As someone who spent 40 years working in television and the media, and still writes books set in the television world, today's guest in My Writing Corner immediately caught my attention, though my work was always behind the scenes as a Producer and Newsroom Manager.
Welcome, Nikki. What do you enjoy about being an author?
I get to make it all up! My “day job” is as a weekend anchor at 1010 WINS, the top all-news radio station in New York City. Enough to say that the stories I cover at work are often dark and gritty and not many people get happy endings. But when I’m writing the story, I get to make sure everything comes out right! For me, it’s the best thing about fiction.
What do you find is the most challenging part of being an author?
I’m still not as good as I’d like to be with rejection. After more than 300 – across short stories, querying, and contests – I should be. But every once in a while, I get one I can’t play off. Or I get passed over for something I really wanted and needed. And then I have to remind myself of my own great advice about rejection – see below! Being a pro doesn’t mean you don’t feel it…it just means you handle it gracefully.
Tell us about your road to publication.
It’s been a long one! Getting into print the first time took 200 rejections over three projects and a couple of years – in the middle of a family health crisis. After I got signed for the first book, I revised an earlier project, inspired by my time at a small Vermont radio station, and the new version sold…only to be dropped after one book! Then: Covid. New round of family health issues and losses. Wrote other things but couldn’t give up on Vermont. Finally found a new home at the Wild Rose Press…and here we are with: Live, Local, And Long Dead!
What is your book that you will feature today and how did you come up with the idea to write it?
Welcome to the Vermont Radio Mystery Live, Local, And Long Dead! The series (now two books and more than a dozen published short stories) is inspired by my early-career time at a small radio station, and it’s kind of my happy place. Maybe an escape fantasy! DJ Jaye Jordan returns to Vermont after a personal and professional meltdown to take over the station where she worked 20 years ago and gets into all kinds of trouble. In Live, Local, And Long Dead, the whole town is at a Green-Up Day cleanup when not one, but two bodies turn up: one a woman who was involved with both Jaye’s ex and her new man, the second a much older skeleton. Now, Jaye and the entire gang will have to solve two murders – and get 103-year-old Grandpa Seymour to the Senior Prom!
Vermont DJ Jaye Jordan's Green-Up Day ends in murder when not one, but two, bodies turn up in an old park -- and one of them was much too close to both her ex and her current man when it was alive and bodacious. Now Jaye, with the help of a colorful (and diverse) cast of townies, will have to clear her men's names, unravel a World War II-era mystery…and get Grandpa Seymour to the Senior Prom on time.
How about an excerpt:
The Prom-Posal:
“Go get ′em!” I hissed, giving Grandpa a high-five and grabbing the boom box. The plan was the kids would walk Aunt Patsy out into the Plaza on some pretext, and then Grandpa would appear on the porch, roses in hand, and cue the unseen elves to fire the music.
I slipped out the side door and hid behind the back of the porch.
Aunt Patsy, flanked by Ryan and Xavi, was walking into the Plaza, talking animatedly to the kids. “You really saw a white squirrel? How fascinating…”
Grandpa walked onto the porch, roses in hand. Ryan elbowed Aunt Patsy.
“Seymour?”
“Maestro!” He snapped his fingers. I hit the button, and Johnny Mathis’ glorious tenor filled the cold gray air.
“Chances are…”
Grandpa grinned.
“Seymour, what are you doing?”
He walked down the stairs as she crossed to him. They both move a little slowly but are impressively nimble for their age. Ryan and Xavi had the phones, of course borrowed from Rob and me, at the ready, recording the moment for social media and posterity, which was great, but what was really terrific was the expressions on the couple’s faces.
Sometimes, the world just seems to be spinning in a better direction when you see two people’s eyes meet. Love is love, and thank G-d for it.
“What is all this, Seymour?” Aunt Patsy asked with a warm, amused smile.
“I want to take my girl to the prom. And the kids tell me I have to ask in a fancy way to have any hope of getting a yes.”
“Do they, now?” She took the flowers, and then, her face broke into a great big smile. “Well, I have only one thing to say to you.”
She glanced back at the rectory and snapped her fingers.
A banner unfurled from the upstairs window, bright pink letters and lots of glitter on shiny white: “Yes!”
A shower of large pink and sparkly confetti followed the banner, and I looked up to see Maeve beaming in the window as she threw more.
Grandpa laughed. “I’ll take that. You got me good, Pats.”
“Why should the guy have all the fun?” She was laughing too. “Couldn’t let you away with that patriarchal nonsense.”
He took her hands. “But you don’t mind letting me lead when we dance.”
“Dancing’s different. Sometimes a girl has to let her guy take the lead. Like now.”
I turned up the music a little to give them a hint. Grandpa pulled Aunt Patsy in, and the two swayed together as the small crowd applauded
If this was the prom-posal, I could only imagine what would happen when Grandpa decided to put a ring on it.
What’s your next project or what are you working on now?
I’m always working on new Vermont stories, even when I’m writing something else. I really love these people and this setting. And the next Vermont book, Live, Local, And Larcenous, is slowly taking shape!
What advice do you have for beginning writers?
Get used to rejection and learn from it. Rejection is depressing and it hurts, and we tend to take it too much to heart. A rejection is “no, today” on one piece of work. It’s not a sweeping statement about your writing or a divine judgment on your career. And definitely not on you as a real person. Learn what you can from any feedback and just keep going. See a rejection for the temporary setback – and possible learning opportunity – it is, and don’t give it more power than it deserves. It’s never fun, but it doesn’t have to rule you!
Thank you, Nikki, for being my guest today. Here are some buys links for Live, Local, and Long Dead and Nikki's contact information:
Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble: Live, Local, and Long Dead
Social Contacts:
Website: https://kathleenmarplekalb.com/nikki-knight
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiKnightAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiKnightVT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenmarplekalb/
Other: YouTube: NIKKI KNIGHT'S RADIO STORYTIME - YouTube
Any comments or questions for Nikki/Kathleen?
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Thank you so much for hosting my "good friend" Nikki today!
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