Frequently asked questions
How long does it take you to write a book? It depends on what type of book I'm writing and how much
time I have to complete it. Romance, I can write in 60-90 days, and fiction takes about four months. When I finish, I like a chance
to put the book down for about a month then go back and read it again. I catch a lot of things I didn't see the first time. You'd
be surprised how often I read stuff and wonder what in the world was I thinking when I wrote that.
What is your day like? I'm
in the Air National Guard so currently I'm working full time. I spend my breaks and sometimes even lunch hours writing. Then I go
home, make dinner and hide out in my office until ten trying to meet back-to-back deadlines. It's time consuming, but I made a full-time
commitment to write and because of that my schedule is always full. Evenings, weekends, vacations, you name it. But what works for
me doesn't necessarily work for the next person. Some authors write part-time. You have to decide what type of commitment you are
willing to give. Hopefully, at some point my schedule will free up a little but I don't see that happening right now. I am very goal
driven and until I reach my goal I'm going to keep my pace.
Where do your storylines and characters come from? I have to laugh
because I am asked that question a lot. My storylines comes from everyday life. I believe in keeping it real. I write about things
I have experience and seen then add a wild spin to it. I have a vivid imagination and think of the craziest things. Some of my characters
are based on people I have crossed paths with in my life. Some of them have elements of my own personality. But I will say that no
matter how real my characters might seem, my books are strictly fiction.
What advice do you give to someone who is trying to
get in the industry?
Research the market you're trying to get into so that you will have an idea of what houses are buying. I can't
begin to express how important that is. Writing romance is different from writing a mystery or women's fiction. Series romance, for
example, the books have a specific format and pace. They must always have a happy ending with the hero and heroine falling in love.
They're also short and satisfying in less than 60,000 words. Reading books from lines such as Kimani Romance will give you an idea
of what editors are buying.