My Writing Corner : A Passion for Writing

How did you get hooked on reading or writing romance? We all have our different stories about how we fell in love with that genre. Today's guest in My Writing Corner, Kimberly Keyes, tells us passion for romance writing began after her mom brought home a box filled with paperback romance novels—which she quickly devoured. She found herself not only reading the stories, but the “About the Author” blurbs tucked into the back of each book.

She knew in her heart, one day she would be a published romance author herself. After earning a Master’s degree in History, Kimberly combined her love of all things Victorian with the plots and characters living inside her head and forged her career as a historical romance author. She soon added contemporary writing to the mix. The result? Award winning romance novels featuring magnetic characters, unpredictable storylines, and scintillating scenes that keep her readers turning pages.

Today, Kimberly spends her time writing and dreaming up new ways to perplex and grow her characters. She currently lives in Orlando, Florida, with her faithful puppy, Papillon, a twenty-pound stray rescued from the streets of Puerto Rico. Her beloved Frank, another cuddly rescue, passed away several years ago, but his legacy lives on as the president (and founding member!) of the “Black Dog Club.” Frank frequently makes guest appearances in Kimberly Keyes’ stories.

Writing romance, she’s living her dream, and loving every minute. It’s a gift to find the one thing you’re meant to do—a gift that Kimberly never takes for granted.

Tell us about your road to publication.

Wow, great question. I wrote for years before I received my first contract offer from my publisher, The Wild Rose Press. I often hear of authors who got published right away. I’m happy for them, but that was not the case for me! In fact, my first two completed manuscripts, long Victorian Era romances, are both tucked under the proverbial bed. As a newbie author, I made most, if not all, newbie author mistakes in both novels—but I learned!

My first published manuscript is a stand-alone fun and flirty Contemporary romance titled, Lover’s Leap. In it you meet Candace, an up-and-coming romance writer and Logan, a hot-as-hell burned out photographer. Both have links to a mutual friend and find themselves holed up in said friend’s luxury vacation home. Logan’s been sworn off Candace, and Candace has the misconceived notion Logan’s gay. Not.

My second book, The Trouble with Tigers is a Victorian romance and the first in my Hidden Treasures series. Tigers tells the story of Zeke, the heir to the Earl of Claybourne who returns home from abroad to find his grandfather the earl has hired himself a young tiger (a type of servant—male, of course). Zeke takes instant umbrage with this overly pampered servant of the earl’s and proceeds to cause all sorts of trouble for “him.”

What do you enjoy about being an author?

I love crafting a really well written story—and having others read and enjoy it. It’s satisfying in the way nothing else is.

What do you find is the most challenging part of being an author?

Definitely, the most challenging aspect of being an author for me is time management. There are always conflicting demands on my time. From errands and chores to family and friends to exercise and relaxation, there’s always numerous distractions and reasons not to sit my butt in the chair and write. The trick is in knowing when to say yes and when to say no and I’m getting better at this!

Then after I’ve carved out the time, there’s my actual writing process. I learned long ago to respect my process, but it can be frustrating when I’m raring to go on a WIP (work-in-progress). In my writing, as in many aspects of my life, I cannot be rushed. While my overall plot tends to reveal itself to me early on, the twists and turns show up along the way, and when I force these details, I inevitably make a wrong turn and have to go back and find where I went wrong. That’s not always easy! It does have its pluses. The writing and re-writing and combing through the lines of my manuscript helps me to really know my characters and add the layers that enrich my stories with satisfying depth.

What is your latest book and how did you come up with the idea to write it?

My upcoming release, Playing Her Song, is another contemporary romance. It’s the first in a series of three books all taking place in the small town of Honeyville, NC, a made-up town loosely based on a small North Carolina town I visited many-a-summer as a kid. This book came to me while running—which is not uncommon for me. I get a lot of ideas while pounding the pavement. I was listening to some hard rock and suddenly I had this image of a hot musician who’s falling for his one-time tutor who’s come back into his life unexpectedly. I started typing the story and it all unfolded from there.

