Author Bio:
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.
What inspires you to write?
Everything! I have a rather overactive imagination. Normally it’s more of a battle to turn off my noisy muse. However, if I’m well and truly stuck, music never fails to inspire me.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am a daydreaming pantser. While I don’t write out a physical outline, I will spend weeks meditating on a book before I start writing it. By the time I start writing, I know my characters like friends, have imagined numerous scenarios for the plot, and have the overall outline in my head. Daydreaming/meditation is an important part of writing for me. I need to get to know who my characters are as full people before I can write a story about them. Plots tend to come second… after the characters are firmly established.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Yes. It’s rather embarrassing when I get caught by a family member. One of the best ways to get to know your characters is to ask them questions. So far they’ve always answered in my head, so at least I’m not hearing voices yet 🙂
What advice would you give other writers?
Don’t give up. If you love writing, then do it. There will be times when you wonder why you put yourself through this– rejections, bad reviews, overall nastiness, etc. Keep moving forward and keep writing. “This too shall pass” is a great mantra for the difficult times.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
My first book was traditionally published with a small press. Any dreams I had of big five publishing were shattered when I got an eyeful of the contract I’d have to sign. The contract was too restrictive for me. My second book I self-published because I had contacts and was more confident that I could produce a quality product on my own. I think all options should be explored before making a decision. I gave up a lot bypassing the big five and there are times I regret it (but not for long).
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I am optimistic about the future of publishing. Because I’m a bit of a control-freak, Indie publishing will probably work best for me. There are so many great resources out there for Indie publishers. The shift from stores to online and paper to ebooks just makes it that much easier for Indies. That said, I do love a good bookstore, though my favorite are small, local stores. It would break my heart to see them disappear.
What do you use?
Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?
YA, new adult, romance, fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy
What formats are your books in?
Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Kimber Leigh Wheaton Home Page Link
Link
Your Social Media Links
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7885752.Kimber_Leigh_Wheaton
https://www.facebook.com/KimberLeighWheaton
https://twitter.com/Cymberle
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