Award-winning
author Kelli A. Wilkins writes romance in a variety of genres, including
historical, contemporary, paranormal and more. She’s
published more than 100 short stories, nineteen romance novels, and five
nonfiction books. Today she sits down for an interview with us. Learn more
about her and her books at her website and blog.
When did
you realize you wanted to write novels?
I’ve always known I was a writer, and began writing
short stories in high school and college. After college, I took a commercial
writing class for “fun” and I learned a lot about the art of creating
interesting characters and telling a great story. After being encouraged to
submit my work, I decided to pursue writing seriously. Currently, I divide my
time between writing novels, novellas, and short stories.
How long
did it take you to realize your dream of publication?
My first romance short story was accepted a week
after I submitted it. That was pretty quick! After writing short romances for a
while, I branched out into novels. My romance novel career started in 2005 when
three of my books won the Amber Quill Press “Amber Heat” writing contest.
Are you
traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author?
I’m a hybrid. I started out with Amber Quill Press,
and from there I’ve had three novels published with Medallion Press. When Amber
Quill folded, I began re-releasing my romances on my own on Amazon, B&N,
and other platforms.
Where do
you write?
I write anywhere I can. When the weather is nice, I
like to write outside in my back yard. In the winter, I generally write in a
comfy chair in the living room.
Is silence
golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind?
When I’m writing and proofreading I play quiet New
Age or instrumental music in the background. (I find silence is too
oppressive.) When I’m typing up a manuscript and/or making edits, I listen to
all kinds of music: rock, pop, or whatever I’m in the mood for. My musical
tastes are very diverse.
How much of
your plots and characters are drawn from real life? From your life in
particular?
Bits and pieces of my characters come from people I
know or people I observe. However, no one character is 100% anyone from real
life. I was asked about this a lot when I wrote my wrestling romance, A Deceptive Match. Everyone wanted to
know which wrestler the hero Vinnie was based on. He’s a composite of a lot of
different wrestlers (and other people) all rolled into one.
As far as plots go, 99% of them are just things I
make up. I have a vivid imagination and my day-to-day life is not as exciting
as the worlds I create for my characters.
Describe
your process for naming your characters.
Sometimes this is a hard process for me. When
characters “introduce” themselves to me (aka “show up” in my head), I usually
learn about them and their problem/situation before I’ll get a name. Usually,
I’ll get a first initial or a first name only, and then have to discover more
about the character before I get his or her whole name and back-story. Lies, Love & Redemption is one
example. Before I wrote a word, I had the whole opening sequence in my head. I
knew Sam and Cassie’s first names, and a bit about their backgrounds, but that
was it. Sometimes my characters are a mystery to me until I get to know them
better—even though I’m the one creating them!
Real
settings or fictional towns?
I set my stories in fictional towns that are loosely
based on real places. When I’m writing, I change up the details to make them my
own. I can add buildings or rearrange the layout of a town to suit the story. The
town of Holloway in Lies, Love &
Redemption was my invention, but it was typical of a small prairie town of
that time period.
What’s the
quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Hmm… many of my characters have quirks, but I can’t
decide which one is the quirkiest. Some of my characters talk to themselves,
only eat (or don’t eat) certain foods, or have little personal rituals they
perform.
What’s your
quirkiest quirk?
Writing-wise, it’s probably the fact that I write all
of my books in longhand, using paper and pen. After the rough draft is done, I
type up the manuscript and edit/revise it as I go. On a personal level, I tend
to talk to myself and my cats!
What’s your
biggest pet peeve?
People who are nasty and/or obnoxious to other people
for no reason.
You’re
stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Books to read, music to listen to, and my husband.
What was
the worst job you’ve ever held?
I’ve had a lot of jobs over the years… dishwasher,
gas station attendant, I worked in several bakeries and offices…. but the
shortest time I ever stayed at a place was a vet’s office. I didn’t mind the
work and I liked helping the animals, but the people who ran the place were
nasty. I stayed for two days. Sometimes the job isn’t the issue, the people
are!
What’s the
best book you’ve ever read?
I read a lot of books in all genres (mystery,
suspense, horror, romance, detective, New Age, nonfiction…) so it’s hard to
pick just one. Like my musical tastes, my reading list is very diverse and
covers everything from A to Z. Currently I’m reading a lot of John Sandford and
Preston & Child books. I buy books at garage sales, flea markets, and
library book sales—so I never know what I’ll be reading next.
Ocean or
mountains?
Mountains. Definitely. Which is funny because my
husband loves the ocean.
City girl/guy
or country girl/guy?
I’m more of a country girl. I was raised in a small
town and I understand small-town life, but sometimes that can be too small. I like being near cities and
other places with lots of fun things to do, but I wouldn’t want to live in a
big city. I can deal with the hustle and bustle of city life, but it’s nice to
retreat to a quiet place.
What’s on
the horizon for you?
Currently, I’m revising a new historical romance
novel (as yet untitled) and I’m re-editing three more of my romances previously
published with Amber Quill. After that, I have ideas in the works for a few
other romances (another historical, a paranormal, and a gay contemporary).
Anything
else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your books?
I welcome questions and feedback from readers. I
enjoy learning which characters and books they love the best. Readers can find
my social media links at my website and blog (see links above.)
Lies, Love
& Redemption
Shot
and left for dead, Sam Hixton stumbles into a general store on the Nebraska
prairie and collapses into the arms of Cassie Wilcox.
Cassie’s
world is turned upside down when the handsome stranger drops into her life. Sam
is another complication she doesn’t need: her business is dying and her trouble
with the townspeople is escalating. Yet she’s determined to keep the store open
— no matter what the cost.
As
Sam recovers from his injuries, he hides the truth about his identity and
convinces Cassie to let him work in the store. He’s attracted to her and admires
her independent nature but quickly realizes Cassie’s in way over her head. They
fight their growing attraction, and Cassie questions whether she can trust her
fragile heart to a mysterious stranger. Will he accept her once he knows
about her troubled past?
Cassie
resists Sam’s advances and represses her feelings until one fateful night when
they give in to their fiery passion. Together, they work out a plan to save the
store but find their efforts are thwarted—and their lives endangered—by the
locals.
Sam’s
secret returns to haunt him and pulls him away just when Cassie needs him the
most. Will he regain her trust when she learns the truth?
Cassie
has everything invested in the store—can she save it and find true love with
Sam before it’s too late?
2 comments:
Your book cover has an "old west" kind of feel to it, Kelli. Best wishes with your release!
Thanks! I think the cover is great & it reflects the mood & tone of the book.
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