Hey there everyone and welcome to the start of a brand new shiny week!

Tonight on the Author Interview series, for your pleasure we have author Kim Knight over here and she talks about her debut romantic suspense novel, along with what motivates her to write.

Time to take a trip to Paris from the comfort of your own home, here we go.

 

Hi there Kim, thank you for chatting with us today, we’re really excited to hear more about your new book and writing techniques.

Let’s start with your debut novel “A Stranger In France”. You mention that it is a romantic suspense adventure about two strangers who meet by chance encounter in France. Please tell us more about how the relationship unfolds and what sort of challenges our would-be lovers are going to have to face if they are going to wind up being together forever?

Hello, thanks for having me.

In A Stranger in France, my hero (Nicholas D’Coix) and heroine (Kate Brown) meet in southern France. Kate escapes London to see her girlfriend (Tanya), in France during her half-term break, for some headspace. Kate is experiencing some marital trouble- I won’t say what kind and give it all away. While in France, her path crosses with the delicious Nicholas D’Coix. Their relationship unfolds over a two-week period, and extends beyond this when Kate returns to London. The two are very much into each other. On Kate’s return, she has a massive surprise and so does Nicholas. Again- no spoilers from me! However, their surprises keep them linked further. Danny (Kate’s husband) also has centre stage on her return— he makes a life changing decision that in some ways frees up Kate for Nicholas. I’m keeping mum about all the twists and turns! However, I will say there are a few, clever ones readers won’t see coming.

You also write for “Love Life, Live” magazine, which is full of lifestyle, culture and everything in between. Tell us more about your writing role there and what you have been up to when submitting articles to them.

Oh I love this magazine there really is something for everyone there. I mainly focus on writing book related and beauty articles for them. Of late, I have been so busy focusing on the completion of A Stranger in France and the editing stage of my next romance book Not Just For Christmas which is due out at Christmas. I’ll be honest and say I’ve not submitted anything to the magazine for a few months! However, they understand what I’m focusing on right now and that I’ll be back in full force submitting articles as soon as life calms down.

If your novel was to be made into a film, who would you cast in the lead roles?

This is such a hard question. Nicholas is originally from the Ivory Coast in West Africa. He is six-foot-two, very handsome, athletically built, so anyone who fits this description and can pull off a French accent. Visually Idris Elba the actor may fit. Idris is older, in his forties Nicholas is thirty-six.

That said I think if I were ever lucky enough to have this opportunity, I’d happily have a no-named up and coming actor, who visually fits Nicholas’ description. As for Kate, she’s of mixed raced heritage, so again I’d happily have a no-named but very stunning looking and curvy female, of mixed raced heritage play Kate. As I’m from London in the UK I’d root for any British up and coming actors/actresses who can pull of accents and fit the parts visually.

What do you find the most difficult thing about writing? And what do you find the easiest?

Easiest – to just write! Like no one is looking. When I was writing A Stranger in France, I did not suffer from writer’s block, which was lucky. I got so into the story and characters it flowed. That said, I’ve gone back to my first ever story idea for a book, and this is much more challenging for me to write. I think it’s due to the fact that it has an element of crime. Due to this, I’m really keen to have accuracy in police procedures and criminal activity. Research and interviewing are the challenges.

The hardest thing about writing, I think honestly is putting your work out there and unleashing it to the world. As a writer you always ask yourself over and over—is the story ever good enough? Also editing, that can be like pulling teeth.

Who are some of the authors in general that inspire you?

Loads, I read so much. The first book that introduced me to romantic suspense Jackie Collins wrote. Deadly Embrace, I read this book when I was barely in my twenties, then read everything after that. I have to salute Ms Collins without a doubt. I love Martina Cole, I respect her as a fellow British author, and I love her writing style, and the mood she creates in her crime novels. She writes real page-turners. I like Diane Chamberlain also, the first book of hers I ever read was fiction based on a real life event back in the sixties in the state of North Carolina. I became a fan ever since. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie also, I just loved everything about three of her books I’ve read, Purple Hibiscus, Half a Yellow Sun and Americanah she’s a great writer. From what I’ve read about her she refused to be put in a box and told what to write. I like that.

