Today, I have the esteemed pleasure of interviewing author and business entrepreneur, Kim Killion. I am truly honored that Kim could take the time out of her busy schedule to grace me with her presence.
As a part of my feature on authors who give back, I was excited to speak with Kim. Published and unpublished authors who have been to her website can find a host of information to further themselves along in their profession.
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| Kim Killion with cover model Brooks Johnson |
Kim is one writer that definitely pays it forward. Her talents are second to none.
Long before Kim was published she was winning many awards for her writing. I can personally say after reading her works, they are well deserved.
How are you doing today Kim?
Life is good! Things are happening. LOTS of things! I have stories out with Ellora’s Cave that are doing very well. I’ve got two novels releasing this summer and my design business is busting at the seams!
You are a whirling dynao, I don't know how you get it all done. How many hours are you working a day?
I’m a workaholic. I put in about 20 hours on any given day. I get up at 4:00am and bust through my emails, then I design a cover or lay out some trading cards before I have to get ready for my day job. (I teach graphic design at a college in St. Louis.)
I get home in the afternoon, pick up the kids. If they are lucky, I might feed them before I get back on the computer and work until around midnight. I usually fall asleep at eh computer and somehow manage to drag myself to bed.
I’m hoping to try to find a few hours in the day to write a new story that has been badgering me for a few months now. Anyone know where I can submit a request to extend the normal day from 24 hours to 36?
You have been in Graphic Design for about 20 years, when did you start writing?
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I became interested in writing Scottish Medievals and joined a few critique groups at which point I realized I’d written my first book all wrong. HIGHLAND DRAGON was my second book and is set in 1502 in the Highlands of Scotland, followed by HER ONE DESIRE which begins in 1483 England.
What is your writing process like? Are you a pantser or a plotter? Do you write multiple drafts or clean up as you go?
I am a pantser. I like to write as if I were reading. That way I am as surprised by the events as the reader will be. In my opinion, it is less like work when you write like a pantser.
I write in the mornings. Typically from 4:00 am to 6:30 am. I type in a first draft, mostly dialogue, then I comb it a second time for internal dialogue and deep emotions. The third time through I will add in the senses, which is my favorite part. I am usually pretty content with the scene after three rounds.
Tell about you, what made you decide to become an author?
I’ve always been creative. Mostly artistic, but my mind is never as rest. I’m always thinking about ‘things’ and ‘what-ifs’. I think if I didn’t write, the people in my head would drive my mad. I like to tell stories and part of me hopes I touch someone with my imagination.
Who or what inspired you to write and why?
I fell in love with mythology in college when I was ‘forced’ to take the class as a general elective. The teacher inspired me as well as the stories he made us read.
Oedipus was the first story we discussed. In this work the hero unwittingly kills his father and marries his mother. My instructor described it as a tragic love story. But the writing I remember most has to be The Inferno by Dante. Wow! That guy could write. LOL. I love the drama and intrigue of the stories and strive to for a similar intensity in my own work.
What is your favorite part of being a writer?
As the heroine, I get to fall in love. As the hero, I get to be strong, handsome, flirtatious, witty… As the villain, I get to be sadistic and twisted. And as the author, I get to play with people’s lives, make them cry, make them laugh, make them fall in love. And if I’m lucky, I might just inspire one person—the reader.
Least favorite?
Getting started. It is difficult for me to type those first words. As a writer you fear starting in the wrong spot or losing your reader before they get to page 2. Otherwise, I love it!
What would you like to tell aspiring writers?
Perseverance. If you want it bad enough, it will happen. You must continue to learn. Find a critique partner or group. I found it easier to learn the craft of writing from reading ‘bad writing’ vs. ‘good writing’. Join online writer’s group and take classes. Read all the How-to books and never, under any circumstances should you ever give up.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Dedicated. Determined. And if you ask anyone who knows me, they might tell you I’m a wee bit wolf.
Tell us what you are currently working on now.
Tell us what you are currently working on now. Right now, I’m working on promotion for my May release, CARIBBEAN SCOT. Here’s a bit about the story:
Glenstrae, Scotland—1614
RICHES...
