Very up lifting blog to read at 11-seys o’clock. I had a day planned, full of fun in London’s sunshine but my boy fell asleep in the car so we turned back. For now I’ll just settle myself down and write until he wakes up and plan the afternoon of fun again. Top of the morning everyone!
Author Archives: Author, Kim Knight
Daily Word Writing Prompt: Letter to a Stranger
Expert
Mistake
Witness
Learning
I looked through my word writing prompt book this evening as I felt like writing and wanted some inspiration. I found the below writing prompt in my book and noticed it fits in nicely with the WordPress writing prompts I’ve missed over the last few days: expert, mistake, witness and learning. So I’m combining all the writing prompts into one!
Writing Prompt: Write an anonymous letter to a stranger detailing the things you’ve learned about life.
29th August 2016, London
Dear stranger,
Hey, hope all’s well and life is treating you well? I hope this letter reaches you well and in good health. You don’t know me but I want to reach out and write to a total stranger so pull up a chair grab a coffee or something stronger and let’s talk.I want to talk to you a bit about what I’ve learned in my 33 years of life so far, touching on some of the things I’ve witnessed and mistakes I thought I made.
Now, I don’t claim to be any kind of expert in anything in life, hold on no I’m an expert at painting my nails and applying my make-up I know what suits me,but that aside I’m not real expert but here’s a few things I’ve learned.
Stranger, no matter what happens in life promise me one thing, you’ll always be yourself no matter what and at all costs. I mean this, really I do. I’ve always been a believer in people being themselves whether its how they dress, talk, sexuality whatever just do you is my motto. Just over a year ago, I learned to be myself I let go of the 20 year battle I had with my curly hair. For 20 years I chemically straightened my hair! I loved it nice and sleek.This time last year I had a chin length nice slick straight graduated bob, but when I was pregnant with my son in 2013 the curls fought back and no matter how much I tried to chemically touch up my roots my kink remained.So for 6 months of my 9 month pregnancy I did not touch it just wrapped my hair up in colourful scarfs or pinned it up it actually looked rather cute. When my son came along I carried on the battle, but I just decided f*ck this, be you Kim and last July I stopped chemically straightening my hair,with the aim to grow it out and chop the ends each month.
I got to December 19th I was looking toward 2016 with a new attitude as certain things were happening in my life and one day I woke up I head to the nearest salon and said ” chop it off get rid of the straight ends”.I walked out with hair less than 1 inch long and I don’t regret it at all. I loved it! And still do. Lucky I’ve had short hair before ( but straight) so I knew I’d be OK with such short hair,but I never knew how I’d manage my curly hair I hadn’t seen it for 20 odd years! That said I just wanted to be me.So that’s what I’ve learned when it comes to the outside and being yourself, just do it and forget what others think or say dress how you want, whatever just be yourself externally.
When it comes to your personality, stranger do me another favour will you? Never apologise for who or what you are. I mean it. Never EVER say sorry for who you are as long as you’re not hurting anyone, committing a crime, putting yourself or others in danger just don’t-ever. I have learned , not everyone will like you, get you or bond with you and it really does not matter at all that’s just life. Don’t try and fit in, by changing you. That is a mistake.
If you’re a women reading (if you are either a man or women reading this sorry to just focus on one gender as this can relate to any sex really),stranger I’m not a relationship expert at all and I would not want to be but if you look back at any of your ex-boyfriends(s) or ex-husband(s) ex-girlfriend(s) or wives and all you think is ” sh*it he/she was a God damn mistake” then you’ve not learned anything from the relationship or him/her for that matter. And you’ll probably make the same mistakes you did again. Or end up with another version of him/her again. Hold on, don’t pull that face, it’s true. Why? Why? Do I say this? Well your eyes are still closed! If he/she was a mistake -why, what,how,where, and when were the mistakes? Can you answer? Good then you have learned and your eyes are open.If you can’t you need to think and then open them up so you know for next time you are swept off your feet.
In general, I have learned there are no mistakes in life, it’s only a mistake if you can’t look back and see what you’ve learned, not just in love,with everything.Work,friendship you’ve dropped, whatever.
