About K.K. Allen:
K.K. Allen is the Author of the Summer Solstice series. Enchanted and The Equinox are now available in Kindle and Paperback formats. Ms. Allen was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, raised in Seattle, Washington, and currently resides near Orlando, Florida. She has always had a passion for reading and writing and has done so every day since the young age of 12! Writing has even transitioned into her career as Media Industry professional. “There’s just something about telling a story that drives me in everything that I do. Whether I’m creating a content outline for a website or writing a script for a video project, it’s all about the storytelling.” Ms. Allen is proud to say that she’s worked with stellar professionals who have provided her with additional opportunities to grow into the writer that she is now.
What inspires you to write?
Music…Nature…Love! Every little thing around me inspires me on a day-to-day basis! I quickly learned that the environment I write in is motivation all in itself, so “where” I write has become an important tool in my writing. The music I choose to listen to helps my creativity flow and sets the mood for specific scenes that I really need to “feel” so I create playlists to write to—my readers can enjoy this too on Spotify. Most importantly, the love I witness and have experienced is the perfect foundation for what I love to write. People and history inspire me too. If you read my books, you’ll definitely get a sense for all of the above.
Tell us about your writing process.
It’s all about the process! My writing process begins with a brainstorming session with myself, and this session can last for days. Basically, I list out everything I want my book to accomplish in 100,000+ words. This includes plot, character feelings, relationships, scenery, conflict, and resolution. Then I begin to roughly outline my book. Once I’m comfortable with my outline, I create mini stories out of each section of my outline, until I’m ready to begin writing. It’s during my first draft where I research specific elements in my book, find inspirational images, and visit the places my characters visit in order to write as descriptively as possible. I like to stay true to my books, and make my stories as realistic as possible. Once the first draft is complete (did I mention my first draft is done completely with pen and paper? Yup!), I go back and completely rewrite my story while typing it out!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Haha. I love this question. Honestly, no! I do not “talk” to my characters. However, I do try to understand them as much as possible. Before I story lines I spend hours upon hours understanding my characters; where they’ve been, what makes them tick, who they’re attracted to, what their interests are, etc. Without understanding my characters, I cannot possibly write a story about them! When I write my characters into the storyline I definitely try to put myself in their shoes to feel what they feel. This is where music comes into play. I’ll sometimes pick a tune that represents that person or how they’re feeling, close my eyes, and let myself experience their story. I’m sure you’ve heard authors say that their characters write the story—this is definitely true for me.
What advice would you give other writers?
Get to know your audience the best you possibly can! Care about your readers, because if done right, they will care about you too!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
To be honest, I didn’t think too much about this. It may have briefly crossed my mind at one point to find an agent, but there was something appealing about putting together my own marketing, and doing everything from the ground. Along the way I’ve met so many great people and have learned so much more than I ever imagined. I’m blessed to be surrounded by such creative and talented writers, bloggers, and READERS!
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
It’s all quite the mystery, isn’t it? I truly hope print never goes away. As much as I love the convenience of eBooks, (Heck! I sell them!) I will always prefer the smell and feel of print books. I do think self-publishing has not only opened a new door for young writers, but it’s also given readers more opportunities to step out of their comfort zone and experience something new—something they can discover first and share with others.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Urban, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Greek Mythology, Coming of Age, Paranormal, Suspense
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
K.K. Allen Home Page Link
Link To K.K. Allen Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
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.