What sort of research did you do to write your book?

Anything that’s needed to ensure facts are as accurate as possible, in a nutshell.

Why do you write? What inspired you to become a writer?

Why? Because I love it, I enjoy creating characters, and storylines from the start to finish. I love drawing up the character’s profiles and seeing them as 3D people, when writing and creating them. The inspiration to become a writer came from my love of words I’ve always loved reading and writing from a young age.

Later in life after a little life experience, I just thought get on with it and have fun! So I started to write but never deep down ever thought I’d be a published author. Writing for myself made me happy, now I’m over the moon with excitement.

What keeps you motivated during creative slumps? How do you deal with Writers Block?

Writing prompts. I do a lot of these that readers can see on my author blog. If I am stuck in a rut or not as motivated to work on my actual story, I’ll do a writing prompt to get my mojo back.

You have access to a time machine. What advice would you give you your younger self?

Always follow your gut, if it don’t feel right chances are it a’int.

How do you spend your free time when you are not writing?

Reading, being a mum, watching You- Tube beauty tutorials, catching up with friends, at my sewing machine dressmaking.

Tell us more about your upcoming projects. Are you working on anything specific or have plans in the pipeline?

Yes, there are quite a few, now I’m getting ready to release my second book a feel-good romance novella called Not Just For Christmas. A cover reveal is on my author site at www.kimknightauthor.com.

I’m also writing a short story for a serial novel, called Code Red. My publisher asked me to feature alongside 19 other authors, in this novel of short stories. It will be published February 2017 and all money raised from sales will go to children’s cancer research over in the USA. You can visit my author site for a cover reveal and more info. Once I’ve finished writing this short story, which should be in the next few weeks, I will be focus my energy back on my romance –thriller. I’ll start with a bit of research in crime and then write like no one is looking!

Finally, are there any nuggets of wisdom that you can impart to other aspiring writers?

Keep your head up and be yourself, write what makes you happy, and never give up it just might happen.

And that’s a wrap! Thank you for being here Kim and we look forward to becoming less of a stranger to your work in the near future 🙂

Bio:-

Kim is thirty-three, from London in the UK. She’s a qualified teacher and mother to a beautiful toddler. As a reader she’s head over heels in love with romance, historical fiction, crime fiction, African- American, suspense and thriller genre books. After submitting three chapters of a romance /suspense novel she was writing to a USA based publisher in 2016, she scored her first publishing contact. Kim’s first novel is released September 2016, A Stranger in France. Her second novella Not Just For Christmas will be released Christmas 2016. Kim is currently writing her third book a romantic -thriller. As a writer Kim likes to create stories within the romantic -suspense and general thriller genres, with a diverse and multi-cultural character line up. Kim also writes beauty and book related articles published in Love Life, Live magazine.

When she’s not reading or writing novels of her own, her other passions include practising her French, fashion and spending time at her sewing machine dress making, watching make–up and beauty tutorials on YouTube, letter writing and being a mum.

You can connect with Kim on the following Social Media channels:-

Facebook:- Kim Knight – Author (FB)
Goodreads:- Kim Knight (Goodreads Author)
Twitter:- Kim Knight – Author (Twitter)
Website:- The Website of Author Kim Knight – Romance-Suspense & Thriller Writer

You can buy Kim’s book here:-

Buy Kim Knight’s “A Stranger in France” in Canada

Buy Kim Knight’s “A Stranger in France” in the UK/Europe

Buy Kim Knight’s “A Stranger in France” in the US/Rest of the World

Still want more? Well, Kim’s book is all about romantic suspense and fiery passion full of flames. For more articles using the theme of ‘Flames’ then check out the links below:-

