Never Too Old For Y.A. & N.A. Books discussion
This topic is about
K.A. Tucker
Author Interview of the Month
>
Author Interview with K.A. Tucker
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
Great interview! Loved Ten Tiny Breaths and am looking forward to Livie's story.
Mod
Awesome interview! Looking forward to reading :)
FANTASTIC Interview!!! K.A. is FABULOUS and I am always eager to read anything she writes!!!
Excellent interview, thanks so much!! I have Anathema on my Kindle and really need to get started reading it... I loved gearing Kathleen's advice, though I must admit that just reading about her schedule and all the things she does ticketed me out! and did I read correctly - she's trained as a Doctor?!?! Wow!! Finally, I agree 1000 million percent with her comments on GRRM... he is a true MASTER of the craft and a true artist. I could (and do) just get lost in his world. His use if language is stunningly beautiful, and I really believe there is no better creator of characters writing anywhere, at any time. She's absolutely right that if you want to know nit just how to write but how to write beautifully, you should read his books!! And if she is smart enough to recognize that, then I know I am going to love her!
Thanks again, I always live reading author interviews. This is a great one!
Holly
Never Too Old For Y.A. & N.A. Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Ten Tiny Breaths (other topics)Anathema (other topics)
Asylum (other topics)
Allegiance (other topics)
One Tiny Lie (other topics)
1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A little over three years ago, when I was at home on maternity leave with my second child and needing mental escape.
2. How long does it take you to write a book?
It varies. ☺ My first book, Anathema, took 17 months from the day I started to the day I submitted to my editor. That book involved taking a 5 month online writing course, specifically designed to help you revise your manuscript. I learned a ton. The other 2 were significantly faster to write (about 4 months each). Ten Tiny Breaths took about 6 weeks.
3. What do you think makes a great story?
A great story is comprised of 3 things, in my opinion: 1: Characters who make you feel (hate them or love them, it doesn’t matter) 2: Tough conflict- I’m a “go big or go home” kind of writer. I try to put my characters in awful situations. Evil, I know. 3: Tight writing. I like fast-paced stories and meaningful content. As a reader, you shouldn’t skim over paragraphs. You should devour every word.
4. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
Repetitive. I have a demanding fulltime job and 2 small children so I can only write after 8pm when the kids are in bed or on weekends when I’ve negotiated some “mommy writing time” with my husband. I write 7 days a week, without fail.
5. How do you balance family and writing?
Not particularly well. I think my family and friends now understand that I won’t answer the phone on weeknights after my kids are in bed because a 30 minute phone conversation means 25-50% less writing time that night.
6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I’m in my head a lot when I’m plotting a book. I like to jump on the treadmill to think (and to burn off all the late-night snacking while I write). Commuting time is normally plot-building time. Ideas just come to me and then I see where I can take them.
7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? How invested I would become in my characters. They are real people with real feelings (Man, I WISH Trent was real….shhh. Don’t tell my husband. He’s already jealous)
8. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? I have published 4 and am working on my 5th. My favorite? You can’t ask me that… that’s like picking a favorite child! ☺
9. Are your characters based on anyone you know? Not directly. I’m sure there are qualities that creep in but I try to keep my books and characters as unrelated to my own life as possible. Especially the hot scenes… because, really, that would be weird. My family would look at me funny.
10. Do you have a favorite place you love to write?
My bedroom is my cave when I’m writing. I’ve grown so comfortable in there. In the odd circumstance when my house is empty and I have a day off, I like to write in the kitchen where it’s bright and sunny.
11. Tell us one thing we wouldn’t know already know about you. Hmm… I was in a tornado when I was 6 years old. I think that experience—understanding shock and what being plagued by reoccurring nightmares is like—has helped shape some of my writing.
12. What do your family and friends think about your books? I have extremely supportive friends and family. My husband reads all of my books.
13. What do you like to do when you are not writing? I’m a big cottage lover. Living in Ontario, we’re all about going north on weekends in the summer. Don’t ever offer your cottage up to me if you don’t mean it because you will find me on your doorstep with a bottle of wine, guaranteed.
14. Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they? Read a lot. Read in your genre and outside of it. Don’t just read as a reader, though. Study the author’s voice, how characters and their back stories are developed, how the author begins and end scenes, how the story starts. Do this to help shape your own voice (not to mimic someone else’s). The other suggestion? Write. Write. Write. Write. You will never improve your craft without writing. I’ve learned the biggest lessons from working with editors. I actually enjoy working with them, to see what they change and why.
15. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? When I was six, I did write a few books and “published” them in my school library. I’m not sure that I officially wanted to be an author at that point. I think I was aiming for something along the lines of “princess”. Going forward, I’ve gone through every phase: teacher, doctor, pathologist (yeah, that’s a weird one). I ended up in business, doing various roles in sales and marketing.
16. What are your favorite books and which authors inspire you? George R.R. Martin is my all time favorite author. You know why? Because of his brilliant character development and his ability to kill off main characters without killing the story. His Song of Ice and Fire series should be read by anyone wanting to write a book.
17. For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for writing a successful book? DO expect to do several drafts before you’re done. DO get an editor. DO get a beta reader(s) if at all possible (not a family member. You want someone who reads a lot and in that genre; someone who will provide sound and truthful feedback to help you). DO create a writing schedule for yourself. Most of us are strapped for time. You’ll need to make sacrifices but once you’ve found your groove, you’ll find you have an urge to write regularly.
DON’T give up. Ever. If the story doesn’t feel right, step away and start another one.
18. What are you working on now? I’ve started One Tiny Lie to follow Ten Tiny Breaths. It is Livie’s story and I can’t wait to see where it goes.