Forced to flee Scotland and forfeit the chieftainship of his clan, renegade Reid
MacGregor prospers as a fortune hunter in the rich waters of the Caribbean. But there are two treasures he has yet to claim—the lost library of an ancient Mayan priestess and the wild lass he left behind.
MacGregor prospers as a fortune hunter in the rich waters of the Caribbean. But there are two treasures he has yet to claim—the lost library of an ancient Mayan priestess and the wild lass he left behind.
TEMPTATION...
Mary-Robena Wallace is a member of the rebellious MacGregor clan and a warrior in her own right. Desperate to free her clan from the cruelty of their king, she raids the borders alongside her kinsmen...until the devilishly handsome man from her past returns with an offer she’s hard-pressed to refuse.
SEDUCTION...
Reid promises gold in exchange for her expertise as a cave diver to locate a treasure in the Caribbean—but they both know he’s after something more. They strike a deal to save her clan, but the fruits of an exotic paradise and the sinful kiss of a traitorous rogue force her to choose between returning to Scotland, or surrendering to the Caribbean Scot.
"A sexy, suspenseful story with great plotting
and lots of witty dialogue. A winner!"
and lots of witty dialogue. A winner!"
—Toni LoTempio, Reviewer, Night Owl Reviews,
Author of Raven’s Kiss & No Rest for the Wicca
Author of Raven’s Kiss & No Rest for the Wicca
Which came first, the writing or Hot Damn Designs?
Writing came first. For the past ten years I’ve been building relationships with a wide network of authors and that is where my niche market came from for Hot Damn Designs. My main clientele is made up of romance authors and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Tell us what a typical day is like at Hot Damn Designs.
Typical?! Ummm…a typical day is intense, crazy…in a word, INSANITY! I try to design a cover a day and get a website design started once a week. This doesn’t always happen. I just work as hard as I can to provide the best product I can and hope that it’s enough. So far so good!
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| Photo courtesy: Hot Damn Designs |
I don’t “contract” any models. I pay them cash and hope they show up and do what I tell them to do. LOL I’ve got a few favorites that I can call on a dime and they are happy to come to the studio and “work”. But let’s face it…what I’m doing here is pretty much fantastic! I’ve got models contacting me at this point wanting to shoot.
Do your models come from open casting or are they coming from go-sees?
When we first got started, we acquired a few models from modeling agencies here in St. Louis, but I did find a few gems on Model Mayhem and craigslist. :) We’ve had about 25 different models into the studio and have built relationships with those people. So now, I get most of my models from referrals.
How often do you schedule a photoshoot?
We try to shoot once every 1-2 months. It can get expensive with costume rentals and modeling fees. It’s a lot more work than you can imagine, but there are A LOT of perks. Sexy men, baby oil, hot wax….those are just a few perks off the top of my head. You can’t imagine how it feels to tell a man to take off his clothes and he just does it. LMAO
How many hours does it take to do a typical photo shoot?
The first shoot lasted 3 days because we were launching a new company and need a massive amount of stock to put out there. We shot for 12 hour days and took over 7,000 pics that first shoot. Now, we try to bring in 3-5 models at a time and limit our time in the studio to about 8 hours.
Kim, you covers are so sumptuous and romantic, how long does it take you to get the covers to your liking?
I can design a cover in about 3 hours. I pray the author loves it on the first round but this is rarely the case. I work the author’s suggestions until she/he is happy and then start on another one.
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| Brooks Johnson |
Ummm…oh wow! That’s quite a question. The answer is YES! That’s all I’m willing to say about that. *vwg*
Tell us about what type of hero you like to write about?
My typical hero is very Alpha. He’s a warrior, a lover and he makes me laugh. He’s gentle in the bedchamber unless I push him beyond the brink of sexual sanity which is often the case in my stories.
What about your heroines?
They are feisty as hell, independent, and strong. They are usually inexperienced sexually, but have a great deal of experience from fantasies.
Which is easier, Historical Romance or Erotica?
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I got bored. I wanted to write a story just for me and I wanted to pull out all the stops. I never intended to publish something so saucy, but it’s out there and doing well.
In my interview with Brooks, we touched on the raffle Through Hot Damn Designs for Breakfast with Brooks. How many raffles have you done?
This is the first!
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| Photo courtesy of Hot Damn Designs |
To learn more about Kim and her writing and designing, please visit her websites:
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