1. Inspiration Burning Bright – Debbie Gravett
2. Success Inspirers’ World – Inflammable Thoughts
3. Betcha didn’t know! – Motivation Monday
4. Lofty Flames – Blog of Hammad Rais
5. Betcha didn’t know! – I still have a lot to say! Now what? Discover the secret to writting a long post
6. Go Down In Flames – Mac’s World
7. The Showers of Blessing – Haiku – Flames
8. 3 – themanbehindtheglass
9. The Life of Kesetpian – Dreams on Flame
10. Ashleya Nicole – It Feels Like Time Stops
11. Burning Disdain – Postcard from a Pigeon
12. Flames – Leigha Robbins
13. Success Inspirers’ World – Flames and ashes
14. Betcha didn’t know! – Don’t know what your niche is? Get 7 effective tips to discovering a successful niche!
15. Poem: Remember, Remember? – L’esprit de Lauren
16. EASY WAYS TO INCREASE SITE TRAFFIC AND GET MORE FOLLOWERS 2 – WELCOME TO OKOTO ENIGMA’S BLOG
17. Betcha didn’t know! – Old flame
18. Jensiper’s Blog – fire
19. theblackwallblog – Moon wish
20. Of Sparks and Flames, Short Circuitnand Ice – thethoughtskeeper
21. Nothing – aYoKa
22. Flames & Fragility. – Ananya, The Verbal Seduction.
23. The Colour of Poetry – And there will be a flame
24. La Gatita Oscura – El Diablo
25. A Walk Down the Memory Lane – The Chaos Within
26. Sasha’s Writings – Flame of Love
27. KO Rural Mad As Hell Blog – out of minutes
28. Purposive Writer – The Flame
29. SHARE YOUR LINK!!! – WELCOME TO OKOTO ENIGMA’S BLOG
30. tuckedintoacorner – flame + peeking
31. Frank Prem – dancing the fire alight in the evening
32. Flames – Bamboo Post
33. Human – Grounded in Fantasy
34. Persephoneina – Flames
35. The Flames – whodoesshethinksheisblog
36. The Numbers – English Lit Geek
37. The cackling fires – Oh, border!
38. Flames (poem) – Unpredictable Life
39. THE BEGINNING AND THE END – Rainbow
40. Of the House We Built (A Poem) – stephentotheplate
41. Stutter-Stepping Heart – Azure Flames
42. inspiration in progress – flames
43. know my heart – search me: mom struggles
44. lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown – Comfortable Mortality
45. Sun of my head. – keriloa
46. Pyrotechnic – The Light & Simplicity Project
47. Burn With Me – MY ENDURING BONES
48. The Final Pose – StuffHollySees
49. Flame – samanthaalexia
50. Flames – Writer2011
51. Flames…(daily prompt) – my unremarkable story
52. Thoughts: Flames – Sincerely, Loewe
53. The Adventures of Iric, Vol. 4 – jmwwriting
54. Warming Flames – writingindevizes
55. First Time Participating with The Daily Post Prompt – Maechler Town
56. Final call – Scribbled by M
57. Neighbors are like a box of chocolates… – Serendipitous Web Life
58. Afraid of the Dark – If Moms Could Write
59. Fluffy Pool – Flames and Day 12
60. It’s The Little Things – Brandy 1920, Burning in Flames…
61. Flaming zombies – Rexine Rawhead
62. Ouch!! My back hurts!! – Flames!
63. LET’S GET SOCIAL: WHO’S IN? – WELCOME TO OKOTO ENIGMA’S BLOG
64. Don’t judge a person based on his/her viewpoints – Roberta Pimentel
65. teleportingweena – FLAMES
66. 83 Unsung Heroes – Old Flames
67. Musings of a Menopausal Maven – Flames of Ignorance
68. It’s The Real Thing – Kurilane Guests
69. life is great despite its troubles – Was everything lost?
70. Moon – Selarom
71. Winter – indisputably inconclusive
72. Lost Property Repository – Did someone order a Barbecue?
73. Quite Extremely Random – Flames
74. s1ngal – Flames
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77. More categories // Nog meer categorieen op Theo Herbots TV – Theo Herbots TV
78. Two minute stories – Burned Alive
79. Response to Daily Prompt : Flames – The Bag Lady
80. Roly Andrews Author – Time Flies
81. Mid-Life Moments. Finding Myself Again. – Mid-Life Inspirations
82. The Elements – Random Thoughts and Musings
83. Scott’s Place – Flames
84. Flames (Nathan 19) – Covert Novelist
85. First Time Participating with The Daily Post Prompt – Maechler Town
86. Frank Prem – who is the girl/boy
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88. Lovers Tiff – a mile in my shoes
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94. Occasional Dreams – The Fires of Brel
