Author Archives: Author, Kim Knight

Day #17: When Creativity Goes Side Ways!

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Sidewalk
Sidewalk

idea

Today’s WordPress word writing prompt is sidewalk. You can interpret this word as sidewalk = the street the more American term for what we English  call a pavement. Or you can (if you’re a bit nuts like me)  have another take on this word.  Meaning to literally go or walk sideways, to make a sideways move as opposed to forwards or backwards.

Is it Ok in life to sometimes not walk forward but side ways? And do a ‘‘sidewalk?” I sure hope so! I just did, well my creative side of my brain did and I didn’t even call on the creative side I was trying to have a break from it. So it’s day #17 of my count down until the ” big day” , yesterday I wrote about my long to do list and that today I have the whole day to sit and write my heart out, which I have done. I’ve working on my romance-thriller story. I’ve been writing and editing my work since around 11:00a.m it’s now 4: 30p.m London time. I’ve  now drafted the first 4 chapters to a completeish stage and I’m happy -great news right.I took a five minute break  to make a cup of tea, and just have a break from the screen but my creativity didn’t switch off, even though I was trying to switch off just for a moment. My creativity  walked sideways ….instead of progressing my story forwards, it shifted it side ways in a new direction.

 While waiting for the kettle to boil, I thought about my dilemma  over whether it’s OK for a writer to write in two very different genres after publishing two books in one, panic set in again, and the back and fourth started again over whether to even finish this story idea, even though a few weeks back I had clearly made up my mind that I was ganna do it! Complete my love story which has an element of crime and it would sit in the romance- thriller/crime genre . Read all about that word writing prompt and dilemma here.  Guess what happened this afternoon while  waiting for the kettle to boil? Yep into my head popped a different version of the ending or second half of my original story. I grabbed my note book and jot it down quickly before it escaped me, and a smile crept across my face. Randomly, my creativity made a sideways move without me even really trying or thinking about it and now  book #3 I’m working on is more refocused on romance( if I change the second half slightly).Looks like I’m back to square one and back in my original genre writing a romance-suspense, there is a crime yes I won’t change that, but with this new second half that randomly popped into my head the  focus  is on romance if I write it in that direction, one that I never thought just by switching around a few things. I feel happier with this re-vamped mental draft of the second half and ending. 

Have you ever had a situation in life where you have made a side ways move? Rather than going forwards? I guess it’s OK to go sideways in life as it can surprisingly actually move you forward in a way you never thought of.

 

Writing Prompt: Melody -why I love you

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Melody
Melody

I LOVE music, a melody and a good beat  to the bone, I could never live without it. It’s done so many good things for me. I did a writing prompt in this before earlier this year which you can read here for the word prompt music.

This morning as I sat down and mentally drafted my to do list, before I did that I went over to my TV and loaded up Spotify and selected ”easy listening piano beats” under the ”focus” mood, as I have a lot get through today. It’s still playing and I know this background noise has helped me work through 50% of my to do list so far. My music taste is crazy! I have an old soul and like anything from old Motown hits and soul , to classical music and modern day stuff.While writing I never write in silence, in fact I don’t do anything in silence but sleep.  If I do house work the radio is on, I write it’s on ,I read it’s on, I bath it’s on, do my nails it’s on- 24/7 in my home and car. 

Music has also really inspired my writing, in  A Stranger in France  I purposely picked out songs to help set the mood or show what a character is feeling from their point of view (POV). It was a challenge but it really inspired me. Here is an excerpt using music from Nicholas’ POV from A Stranger in France.

 

Pulling out his IPhone he scrolls along his contacts to Kate, just a south London address and email address she left no number. He grips the steering wheel and internally he kicks himself. She of course has his mobile number, office number and home number! Why has she not used them or even sent a postcard? Taking a few more deep breaths to compose himself ready for the long drive over to his apartment on the upper 16th district, one of Paris’ most affluent property areas, with some of the most expensive properties in Paris. He decides he will make contact, he has nothing to lose.

 He cruises at a steady unrushed pace in his air-conditioned BMW X-5 along the motorway, with his shades on and the music loud. Nicholas has a rush of adrenaline, his emotions flipped 360 degrees from disappointment to thrill at the chase and challenge of pursing Kate from 600 odd miles away.

Put things into perspective he tells himself, Kate doesn’t strike him as a coaster, or lay about when it came to work. In his mind he rationalises that she’s probably had a busy return to London and work. He has no doubt about Kate’s hard work ethic from the intimate conversations they had while she was in France. That is it, he convinced himself, she’s just caught up, make contact and claim your lady his inner voice said. Smiling, and physically relaxed cruising along with one hand on the steering wheel and the music up, the Isley Brothers smooth vocals on Summer Breeze fill the car, he sings along at the top of his voice and enjoys the drive home.

