Author Interview – Kristen James @writerkristenj

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

I learned so much while writing this book, but it wasn’t hard. I wrote the first draft in two months. It just flowed, and then I went through and added in more ideas and details.

Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it?

I went outside of writing a romance to look at family life. I also worked more with my secondary characters—some of them came to life and became very important to the story.

How do you promote this book?

I promoted to my fan base through Facebook, and then I ran a Bookbub ad for one day. Amazon also sent out emails. After about six weeks, I got an email from Montlake Romance (an Amazon imprint) and then accepted an offer. So I stopped promoting to wait until Montlake relaunches the book.

Will you write others in this same genre?

I love the romance/family drama genre. You could include it in women’s fiction, although there is a heavy romantic element to it.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I want the book to speak for itself, but I also think it’s pretty clear that the story is about making a marriage work, and that family matters and can help you through the tough times.

How much of the book is realistic?

I use emotions I felt in personal experiences, and I also blend in little realistic details, such as the toy parade the kids do in the book. My kids did that.

Have you included a lot of your life experiences, even friends, in the plot?

Many of my stories and characters come from a certain aspect of my life. I’ll even start a character based on someone and then develop that character further.

What are your goals as a writer?  

I want to write better and better books, grow as a writer, reach more readers and continue to love the process.

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

My family and I went to Coos Bay for a weekend so I could have everything fresh in my mind when writing Point Hope. We had a great time and I took notes on local businesses, Sunset State Park and the area.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I hope to have another 10, 15 or more novels out and a much bigger fan base.

What contributes to making a writer successful?

Reading, writing and putting concentrated effort into storytelling.

Do you have any advice for writers?

Write from your heart. Use your passions, fears and experiences.

If you could leave your readers with one bit of wisdom, what would you want it to be?

Always believe in yourself and look for the beauty in life. We see what we look for, so look for reasons to be happy.

When you wish to end your career, stop writing, and look back on your life, what thoughts would you like to have?

I want to see a long career of emotional, moving books with lasting effect. I want to write books that stick with people, and have a readership that read all my books. It’s about connecting with people and showing how I want the world to be.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Romance (women’s fiction/ family drama)

Rating – PG13

More details about the author and the book

Connect with Kristen James on Facebook & Twitter