About K.K. Edwards:
I'm a current writer and former factory rat, graphic artist, and kindergarten teacher. I live in Michigan with my beloved husband and our cat Charlie. I was born in Massachusetts and miss the East Coast when I'm not there. I love to write, read, draw, travel, and learn new things; I love nature, love to laugh, love my family.
Somebody Knows Something is my first novella.
What inspires you to write?
I'm not a confident verbal communicator but I've always had a knack for writing, and I've always loved to write: plays as a kid, horror stories as a teen, a heaving-bosom romance novel at 19 and now I'm back at it in spades, writing psychological suspense, thrillers and who knows what I'll be writing next. Since taking up writing seriously (after teaching, which I loved), I've penned six novels and am kicking around Number Seven, because I need to write. I'm compelled to write. Writing is in my blood: words pining to get OUT, characters desperate for a voice, stories demanding to be told. . .
. . .or maybe I'm batshit crazy. Probably a little of both. 🙂
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
I have a special place in my heart for Koontz, esp. his Odd Thomas series–I love that character and Koontz's gift of language. Stephen King has written some really entertaining novels and short stories. Palahniuk has me simultaneously clamoring and cringing. I love Peter Straub, Wally Lamb, Elmore Leonard, Mitchell Smith. I have a soft spot for two-time Edgar Award winner Steve Hamilton, who has gifted me with great feedback and advice. I know I'm forgetting people. . .oh, I should add myself to the mix–I really like reading my own stuff. 🙂
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process has been as different as my novels themselves. I dreamed one novel, start-to-finish. Was stuck on Word 500 for months on another. Struggled for a year to come up with the ending on a third. Wrote my novella in three crazy days–didn't want to eat, didn't want to sleep. . .
I don't outline anything beforehand. I generally have no idea how the story is going to go but I know my characters right off the bat, and they drag me down that convoluted path from Start to Finish; albeit, with much heel-digging on their part and much teeth-gnashing on mine.
Then comes editing. O.M.G.
Actually, I'm not sure I have a "process," but I've written six novels now, so I must be doing something right.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Oh, man. I know my characters inside and out; up, down, and sideways. Many are children and I love those kids. I talk to them and they talk to me. I say their words aloud to make sure they sound real, to make certain I get their voices right. I suffer mightily when I treat them badly and when bad things happen to them because I really put my poor characters through the wringer sometimes, but they’re a tough bunch. I give them so much credit.
What advice would you give other writers?
Quickly, four bits of advice:
1) Write what YOU want to write. Ultimately, it's your name on that cover.
2) Get ready to grow a thick skin quickly, esp. if you go the querying route or have smart, savvy people reading your work.
3) Editing is critical. Be prepared to hack and slash, do what it takes to sculpt and then, fine tune that bad boy.
4) Don't write in a vacuum. Seek out fellow writers, and writing websites. Writing is such a solitary thing and feedback is invaluable. And it goes both ways–you'll be helping others, too. There's so much to learn about writing, editing, querying, promoting your stuff–you don't have to do all that alone.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I started querying agents first: querying TWO novels simultaneously which meant double the rejections for me. That was tough. Self-pubbing crossed my mind many times, but I wanted agent representation if I could get it and I DID get it, for a year. It didn't pan out, but it certainly was validation that my stuff was good. I've queried agents and small pub. editors, have had partial and full requests and that's validating, too. Then came the offer to publish my novella, which has been wonderful and humbling and all the rest. I’m hoping this is start of a beautiful friendship!
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I've personally witnessed no less than a cosmic shift in book publishing: from the big five (or six) publishers and brick and mortar book stores to countless indies and now, self-pubs and e-books, audio books and all the rest. I think more and more writers will be going the self-pub route, and we'll see more indie publishers and more community-based social enterprises. Digital media is here to stay—reading novels on your smart phone–but I think folks are starting to get nostalgic for the real thing, too: an actual book they can hold, pages they can dog-ear, the heft, the smell, libraries! I’d love to hold a book I wrote, love to see it on nestled on my local library's shelf. That’s a dream come true right there.
What genres do you write?: I write thrillers, suspense, psychological suspense, coming-of-age, a touch of paranormal thrown in for good measure, a little horror.
What formats are your books in?: eBook
Website(s)
K.K. Edwards Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
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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.