 

Top 10 ways to fill your ‘inspiration well’

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Love it. Makes me want to go note pad shopping.

Olivia McCabe's avatarOlivia McCabe

Most writers carry a notebook around with them wherever they go. Whether electronic or paper, they recognise the importance of recording every good idea they have. But where do these ideas come from, and how can writers get more inspiration for their work? Is your ‘inspiration well’ running a little dry? Then you’ve come to the right place…

  1. Sight – Take time to stop and look at the world around you. Whether it be a beautiful landscape, an expression on someone’s face, or a bag of knitting sitting haphazardly next to an empty chair, write it down! Collect images and scribble them in your notebook. You never know where they might lead. I had an idea for a story just from seeing a broken watch lying in a drawer. What do you see around you? Write it down!
  2. Sound – A piece of music playing on the radio, the waves…

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We Are

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Amazing and beautifully wrote! I felt extremely proud when I read this one for all women of colour whether your decent is from the Carib, south America, Africa , the middle east or Asia/ India. When I read this on the other hand I also thought there are a lot of things here that can relate to ALL women in general. Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem.

Tameeka Smith's avatarBe Lifted

I want to take a second to mention

Before I begin expressing

My affection for my

Beautiful black sisters

I am not a person

Who promotes division

Uplifting others

Is always my intentions

To spread positive messages

My sisters and I

Marches to the beat

Of a different drum

Some say that we are

Rude or have bad attitudes

But my dude that’s

The furthest from the truth

We are radiant

We are independent

We are grounded

We are strong

Yet we are also delicate

It’s part of being feminine

We do what we can

All by ourselves

Even if we needed help

We don’t stress

We are loyal

We are true

We sacrifice daily

For our beautiful babies

We endure pain

We don’t allow it

To turn inward

We don’t allow things to change us

Even though it should have

Drove us crazy

We love hard

We don’t give…

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Day #18: The Writing To Do List- What’s on Yours?

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Morning !

A cloudy one here in London today,I hope the sun hasn’t decided that it’s time to hide now that we’ve reached September. We’re only 2 days in.

Well for day #18 of the count down to ”the big day”  I have quite a to do list, and really glad I don’t return to work until Tuesday. I need to narrow down a from a long list of topics what to write an article on, for  3 guest blog appearances I’ll do as part of my book tour from the 20th September. The list of topics is rather long,  hard to decide but  it’s interesting. 

I also have the next 8 hours free to write my heart out and polish up what I’ve wrote for my romance-thriller book I’ve started and yet to complete. In terms of word count I’m only about 16,000 words in, so not much work produced, but I have my idea mapped out on paper. I hope today is a much more productive day than the last 2 days I’ve been off work and I’ve at down to write. I’ve been messing around behind the screen you see- well that’s not true I’ve been reading blogs and reading a really great romance novel which I’ll do a review for for another romance author. Last night I was up until 1:00 am reading, I’m enjoying the story line so far.

Also, on my list to do is to catch up on my letter writing, I’ve got a pile of unopened snail mail from France, Austria and the UK to reduce! My snail mail pals probably think I’ve dropped of the face of the earth. I hope they’ll understand.

Oh and today’s WordPress writing prompt, I’ll have a crack at when that is posted around lunch time.

This list is long enough as it is, I better get started before I remember something else I need to do .

 What’s on your to do list for  day or weekend writing wise? Let me know what you’re up to? Have a productive writing day bloggers!

 

Writing Prompt: Day #19 Over The Moon

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Shiver

 

coffeehouseauthor

coffeetimeromance.com

I’ve never actually done this, wrote 2 blogs for a WordPress  writing prompt, but it’s day #19 of my release day count down, and I’m over the moon.(Even more than I already was) why? I’m up in lights! Listed as a ”Coffee House Author” on Coffeeandromance.com where A Stranger in France will feature in October! *Cheesy grin* I’m shivering with excitement, over the moon and wanted to share.

And also let you know about this great website to discover other romance authors. I’m looking forward to having a good look through the list  myself, to see what and who I fancy reading.

Take a look and enjoy http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/

.

 

Writing Prompt: Mr D’Coix Will Make You Shiver

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Shiver

For today’s WordPress writing prompt ”shiver” I want to introduce to you Mr Nicholas D’Coix , one of the male characters in A Stranger in France. Nicholas is of west African decent- La Côte d’Ivoire  or Ivory Coast in English. He arrived in Paris aged 15 from the Ivory Coast and made his way in the world, from a simple hustler and money maker to a big time baller and now one of Paris’ top 3 entrepreneurs.

