Interview with Author – Kelly Rae

About Kelly Rae:
I am a mom, to an amazing young man. Everything else in life is just a way to keep busy, between laughs with him – or a way to pay for his sports equipment and growing feet. No, really, his feet are out of control!

When I was twelve years old I hit the big leagues by winning a Young Authors Award (okay, okay it was only within my school district, shhhhh). Although, I have been unable to duplicate this success, in my adult writing, I’m giving it my best shot.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, with my son and our chocolate lab. We enjoy the sun when it shines and the snow when it falls. When we aren’t dancing in the rain or singing at the top of their lungs, in the car, we are planning our dream vacations…which we might even get to take some day.

What inspires you to write?
Since I was a child, I have always been someone who lived in my head. I would make up stories and dream big dreams at every opportunity. It wasn’t until I was almost thirty that I decided to make a career out of my stories. All those years, I was watching people and the way they loved, fought, lived and I took mental notes. 🙂 In light of that, I suppose my inspiration is human nature. We are an interesting bunch, in all sorts of good and bad ways all of which I find fascinating.

Tell us about your writing process.
I am the writer who tries to make an outline, writes it out by hand and then when I start writing I never look at it again. I just go, go, go. The outline I do lays the groundwork for me and maps it a little in my brain, but the reality is that when characters come alive, strange things can happen. They can take you places you never expected and I would have to stifle that creativity by being a strict outline follower.

For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t usually speak to my characters per say but I do to myself – often! There have been a few characters that have felt so real to me that I feel disappointed, sad, or excited for them, as I write scenes. Those times I may have spoken to them aloud, but not often. Usually, I shake my head at them and just keep writing!

What advice would you give other writers?
I honestly think the only true advice one can give is to keep writing. Write every day, even if it’s just a little. Many writers have to work a full time job for a lot of their career. Therefore, you have to take the time you do have and just keep going. It will pay off; either in readers and sales or simply the good feeling from getting on paper all of the crazy going on in your head. Moreover, there is no way to get better at the craft of writing than to write!

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I have a few Indie books that are out in the world and I loved having control of every aspect of its creation. I also have a deal with Forever Red Publishing to write Contemporary Romance. I like both avenues of publishing. There are good and bad to each and it has to be a personal choice. I will say there are times when it’s a relief to have an entire team behind you, assisting you with covers, editing and marketing.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I love that publishing has opened up, allowing so many new writers the chance to find an audience. Writers like me. There are many Indie books that I have read that never would have been deemed “marketable” by the big guys in NYC. In that way, we all benefit. I know that some people complain about the influx being bad for overall business of the writers for whom this is a career. I do think that will calm down and there will be some writers, editors and the like who will be weeded out and the business will be well rounded and better for readers and writers. I’m excited about a future where I get to write and live my dream.

What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers

What genres do you write?: Contemporary Romance

What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print

Website(s)
Kelly Rae Home Page Link
Link To Kelly Rae Page On Amazon

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