Interview & Giveaway with Kimberly Killion

There are not too many books (I can count on one hand actually), that I can honestly say, "This is one of the best books I have read". I am truly confident that if you read Kimberly Killion's latest release Highland Dragon ....... you too would be singing Mrs. Killion's praises. And Today you have your chance for that opportunity. Kimberly was gracious enough to honor me with an interview and is offering a signed copy of Highland Dragon to one lucky winner! Please read my Review of Highland Dragon HERE if you aren't familiar with Kimberly and you can also check out here site HERE as well. I hope you enjoy my interview with Kimberly and look below for the Giveaway rules & details. Happy Reading and Good Luck!

I would like to Welcome Kimberly Killion to Book Junkie today as my Guest Author celebrating her latest release Highland Dragon that releases from Kensington Publishing on October 06, 2009. (this is actually for sale currently @ Barnes and Nobles as an early release!!)

I am a fly on your wall today, what would I see in the day of Kimberly?
Well, little fly, you have to wake very early. I got up at 4:00 am this morning as I do most mornings because it is quite and I can be a coffee hog, and my children are quite because they are sleeping, and my creative juices are at their peak, and did I mention that it is quite. Ahhhh. I break from 6:00-7:00 to play mom, but once the bus comes, the darlings are gone, and the husband goes away, I get back to it. Right now I’m not working which is a grand thing indeed, but typically I would head off to work myself. Either way, I nap after lunch, and try to write before the family returns. Then comes supper, a couple episodes of Jeopardy or Two and a Half Men, then I write the rest of the evening in my camper beside the garage. Why in a camper you ask? Because it is quiet. J

If someone were writing a story about Kimberly, what type of word would describe you?
Oh my, I would be the funny secondary character who make the reader laugh. So I guess the word would be one of these: hilarious, shocking, or just plain ole ‘bitch’. I have limited patience with stupid people and sometimes I just can’t control what comes out of my mouth.

How do you get started with writing a story (as in, how do you start developing the story, how do you get inspired for it)?Do you start with an outline, synopsis, characters; what is your writing process like?
I have to do A LOT of research prior to writing that opening line. I’m talking a month’s worth. I google, dig, read, read some more until an idea stabs me in the eye. Because I write historical, there was a certain way of life for men and women and I must know my characters before they will tell me about their lives. So I do storyboards and develop flaws in my characters. I give them personally traits like expletives. I interview them and try to figure out their childhood and where they were schooled. The characters usually drive the story after that.

Can you tell us a little about your newest release Highland Dragon?
Here’s a short bit about the story: In a struggle between love and revenge, only one can emerge victorious. Eighteen years after hiding the secret of his betrothed’s lineage, Laird Calin MacLeod is forced to choose between avenging his father’s death and surrendering to the passion he finds in the arms of his enemy’s daughter.

What was your inspiration for Highland Dragon and why 16th Century Scotland?
Oh this is easy…my inspiration was a man in a kilt with a big sword. I like writing in the latter part of the Medieval time period. It is slightly less barbaric to me, plus I enjoy the dialect the Scots might have used in their day to day banter. The country is beautiful to write about as were the people. They fought hard, laughed hard, and loved unconditionally. (Well, they do in my stories.)

If you could cast Akira and Calin for a movie who would play them on screen?
Liv Tyler would play Akira and Gerard Butler (of course) would play my Scottish hero.

Why do you think so many Romance readers love reading about Scottish Highlander’s?
I can’t answer for all readers, but the reason I read and write Scottish characters is because they possess a great deal of pride. They have big hearts and they banter so beautifully with each other.

Did you draw your characters from the personalities in your life?
Only one: Aunt Wanda reminds me of me. She speaks her mind and damns the consequences. I loved writing her character. As for Calin…this man is pure fiction. They just don’t make ‘em like that anymore.

What was the first romance book you read and how did it effect you?
The Secret by Julie Garwood. It is a spectacular book. I can still envision those characters. I know their names, and can recall the first scene and a bumblebee. It definitely stuck with me and it is because Ms. Garwood has a talent for building believable characters. It took me a long time to learn out to do that and I’m still learning, but I do believe the characters are what make the story a keeper. Nothing else really matters.

If you were not writing, what would you be doing?
Sleeping. No, seriously, I used to scrapbook and take pictures, but most likely I would do what comes easiest for me and that is computer graphics.

For you, what is the hardest part of writing a novel? Concept, Characterization, Plotting, Writing the story, Synopsis/Query letter writing, etc.
I absolutely despise writing the sucknopsis. I’m a pantser, which means I write by the seat of my pants. I find it much more enjoyable to find out what’s going to happen as I write a story. If I plotted it, and then had to sit down and write it, my AADD will flare up. I enjoy researching and can sometimes get lost in it, but that’s part of the process.

Her One Desire was your very first published work, how long did it take you to get published?
I started writing in 1996, but had my second child in 1998 which set me back for 6 years. I got back into writing when my TV broke in 2004. That’s when I joined RWA and my local chapter, Missouri Romance Writers of America, of which I’m now the President. I got involved in critiques groups and learned I was doing it all wrong. I guess I finally figured it out, though there is always something new to learn. So to answer your question: 5 years.

On your site under each of your Books you have a Character listing with pictures of each character, do you usually cast your characters before or after you have started writing? Does it help inspire you and take the story in a different direction?
Yes, I storyboard and do character sheets before I ever start a book. I have to know what they look like, what curse words they say, what their nervous tic is, and so on. In fact, my characters sit on my computer desktop the entire time I write the book. I have to look at them sometimes to figure out what they want me to do with them. And sometimes I simply scold them for being so quiet.

If you could ask readers any one question, what would it be?
As a person who gets easily bored, I wonder why we don’t see more unusual books. For example aliens landing in Regency London. OK...this has probably been done, but I’m curious to know if readers get frustrated that traditional publishers don’t take more risks and break out of the norm? What are you sick of? Vampires? Ball rooms?

GIVEAWAY

+1 Entry for Answering Kimberly's Question

+5 Being a Follower/Becoming a Follower

+7 Blogging or Posting about Contest

*Contest runs until Oct 05th Midnight EST