 There are so many reasons (that I hope) Nicholas will make the ladies shiver with excitement and even drool a little, I know I did when I was writing him  … I won’t give them all away, but visually he’s a treat! Six-foot -two inches, with a powerful athletic build, deep chocolate coloured skin, large brown eyes, long eye lashes, shaved head and a neat beard bordering his jaw -line. Ladies , Mr D’Coix is our eye candy! He’s a sharp dresser  with more Armani suits than you can count, and when he’s dressed down you’ll find him in a nice pair of fitted jeans, a crisp T-shirt showing off his gorgeous physic and on his feet a  cool pair of old school Nike trainers, or Gucci loafers. 

Nicholas is into Kate, like really into her. He falls hard and fast. Here’s and excerpt from A Stranger in France from Nicholas’ point of view after his first date with Kate.

Standing in the romantic candlelit garden, in the chilly night air Nicholas smiles to himself. What a woman he thinks. It has been years since he had actually felt a connection mentally with a woman as well as physically. It wasn’t just Kate’s looks that made him start to fall. Her height, curvy figure, slim legs, soft brown skin and wild dark curls. She’s smart, educated and has a career of her own. Over the years since he arrived in Marseille in his yearly twenties he struggled to find everything -brains and beauty- in a woman. At thirty six he is still searching.

 With the waves crashing in the background and smell of sea salt in the air he breathes heavily. A clear erection in his pants. He had to cool off before he went inside, there is no way his staff can see him so hot under the collar. Turning his thoughts to business, the following week he is due to make a business trip to Paris for three days. He wondered if Kate will join him. He’d ask her, or would that be too much too soon? He battles internally with the exciting thought of spending three days and more importantly two nights with this sensual lady and the possibility that he is being too forward with his request for company. No, he’d ask her to come by the club later that week or may be for another meal and then he’d make his move. Slow and steady wins the race he reminds himself.

“Ready when you are.” Kate’s voice interrupts Nicholas’ fantasy he spins around, taking her in from head to toe. That purple dress, the killer heels and big hair he smiles and grabs her hand. “Let’s go.”

TO BE CONTINUED!

Daily Writing Prompt:Why is Kate Brown so Fierce? Character POV

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Fierce

For today’s WordPress published writing prompt word, I feel like zoning in on the main female character in A Stranger in France Kate Brown. I’d like to introduce her a bit more, and most importantly let you know why she is such a ”fierce” heroine. (Without giving away all the plot!).

There are so many interpretations for this word both good and bad, one person can see fierce as bad, angry, mean  and horrible  or one can see the word as meaning survivor, strong, and full of beans! I see the word fierce as the latter in Kate’s case. Kate is not mean, horrible, bad or angry but she is one hell of a survivor.And that’s why she’s

F-I-E-R-C-E to me.

  1. Characterized by or showing hostility: gave us a fierce look
  2.  Extremely powerful or destructive: a fierce storm; a fierce flood.

Dictionary definition of fierce

 

Kate Brown  is married and when we first meet her she’s 32 years old, by the end of the story she is 33.  When I wrote Kate and her POV  ( point of view) I tried to portray her as  the 2nd definition of fierce – extremely powerful as a women. She overcomes a number of life challenges that many normal everyday modern women can relate to,  no matter their race, age or social status- maybe some women who read along, may have even experienced  some of Kate’s drama in their own life.

As a person, she’s smart, pretty straight talking and knows what she wants and how to get it. On the other side she is also very vulnerable due to the conflicts or drama I have thrown in for Kate along the way, throughout the story. These conflicts almost crush the poor girl, and who she naturally is. Something saves her and gives her a reason to fight not just love or the hero I’ve  thrown in for her to fall for aka Mr Nicholas D’Coix but other conflicts/plots save her and pull her back from her distressed state so she can survive and return to the Kate she once was and embrace Nicholas’ love.

In a Stranger in France, Kate Brown makes a massive realisation about her husband and even herself which you see within the first 2.5 chapters you can download this for free here. As the story progresses  drama and tension builds! With the husband  in London and over in France.  A number of very life changing decisions  take her across London, the UK coast, central and southern France, all  while in love.

She’s fierce, strong and extremely likeable. I hope! If you read along you’ll see why.

And if you’d like to ”interview” Kate or have questions about her character or what I was thinking when I wrote her ( if you do read A Stranger in France), then  let me know  comment, send me an email via contact Kim above or shout me on Twitter.

