We’re pleased to welcome Kristin Miller to the blog for a little Straight Talk!
When you are getting ready to start a new book, what’s the first thing you do?
How do you celebrate when you finish writing a book? I make a huge bowl of chocolate ice cream, pour Hershey’s syrup over the top, add whipped cream, sprinkles and VOILA! Instant party. J I usually write while I’m alone, so that means I usually finish books alone. My husband and I go out to a nice dinner a few days later when he’s not working, but that comes after the ice cream sundae party in my living room.
Have you had any fun fan moments since you became a writer?
Probably the coolest thing that’s happened is a fan-by-proxy moment. New York Times Bestselling author Allison Brennan picked up InterVamption from my signing table in Anaheim at the 2012 RWA conference. She said she was going to give it to her daughter who was into vampires. The next morning, when I passed by Allison in Starbucks, she told me that her daughter had started reading it and loved it. I’ll remember that forever because Allison is one of my favorite authors, and for her to take the time to tell me that her daughter enjoyed it really meant a lot.
If you could have dinner, coffee, or drinks with a fictional character, who would you choose and where would you go?
Do you usually begin a book with a character or a plot? I begin with an idea. Sometimes I see the hero first (rarely the heroine) and sometimes I see the major overarching conflict. With Gone with the Wolf, Drake Wilder came to me first. He swept in all high-and-mighty with his big corporation and Alpha demeanor. I knew right away I wanted to pair him with someone who would knock him off his pedestal. Enter bartender Emelia Hudson. J
Do you have any hobbies or special interests you’d care to share?
I’m an avid collector of 1912, first edition books on the Titanic. Guess you could say I’ve been combing used bookstores for gems since 1990.
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
I’m a mixture of both. I must know how the hero and heroine meet and how the conflict comes to a head in the climax. I need to have a few clear scenes along their journey in my head, and the backstory of each major character. How I’m going to get from Point A to Point B, I have no idea! That’s the pantser part of the process that’s so much fun!
Where does the magic happen? Where do you write?
I write on a desk in the corner of my living room. I have a nice view of a grape vineyard out the front window, a printer to my right, and a couch to my left. It’s nothing special, believe me, but when my kids are watching cartoons or playing Wii, having a desk in the living room allows me to write every spare minute I can.
Aside from writing, what do you do in your free time?
I love to go to the movies and travel with my family. We live in Northern California where the beach and mountains are easily drivable so we visit both frequently. Also, I’m shamelessly addicted to Deadliest Catch. I watch new episodes, reruns, marathons, all of it. This time of year is Deadliest Catch season, so most nights the show is looped on my TV.
Do you prefer print books or eBooks?
I read on both, though I can read more quickly with a print book in my hands. (Not sure why.) Although there is nothing quite like the smell of a new print book, I really like the convenience that a Kindle offers. J
What’s in the works for you?
I’m currently writing the second book in the Seattle Wolf Pack series. Logan Black, an ex-Marine and the werewolf who makes an appearance in Gone with the Wolf, is the hero in this book. It should be finished by summer.
About Author
Ooooh yay! I was hoping Logan was going to be next. :D
Right when Logan came on the page, I knew he was going to be next. How could I resist?