When
did you first consider yourself a writer?
I probably should've started
considering myself a writer even before I finished my first manuscript. But I
don't think it really hit me that I could call myself a writer until I was a
finalist in a contest for the first time (Fire and Ice, 2010). That was the
validation I’d been looking for, the encouragement I needed to keep going. By
that point, I'd completed four manuscripts in two years and was getting ready to
start shopping RED to agents. I realized I had to believe that I was a career
writer and take myself seriously if I was going to ask an agent or editor to do
the same.
How
long does it take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing
writing it?
About six months. I usually complete
the first draft in four months or so and then spend about a month editing. Then
I send it to my agent who typically offers more editorial input before I send
the manuscript to my editor. RED was an anomaly in that total writing time was
only four months.
What
can we expect from you in the future?
The next book in the Transplanted
Tales series, THE BETTER TO SEE YOU, is scheduled for release in February 2013.
I'm writing the third book in the series now. In addition to the Transplanted
Tales series, I have a couple of other projects in development, so I hope to be
able to share those with readers at some point! One project is a paranormal
romance series and the other is a futuristic romance.
Do
you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
I come up with a working title
during my preliminary planning for the book. The title usually changes at some
point, though, either during the writing process or at the request of my agent
or editor, so I try not to get too attached to it! Of all the manuscript I've
written, RED is the only one that's had the same title from start to finish.
Do
you decide on character traits before writing the whole book or as you go
along?
I spend a lot of time coming up with
dossiers for even the most minor characters before I start writing. Honestly, a
lot of the information doesn't make it into the story (types of music they
listen to, what they wear, what kind of cars they drive, etc.), but it helps me
develop their personalities.
Have
you ever suffered from "writer's block"? What did you do to get past
the "block"?
Absolutely! I tend to hit a wall
with every manuscript about two-thirds of the way in. It's incredibly
frustrating! The best solution I've found is to keep writing. Whatever comes
out on the page is pretty much crap, but that's what editing is for. The most
important thing is to keep the momentum going and the story moving forward. If
you give into the block, you're in real trouble.
Did
you have a favourite author as a child?
One of my favorites in my pre-teen years
was a Canadian author named L.M. Montgomery. She's best known for her Anne of
Green Gables series, but I actually discovered her when someone gave me the
Emily of New Moon series as a gift. They're fabulous stories!
As I hit my teen years, I started
reading a lot of fantasy and loved authors like Lucy Cullyford Babbitt and
Tamora Pierce. But I was also going through historical romances as quickly as I
could get them. The librarians knew me very well!
Are
there any New Authors you're interested in and we should watch out for? and Why
should we watch out for them?
There are loads of new authors who
sound exciting to me! A few I'd keep my eye on are Amanda Carlson, Julie Ann
Walker, Cecy Robson, Kait Ballenger, and Jen J. Danna. A have a feeling big
things are in store for all of them! And although I usually read urban
fantasy/paranormal romance/romantic suspense, I'm also really excited to read
Amanda Flower's new Amish mystery series, which is getting rave reviews!
(Amanda Carlson has been a guest on my blog a couple of times! I will watch out for the other Authors. I love finding new authors)
What
piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
It’s sometimes hard to keep going
and not let the repeated rejection get you down, but be gracious, be
professional, and be persistent.
Where
can readers follow you?
Website/Blog:
Facebook:
Facebook.com/kateserine
Twitter:
@KateSeRine
Goodreads:
Thank you for taking the time to take part in an Interview for my blog!
Thanks so much for having me by for
a visit! This has been a lot of fun! :)
Great interview! THanks for posting it! :D
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