95. One Lick – Kurtis Lunz
96. Joys of Joel – I am Flames
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99. La Tour Abolie – The Folks That Lived On The Hill
100. Jibber Jabber with Sue – Starring the Shaw Fire Log
101. Change: Will it be a Revolution or the same ole thing? – The Cosmic Salon
102. Flames – Site Title
103. 365 Days of Thank You – Activist, Who Me?
104. Relax – A call, not to arms
105. Myammy! Moving in together at 50… – If you don’t like…
106. Steps Times Two – Hearts Aflame
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108. Wildfire – november child
109. The Flames of Kindness Spreads Like A Wildfire – My Daly Bred
110. An old friend – seequoyah
111. Zombie Flamingos – It’s…. Caturday!
112. Shail’s Nest – Not good enough
113. Musings of a Random Mind – Some Like It Hot
114. GO DOWN IN FLAMES – rhymeagination
115. Flames – Image & Word
116. simply.cindy – Finding Inspiration
117. Making sense of Election 2016 – ideas and culture
118. Rising from the Ashes – CD-W, Author
119. Life Less Ordinary – In Flames : Pure Eargasm
120. Flames of warmth and destruction – Mindflight
121. The Girl with the Butterfly Tattoo – Up In Flames
122. Think About It – Can We Still Imagine?
123. Betcha didn’t know! – Flames
124. Flames – Vermont Book Works
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126. The Harvest – The Cottage
127. SERENDIPITY – KISS OF FIRE – GEORGIA GIBBS – 1952
128. Flowers and Breezes – Flames
129. There Are More Poets than Stars in the Firmament – primal attraction feeds
130. Random Musings – Ashes in the Wind
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133. Winter Rekindle The Flames – emotionsoflife2016
134. Lamont and Dude Take a Hike and Discuss Earth’s Opening Act – I’m a Writer, Yes, I Am!
135. Battleground – ARJUN SHIVARAM
136. Gas vs Electric: are flames really necessary for that meal? – Just Keeping It Honest
137. Stepmompreneur – Going Down In Flames
138. I-read – BLEEDING AWAY
139. The Cat Chronicles – Daily Feline Prompt: Flaming Felines
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142. The Lost & Found Spirit 6 – Ms Skyfall
143. Dragon Flame (Part II) – S. Thomas Summers
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148. The Gad About Town – A Wife’s Lonely Fight for Her Husband
149. Christine’s Collection – No Flames For Us!
150. Christine Composes – Prairie Fire!
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155. Flames – Living, Learning and Letting Go
156. Healthy Living – Seafood Recipe: Fish and Prawn Curry
157. The Sleeping Reading Beauty – My Feisty Flame
158. So Close… – Darkly Dezire
159. the flames of love – Love it Now
160. Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss – Flames of Hope?
161. The Day Project – Unexpected
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163. Daily Prompt – Flames – Bob’s Blog
164. Dragon Flame (A Bit of Prose) – S. Thomas Summers
165. Annette’s place – DAiLy/PrOMPt/FLamEs
166. Friday is Flyday – Two Hour Less
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174. The Flames They Followed Joan of Arc – Scattered Showers in a Clear Sky
175. The New Me – writemebad
176. Flames – @HumbleBirdLove
177. debooWORKS – Cease Fire
178. The Future in Our Past – The DADgum Blog
179. helen meikle’s scribblefest – The flame-trail of me blowing myself out of the WordPress water
180. Ever searching – Elaine’s Bloggers Paradise
181. Flames, fire and buster ⋆ Obsolete Childhood
182. Don’t Get Burned – Pete Gardner Psalms
183. wordsareallihavesite – Daily Prompt:Flames
184. Success Inspirers’ World – Song ‘Flaming Soul’ by Mirakali (audio & lyrics)
185. Flamed! – Quill & Parchment
186. Lost Property Repository – I feel like I want to start another flame war
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192. Designer Sophisticate – Givin’ the devil his due.
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194. And then there was one – The Flames Shifted
195. Flames Within! – Chronicles of an Orange-Haired Woman!
196. SAYONARA: MY DEARLY BELOVED – Okoto Enigma
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