 

Kim’s Book Review: Trail Of Sins

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JoyceHey guys, so you all know I’m a massive fan of the romance genre as a reader as well as writer, especially the sub genres of suspense and thriller with romance. I was lucky enough to get a free copy of Trail of Sins by Joyce Mcarthy  an erotic- thriller author. Her book was released earlier this year, and is available on Amazon. I read it and really enjoyed it here’s why:

Trail of Sins is described as “an erotic thriller in a corporate setting with a strong element of suspense and a powerful undercurrent of selfless love.”  There is a huge element of erotic-ness in this book, and I’d rate that  5 stars for the journey you’re  on as a reader in terms of erotic-ness. The author clearly knows how to write this style well, and  place in a reader’s mind a vision of what is taking place between characters, in this respect. I’m not talking 50 Shades of Grey (the book not movie) – soft erotic, I’m talking erotic scenes! If you enjoy this kind of journey and read, this is one for you. I said this to Ms Mcarthy already ” I wish I could write like that!” Meaning,  I don’t (personally feel)  brave enough or skilled in  very erotic writing… I totally clam up so well done and my hat is off to her for Trail of Sins.

While reading I did feel like I was on a journey, trying to find out why things are happening to the main Hero.  I really enjoyed the element of suspense/thrill I was taken on while reading. The ending I never saw coming, and that to me is also a good sign of story telling and writing (as a reader) it was a great twist. I was gripped, could not foresee the future, and surprised by the ending.

The characters I found them pretty 3D, I was able to build in my mind an impression of what the main hero is like as a man, and even make up my mind whether I liked him as a man or not. To me, as a reader (not a writer)  if I ever experience this in a book -being able to imagine a character, and make up my mind about them, if I’m on their side or not is a sign of good writing as the author/writer has given me enough to work with in my imagination.

I enjoyed this ride a lot- trust me there’s a lot of riding *wink

So in summary:

Erotic rating  5/5 stars whooo!

Suspense/thrill rating 4.5 stars yeah baby! Did not see that coming.

Character development rating 4.5 – I would have loved a more detailed description of what the characters look like, (all of them) as they are such sexy people. But this does not take away anything from the story or enjoyment it’s just me as a reader that’s all.

Overall rating : 4.5 stars out of 5, as this is  described as an erotic thriller and that’s exactly what you get.

Look forward to the next book by this author.

 

 

Day #20: The Count Down Begins!

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So the count down begins, over the next 20 days I’ll be posting updates on what’s happening during the run up to the release of my first romance suspense novel A Stranger In France. The big day is  20th September 2016! On Amazon for 90 days and then on Barnes and Nobel.I’m feeling great today, the sun is shining in London and has been so far for a good few weeks. This always puts me in a great mood  and adds a smile to my face, as you can see from my Wednesday selfie posted.

So what’s happening then?  It’s been busy!  Other than doing writing prompts and finalising A Stranger in France, being a mum and trying to sleep, from release day my virtual book tour has been organised. It will  kick off just after the 20th. I will keep you updated on where A Stranger in France will be touring.  I have a ”Release Day Blitz” organised for the cover  of the book across a huge number of romance focused blogs for 3 days from the 20th September, and A Stranger in France will be featured on All Romance Reads blog also!

In October  A Stranger in France  will feature on Coffee Time and Romance. I am super excited about this, to be featured  as a new author on various promotional dates throughout the month.

Moving forward in terms of writing book writing, right I’m  waiting for my second ”feel good” romance novella to be returned to me from my publisher, so I can get the final draft together ready for a Christmas release. While that’s pending, I’ve gone back to re-working my first ever attempt at creative writing. A romance -thriller which I’ve had some worry over where to place it in terms of genre and place myself if I’m honest. But I’m confident I’ve now made the right choice. If you’re wondering well why Kim? Find out here.

This particular story is so special to me as it was my first ever idea for a story, to create into a full blown book, before either of the 2 books about to be released. It’s my baby, in a genre I feel so passionate about so I want to write it, and write it  as bad ass as I can! So I’m taking my time and re- working it in areas, now that I have a little bit of experience behind me. What I’ve found with writing a story with a bit of crime is that accuracy is sooooooo important especially when it comes to police involvement. I have 2 girlfriends who are in the legal profession and will be interviewing them so help me with research. The other challenge for me is the balance of  don’t want to give away ”who dunno it” and  leaving  little droplets of info for readers to open their mouths in shock and  think ” OMG I did not see that coming! I have to keep reading.” 

Writing this particular story is a very different experience for me compared to A Stranger in France, and my second story (which I won’t blurt out the name of). I think it’s because the story focuses on love and romance but there is an element of crime to it it is a different atmosphere to create for the story and reader, with A Stranger in France the story just flowed out of me non stop, this one is a challenge! But I am determine to research and get this idea out my head and completed.

Well I better run, I have a pile of unopened mail aka bills, * sad face* and some letters to write to pen friends overseas *happy face*. While my son is enjoying a day at summer camp I better get cracking with my day.

Have a great day!