MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR PIPER KAY

 

 

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you first get into writing?

Well, it’s complicated. Lol. I always knew I would want to sit down and write a book one day, if nothing more, then for my kids to get to know a different side of me. A side that wasn’t mom, but to give them an insight about certain things in my life. But it took years and lots of time before they were old enough so I could have the time to do it, then I had to figure out what to even write about. Once they got a little older, and forced me to get on FB (yes, I drove them that nuts being at home a lot, besides, I had no idea what FB even was-tekkie dummie here) I joined a few writer’s groups and stalked, uh…I mean watched. My idea of writing my own biography was out the window then. Joining the first few groups, I wanted to do more, so I continued watching and learned bits and pieces of it then gave it a shot. Long story, here I am now about to release the 24^th book. Lessons learned the whole time through other writers, bloggers, reviewers and a bunch of friends. Still learn something every day.

 

If you didn’t write, ideally would you do for work?

Growing up as a kid, I always wanted to be a vet and take care of animals. Through college, my majors changed from Economics to Chemistry, to Criminal Justice, etc. As an adult, just doing what I had to do to take care of the kids. Did property management, owned a couple of construction companies, had a cleaning service, etc., so it’s hard to answer.

 

What was an early experience where you learned that words had power?

Very early on, but I wasn’t a powerful reader. I couldn’t remember what I had just read five seconds after. Power of words comes in so many forms. Personally, I had good and bad experiences with that, so I just had to pick and choose which words meant most to me and stick with those when I could.

 

 

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want, write to market so to speak? What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Definitely original, I don’t write to market, never have. I write what I do because I take it to heart 100%

 

The most difficult part of my artistic process?

The first draft, though it flows straight from my head and heart, I have to go back and self-edit myself a thousand times before an editor ever see’s it.

 

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

There are a lot of research things that go into it behind everything, the smell of a cologne-what’s in it, the type of wine-how it’s made and what it tastes like. The correct terminology for phrases, always looking for a new word, road or highways, types of trees, getting lay outs on a house design, foods, etc. Plus, I have my own separate research I do, but it’s not blog appropriate to mention here. bwahahaha

 

Tell me about your new release or WIP.

My newest release came out on April 13, 2019 is called Kisses From Heaven. It’s probably the hardest book I’ve ever written. It’s not an easy road for my character and he goes through hell and back to find his happily ever after.

 

 

What was your hardest scene to write?

All of them really. It starts off hard, gets harder, then get a bit of relief, only to bounce back and forth between the hardships and finally to the happy and peaceful parts.

 

Do your characters talk to you?

Non-stop, they’re never quiet. Hahaha perks of the job I suppose, except at two o’clock in the freaking morning when they wake me up. I just want to spank them for interrupting my zzzs’s.

 

Do you plot out your stories or do your character’s voices drive your storyline?

I tried to plot once, and know what it did? Everything goes the opposite of what I had written down. So now I just go with the voice drive in them, and follow behind them with a notebook in hand (and pom-poms in case I need to cheer them on) HA!

 

What would the main character in your book have to say about you?

The main character would say, ‘She took it the best way she knew how and at the time, she’s a tough cookie’

 

 

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Absolutely so. I do it in all my stories, especially this one.

 

What one thing would you give up if you could become a better writer?

My soul-Just kidding. I have no idea to be honest. My sleep, but I do that anyway most of the time. lol

 

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I do read them, because I appreciate them so very much, good and bad one’s. The good ones make me smile and jump up and down. The bad ones, well I pull in the feedback if I’m given any and take it to heart the next time I write. It’s about learning something all the time, and I try to do that with both sides of the spectrum. Though occasionally you do get a troll on there who’s going to hate it no matter what, and there’s nothing I can learn from that one except everyone has a right to their own opinion and some people just don’t like or understand things the same. That’s okay though. It’s what makes us all different and diverse.

 

Do you Google yourself?

Nooooo! No way. I might now like what I see there. I did it one time back in the very beginning, many, many years ago. It was okay then, but who knows now. I’ll just stick to readers, etc.

 

 

What’s the best way to market your books?

I honestly don’t know. I send out ARC copies to readers and cross fingers they like. I try to share it, but I refuse to ever pay for a review or an ad. It’s just not my thing.

 

What do your fans mean to you?

Well, I don’t have fans, I just have readers. They mean everything to me. If not for readers, I couldn’t be an author. I appreciate them so very much for taking the time to read my books. I appreciate their feedback, friendships, and reviews. I very much love when they get my characters and can relate to them or love my book babies the way I do. It means the world to me.

 

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

The get-rich-quick thing. Authors make very little money, they do it because it makes their hearts happy. Nothing more.

 

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Hakem Olajuwan and Chuck Norris, Just briefly for a moment. Also lead singers for Fuel, Lit and One Less Reason

 

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they inspire you to become a better writer?

There is to many to mention, but all of them help in some sort of way or another. Different views, suggestions, etc.

Where can readers find you?

Amazon author page: http://amazon.com/author/piperkay

Website: https://piperkay80.wixsite.com/piperkay

FB: https://www.facebook.com/piper.kay.1

MeWe: mewe.com/i/piper.kay

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PiperKayAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6613775.Piper_Kay

Authograph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/PiperKayAuthor

Google: https://google.com/+PiperKay

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChQcM-y0AvDtn6YO9PY7lxg

Instagram: http://instagram.com/piperkay.author

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piper-kay-4967a995/

Tumblr: https://piperkay.tumblr.com/

 

 

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS INTERVIEW!!! I HAD A BLAST!!!