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3Q’s – Kyle Winkler is fine with pure pop transformation!

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I connected with today’s guest when their ultra-fun release ‘The Nothing That Is’ arrived to fill readers eyeballs with the fantastic story told within. Since then, it’s been great seeing their fanbase grow and how unique and rewarding each of their releases is. I’m super happy that Kyle was able to do a 3Q’s and is today’s guest!

Welcome Kyle!

Kyle Winkler pic

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Kyle: Phew. In the past year, it’s dwindled quite a lot. But looking back to 2018 thru 2022, I’d been diligently producing writing, so I guess I shouldn’t feel too bad that I’ve taken my foot off the pedal a bit. Two kids will do that to you. Hmm, my writing time has to be in the morning. I’m a morning person. Like 5 or 6AM. And, yes, I will try to write the same time each day, when I can. Maybe maaaybe I can get some words in at night after the kids are in bed. But generally, it’s in the morning when everyone is asleep still. The world is crusted over. I can dig at stuff then. I should say there’s one exception to this, and that’s when I walk. Esp. in nicer weather, when I’m walking, I will have lots of writing in my head. So, I type it all into a Notes app on my phone and transfer it later. That happens a lot in the summer.

Word count wise, I will feel pretty good with 1K in a sitting. Since I’ve been off for a while, and getting back into the rhythm, I told myself 500/day is good.

Steve: You’re riding an elevator and BAM! It gets stuck. What two authors (one living and one dead) would you happen to find yourself stuck with?

Kyle: Well, the dead one is Ursula K. Le Guin. That’s easy. And the living one is Stephen King. Le Guin is a monument in my mind. I’ve worked hard to emulate her prose and heart and storytelling since I’ve found it. And she was such a wise person. I would have loved to talk with her about topics not even related to writing. And King because there are few authors that I’ve heard talks from, online or otherwise, who are such good storytellers and friendly. Uncle Steve is open and approachable. So, yeah. Those are my two for today. Ask me tomorrow, I’d give you different answers probably.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release and why someone should read it!

Kyle: My most recent novel is Boris Says the Words. It’s a weird novel. It touches on sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. I worked on it longer than any other piece of fiction I’ve created. And I think it’s the most heartfelt thing I’ve published. Why should someone read it? Because it’ll hit all the buttons that spec readers have. It’s got magical words, body horror, dark comedy, patches of philosophy, poetic language, touches of a science-fictional future, alternative history, etc. The plot follows two main characters: a baker in Indiana who has multiple sclerosis and a call center worker in a desolate village in what’s left of Russia. Their storylines crossover and meet with a mysterious character named Boris. I gave myself absolute permission to put whatever I wanted into that book. I think it paid off.

Steve: Bonus Question! If you were transported back in time, which Pop Band/Hit Band would you hope to find yourself a member of?

Kyle: An 80s British band called Talk Talk. They had a hit of the same name which was later covered by No Doubt many years later. They started off as pure pop and transformed into an arty experimental band. Both sides are amazing.

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