Thursday 2 January 2014

Interview with Krista Ames


Krista Ames is the author of 'Harper's Wish' released on December 20th 2013.




About the book


Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but for Harper Donaldson it’s just another day. Orphaned at an early age, she doesn’t have a single good memory of Christmas.

But, when a Santa’s Mailbox mysteriously appears in the lobby of the post office where she works as postmistress, Harper wonders what it could hurt to send her own letter to Santa.

Could he bring her the family she’d always wanted?



About the author


Born and raised in Northern Indiana, Krista now resides in Northern Lower Michigan.  She is married to a very supportive man who allows her to follow her true passion of writing and never complains when she is pirated away on her computer for hours.  He is excellent at bouncing ideas around with and even helps the occasional writers block.  He’s also a terrific “in house” editor.  Krista is also a mother of 4 ornery children who keep her plenty busy.  With an addition of 2 beautiful chocolate lab sisters and a playful kitty, there is never a dull or spare moment in her household.  

Krista has always loved to read and would often sit up for hours into the night not able to put down a book until she was finished.  She still reads when she can but her main focus is creating her own stories to share with the world.  

She loves to communicate with her readers so please feel free to drop her a line anytime.

Krista Ames’ Links:

Link for Harper’s Wish on Goodreads:

Link for the tour button:

Welcome to the ho seat Krista. So here goes....

Can you tell us what prompted you to first start writing? What was the first thing you wrote?

Well let’s see….I started writing about 5 years ago.  I’d read yet another great romance book but after I was done I thought I can do this!   So I opened a word doc on my computer at work and just started typing.  That particular piece of work never saw the light of day.  It’s about 40k words and not finished but needs some major re-reading.  It was a romance but I don’t even know if it has a title.


What does a typical writing day involve for you?
    
I’m not sure there is such a thing as typical.  I have 4 kids and a husband so thank god I’m a stay-at-home mom.  I’m up by 6:45 to wake kids and make hubby’s lunch.  By 7:30 all 5 of them are usually out of the house.  If I have errand to run, I do that first thing.  Once at home, I try to focus on my computer and the current WIP or edits but find myself running to put a load of clothes in the washer or the dryer or wash a few dishes then back to the computer.  I get as much of everything done as I can before 3:45 hits and kids arrive.  There’s no focusing then.  I make dinner, help with homework if need be and after bedtime, get the laptop back out again and get to work.  I can be found still awake anytime between midnight and 4am.  Then to bed for a few hours’ sleep and up to do it all over again.


       How do you decide on the names for your characters?

Oh that’s a pretty easy one.  It’s weird but usually a title comes to me first.  Then I create the story around it and check the very large document full of names or sometimes those just come to me too.  They just sound good in the storyline.  When I’m stumped, I hit up my oldest daughter or my hubby for some help.


Which writers have influenced your own writing?

I would absolutely say Linda Lael Miller.  I truly love her writing.  I’m such a sucker for cowboys and she’s the queen of the west (at least for me)  Maya Banks and Lora Leigh have also given me lots to think about.  Of course, my author friends influence and encourage me everyday !


What are you working on next? Do you have a WIP?

I definitely do have a WIP.  It’s called Morgan’s Mountain and it will be book 1 in A Montana Series.
Book 2 will come shortly after that and either connect with Harper’s Wish or Morgan’s Mountain but will still be A Montana Series book.


What has been the best part of the writing process…and the worst?

I always think the best part of the writing process is creating the story.  They always seem to take on a life of their own.  The worst part…well I can’t say the editing because that makes the story better.  Probably for me the worst part is the promotion and sticking to it J


Tell us about your travels.

Travels…I wish I could say I was a world traveler.  I can’t even say I’ve been to all of our states.  I was born and raised in Indiana.  I lived in Florida for a few years and have now been planted into Northern Michigan.  Trust me, during this nice white Michigan winter, I’m wishing I’d have traveled back to Florida.  Oh and I’ve also been to all the states in between Michigan and Florida.  The biggest trip so far has been to the Bahamas.  The future holds some great promises for more travels though J



Most writers have some quirks – what are yours?

Quirks…gotta have pencils…not sure what that obsession is about and don’t even care.  I also need to have my caffeine.  Noise is definitely a must but it just depends on my mood.  Right now all I have running is an oscillating fan.  Other days it could be a movie or music in the background.

Do you plot your novels or allow them to develop as you write?

Definitely NO plotting.  I do have a general idea of where I want my story to go and sometimes I even already have the ending written or at least thought out but otherwise I fly by the seat of my pants !

 Have you taken any creative writing courses and would you recommend them?

I actually never have but I have been thinking about doing it.  I don’t think it would make me any worse. 


What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Right now I have a few on or near the top of my TBR pile…Winter’s Sweet Kiss, also through Roane Publishing.  Then I have Untangle Me and Taking Chances, both by S.J.Maylee.

Thank you Krista and good luck with the book.

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