series. I have two new series I am working on- though I can’t decide which I want to go with for my next project. Both deal with history a bit- one with immortals and one with time travel. Then again, I have about 5 or 6 half written manuscripts that might distract me instead. I feel like I have to keep working on multiple projects to get a better final product. That way I can step away and into another world, and then come back to the project with a fresh view when I don’t remember every line before I read it again.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I am an eternal editor. I would never change anything drastically, but I always can find more to explain, or a better way to explain what I am thinking. So there would be many spots I would change, but at some point you just have to stop and call it good enough
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Getting that perfect beginning. I find that is one thing that has to be done right. If a book doesn’t catch my attention by the end of the first chapters, then I will just set it aside. I don’t want people to just set aside my books, so I strive to have a good beginning and hopefully pull the reader in.
The second challenge is the editing. I can read a sentence and not see the error until someone points it out. Then it is like, duh- why’d I do that? It is so easy to mistype and I HATE autocorrect!!! No, my computer cannot read my mind! I’m glad I have found a great editor to work with that catches all my duh moments so the reader doesn’t have to read as many.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I’d say right now I am a big Jennifer Armentrout fan. It isn’t her work necessarily (I’ve read the Lux series and Wait for You). I do like her books and can’t wait for the next Lux book, but more so I admire her as a writer. She had small press published, has contracts with big publishers, and took a chance and self-published (which turned into a BIG contract for her) She does a bit of everything and still finds time to write tons of novels. She is truly an author to watch.
Who designed the covers?
My covers for the Blue Eyes Trilogy were designed by Ravven (http://www.ravven.com/) I saw her artwork for other covers and on deviant art and thought they were so pretty. I was glad that she was open to do my covers and she was really easy to work with.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Trying to decide how to end it. I feel like it can always go multiple ways, and then I have to choose a way that makes both me and the readers happy.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learned that readers can love and hate the exact same thing in one book- which I find kind of funny. You learn very quickly that you can’t please everyone!
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Keep reading- the best thing you can do is read what is out there. Know what has been done, know what works and doesn’t work. And most importantly keep writing. Don’t get discouraged (even if no one you know knows that you write) If you feel you have something to tell, then do it. The greatest feeling is when you finally finish your novel and you can look at it and be like ‘wow- I did this’
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thanks so much for reading my novels and giving an unknown author a chance. I held onto my novels for years thinking no one wants to read an unknown author, but I was wrong. I was happy to find that there are so many wonderful people out there willing to read and who have enjoyed my stories. Thanks so much. And thank you also Devon for the chance to do this interview.
You can order these books on Amazon and find Kristen on good reads with the buttons below!
My first book was more of an experiment. I wondered if I actually sat down and wrote, could I make a full book. I’ve been writing as long as I remember, but nothing book length. So I was interested to see if this story floating around in my head would be the length of a book.
I am actually one of those people that writes down dreams and turns them into stories. I’ve always had very vivid dreams (and nightmares) and my first book was actually two different dreams with the same characters.
How did you come up with the title?
I struggle with titles sometimes. There have even been a few stories I wrote without titles that I would have to sit for hours afterwards thinking of what the title should be. But once you get the title, it is an ah ha moment; and when you get the right one, you just know that is what it should be.
What books have most influenced your life most?
That is a hard one. I have read so many books (even in the last two years alone) and I would say they all influence you somehow. There are good books that make you want to read over again- and I do read some of them over again and try to analyze more of what is draw me into the story. There are some books that do annoying things and I always try to take notes so I don’t fall into the same mistakes when I write. I take a much more analysis mode to my reading- but I still get a few in just for enjoyment sake also!
What book are you reading now?
Gosh- that’s a tough one. I’ve been getting through about a book or two a week, so by the time this interview is posted, I will probably be two more books ahead….. I will say I am looking forward to a few books- Allegiant by Veronica Roth (yes, I am a divergent fan- can’t wait to see how the movie turns out) Origin by Jennifer Armentrout (she is one author that just awes me with all her writing- when does she find time to write so much??!!) and Iniquity by Amy Bartol.
What are your current projects?
Book 3 of the Blue Eyes Trilogy is actually already written and with the editor. We are aiming for a fall release. So that one except for the edits is pretty much written and I am onto my next series. I have two new series I am working on- though I can’t decide which I want to go with for my next project. Both deal with history a bit- one with immortals and one with time travel. Then again, I have about 5 or 6 half written manuscripts that might distract me instead. I feel like I have to keep working on multiple projects to get a better final product. That way I can step away and into another world, and then come back to the project with a fresh view when I don’t remember every line before I read it again.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I am an eternal editor. I would never change anything drastically, but I always can find more to explain, or a better way to explain what I am thinking. So there would be many spots I would change, but at some point you just have to stop and call it good enough
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Getting that perfect beginning. I find that is one thing that has to be done right. If a book doesn’t catch my attention by the end of the first chapters, then I will just set it aside. I don’t want people to just set aside my books, so I strive to have a good beginning and hopefully pull the reader in.
The second challenge is the editing. I can read a sentence and not see the error until someone points it out. Then it is like, duh- why’d I do that? It is so easy to mistype and I HATE autocorrect!!! No, my computer cannot read my mind! I’m glad I have found a great editor to work with that catches all my duh moments so the reader doesn’t have to read as many.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I’d say right now I am a big Jennifer Armentrout fan. It isn’t her work necessarily (I’ve read the Lux series and Wait for You). I do like her books and can’t wait for the next Lux book, but more so I admire her as a writer. She had small press published, has contracts with big publishers, and took a chance and self-published (which turned into a BIG contract for her) She does a bit of everything and still finds time to write tons of novels. She is truly an author to watch.
Who designed the covers?
My covers for the Blue Eyes Trilogy were designed by Ravven (http://www.ravven.com/) I saw her artwork for other covers and on deviant art and thought they were so pretty. I was glad that she was open to do my covers and she was really easy to work with.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Trying to decide how to end it. I feel like it can always go multiple ways, and then I have to choose a way that makes both me and the readers happy.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learned that readers can love and hate the exact same thing in one book- which I find kind of funny. You learn very quickly that you can’t please everyone!
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Keep reading- the best thing you can do is read what is out there. Know what has been done, know what works and doesn’t work. And most importantly keep writing. Don’t get discouraged (even if no one you know knows that you write) If you feel you have something to tell, then do it. The greatest feeling is when you finally finish your novel and you can look at it and be like ‘wow- I did this’
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thanks so much for reading my novels and giving an unknown author a chance. I held onto my novels for years thinking no one wants to read an unknown author, but I was wrong. I was happy to find that there are so many wonderful people out there willing to read and who have enjoyed my stories. Thanks so much. And thank you also Devon for the chance to do this interview.
You can order these books on Amazon and find Kristen on good reads with the buttons below!
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