Let's get a blurb:

Sometimes a fresh start means going back home…

When Julia's carefully constructed life takes a sudden, demoralizing nose dive, she flees to the small town of her youth. She finds the perfect landing place—a furnished cottage on a private estate in the Blue Ridge foothills. Then she learns the owner-resident is Jackson Tate—her high school crush and, until recently, the source of her greatest humiliation.

Jackson, the small town boy-turned-rockstar, never forgot Julia nor the mistake he made causing his one-

time math tutor to vanish from his life. Jackson avoids all but the most superficial entanglements of the female variety. Yet one look at Julia and he's determined to win back the friendship he lost.

Julia's ancient grudge can't withstand Jackson's lethal combination of humility and charm. But what about her teenage crush? Especially one not so one-sided after all...

Want more? How about an excerpt?

Before she could second guess herself, she set out across the deck. A gust of wind off the mountain set the flames in the pit dancing and reminded her she ought to have brought a sweater. But she couldn’t bring herself to turn around.

She hesitated at the steps leading down. Jackson sat with his back to the house, elbows propped on the arms of the chair. He appeared mesmerized by the flames. He hadn’t exactly invited her to join him.

“It’s warmer closer to the fire, Julia,” he called without looking her way.

The night chill seeped through the short cotton dress she wore and turned her exposed toes to ice. The heat of the fire would feel really good about now.

He shifted in his seat and studied her over his shoulder.

The fire behind him made his expression unreadable, but she could imagine his arched brow. She lifted her chin and marched down the stone path to the chair beside his.

“I wondered if you’d come out,” Jackson said, his focus once more on the dancing flames.

“I hope you don’t mind.”

“Why would I mind?”

She decided not to mince words. “I guess because of your mood when you left my parents’ house tonight.”

He slanted her an affronted look. “My mood?”

“Brooding is the word that comes to mind. Or maybe just flat-out verklempt.”

The cheek facing her creased as the corner of his mouth kicked upward.

Tension she hadn’t realized she held eked out of her. Jackson, the larger-than-life, self-assured stud, she could handle. Pensive Jackson rattled her.

“I’ve never been verklempt in my life—not that I actually know what that word means.” His eyes narrowed on her, and his smile vanished. “Jules, you’re not wearing enough clothes.” He extended an arm toward her. “Come over here.”

The frigid air had permeated her very bones. But the thought of moving closer to Jackson had all her nerve endings tingling and not from the cold. Good thing her wiser, adult self knew better than to get sucked in by the self-admitted scoundrel.

“I’m okay.” She held out her hands toward the fire.

He rolled his eyes. “I can’t relax over here knowing you’re sitting there freezing.” He paused. “But then I get it. You’re afraid you can’t resist me.”

His cocky attitude and, yes, a freezing gust of wind had her out of her chair and at his side in seconds flat. “Where do you want me?” Oh God.

What’s your next project?

I’m in Historical romance-mode again, three-quarters of the way through the first draft of my second book in my Hidden Treasures series. Book two tells the story of Caden, Zeke’s younger brother, who you meet in Tigers. Caden’s used to living fast and free with few responsibilities, or at least he’s willing to act the part since everyone seems to think he’s cut in the mold of his late, ne’er do well father. And then he crosses paths with Anna. Oh, I’m having a lot of fun wit this one!

What advice do you have for beginning writers?

Three bits of advice I have for aspiring authors. First, don’t dream of writing “one day.” Start writing. Next, hone your craft. Attend on-line or in-person workshops. Practice practice practice. Writing is an art. And lastly, enter writing contests. (No, no one is going to steal your idea or your work. Everyone wants to write their own stories!) Seeing the comments made by several judges can tell you your strengths, which is immensely encouraging, and also your weaknesses. The rule of thumb is this. If one judge criticizes an aspect of your work, and everyone else raves over it, throw out the opinion of the one judge. If several judges mention something that needs work? It probably needs work. And that is advice you need if you want to become a great writer, IMO.

Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09VVD6QMX/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/playing-her-song-by-kimberly-keyes

Social Media Links:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/kimberlykeyesromance/

Amazon Author Page

http://amazon.com/author/kimberlykeyes

Website:

https://kimberlykeyes.net

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14291041.kimberly_keyes