About J.M. Kirkley:
J.M. Kirkley is the author of the award-winning novel, A Writing Upon the Sand. She received the Artisan Book Review Book Excellence Award for her debut novel.
By trade, she’s a storykeeper. She’s a faith-based counselor who specializes in grief and trauma recovery. By night, she researches and writes grace-filled Christian historical fiction.
She calls East Texas home. Her favorite pastimes include visiting museums and art festivals, reading fiction, touring coastal offices of the National Weather Service with her meteorologist son-in-law, and making memories with family and friends.
What inspires you to write?
As a Christian historical romance fiction writer, I draw inspiration from history itself. I look for compelling events, and I'm drawn to the worst of times scenarios where my main characters not only survive but go on to lead meaningful lives, despite their hardships.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
It depends on my mood. Jane Austen is my favorite from the classics list.
My favorite genre is historical Christian fiction with at least a romance thread woven throughout. Favorite authors in that category include Roseanna M. White, Lisa Wingate, Tamera Alexander, Laura Frantz, Sarah E Ladd, and Michelle Griep.
Tell us about your writing process.
I start with a broad outline of the story. I prefer writing it out with pen and paper in cursive. I explore various plot options and flesh out the characters as I perceive them to be. Then I throw obstacles in their path and watch what happens.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I listen to my characters' dialog and write down what they are saying and how they are acting and reacting. In this way, I get to know them. At times, a character may do something completely unexpected, and a subplot is created as I explore what's happening. That makes writing exciting for me, because I don't always know what happens next.
What advice would you give other writers?
Get together a group of advanced readers who will give you honest feedback. I asked my readers what they liked about the book, what annoyed them, what confused them, and I edited my manuscript accordingly. It strengthened my story.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I took a writing course by Roseanna M. White and she explored the different publishing paths, and the pros and cons of each one. I chose self-publishing because it fit my personality and my lifestyle. It pays to explore each before deciding what's best for you.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I'm optimistic about the future of book publishing. Like never before, more choices are available to a wide variety of authors. Even some traditionally published authors are doing a mix of traditional publishing and self-publishing.
What genres do you write?: Christian historical romance fiction
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
J.M. Kirkley Home Page Link
Link to Author Page on BookBub
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Pinterest
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