Never be bitter stranger, ummm no it takes too much energy I’m telling you just let it go in life in general. Don’t hold on to it. It will stop you from moving forward and thinking clearly so you can move forward. Just look back see what you learned and move on. This relates to EVERYTHING in life.
Always have plan B…. C and D if need be too. I have learned and witnessed that if you fail to plan that is a sure plan to fail. I witnessed someone close set out to achieve something and just messed it all up,because of the lack of focus and planning and to be honest, it’s better to be organised rather than walk through life with your head in the clouds- time waits for no man, remember that PLAN.
Be positive, the glass is always half FULL not empty,where there’s a will there’s a way, never be work shy, start from the bottom and work your way up. Be nice to everyone you meet, remember your manners and that karma is real! All things I have learned, witnessed and feel I am expert enough to say,as I have lived most of my life by these sayings.
So in a nutshell stranger, be you and be happy being you, don’t be bitter about anything, plan and have a vision -execute it the best you can and stand up and say I f*cking rock baby! be positive, and learn from every experience good or bad.
Well, stranger, take care I hope this letter brings you some kind of new outlook or positive feeling or motivation to achieve or do something you have been sitting on the fence about. Or given you some kind of encouragement.
Yours faithfully,
Anonymous
PS
I hope you’re over 18 as I swore – my bad…. but with me there is never a filter! Everything is from the heart. Take care!
Psst…. Here’s An Excerpt From A Stranger in France
Nicholas guides me to the side of the bar, to the back and unexpectedly we reach a lift, we step in and he presses P on the lift buttons. Alone in the lift I face him dead on, I can’t help myself, his scent, and presence it’s doing things to me and awaking parts of me that have been dead for so long since Danny and I hit our rough patch.
I grab his tie pull him towards me and kiss him with passion . He’s stunned and taken back I can tell; his hands are full with a champagne glass in one and a bucket with iced champagne in the other, he’s unable to touch me or push me away. By the way he’s kissing me so passionately in return I doubt very much we wants our passionate kissing to stop.
We reach our destination and I release him, leaving a lipstick stain on his lips I playfully remove it with a finger, and step out the lift in front of him swaying my hips. I half turn around to face him, Nicholas is still standing in the same spot I left him with his champagne glass, ice bucket and a huge wide grin on his face. Damn he looks so good. “What are you waiting for Mr D’Croix?’’ I turn and say over my shoulder in a seductive way, he laughs. “You took me by surprise Ms. Kate.”
Free chapter preview here
Release Date September 2016
Seek Preview of my Book Blurb Shh You’re The First To See It *wink
You ready?… Here goes! I’ve been dying to share it here is my book blurb.
In A Stranger in France readers are taken on a fast paced, modern day romantic journey, that spans between the city of London, the glitz and glam of France, and the beautiful English coast in a gripping romantic story, between two complete strangers with enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat turning pages.
When career driven and successful 32 year old London born Kate Brown faces hard times in her marriage, she confides in her best friend Tanya Adams in Marseille southern France. Kate makes a bold move and spends two weeks in Marseille away from her husband in London. Her path crosses with tall, dark, devilishly handsome and wealthy Nicholas D’Coix. An immigrant to France from the Ivory Coast west Africa as a young boy, who turned himself around and built up an empire of wealth as a hustler and money maker, and now one of Paris’ top three entrepreneurs. In a whirlwind of sexy, lustful romance Nicholas and Kate fall in love, Kate returns to London to a few surprises of her own and still very much in love with Nicholas as she makes yet another bold move. Touching on real life issues these two strong characters battle it out against all the odds in the name of love, across the UK and France.
Release Date September 2016
Get a free chapter preview here.
“Ain’t nobody got time for that”
Make every moment count! Do what you love most in the time you have. Don’t waste time of people or things that don’t count. ” Aint no body got time for that” ! I like this motivational post.
I really don’t like hearing when people say “I don’t have enough time”.
We have 24 hours a day and 168 hours a week. That’s a heck of a lot and you still don’t have time for something you want to do?
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Kim’s Going On A Book Tour!
Good Morning!
A short note to say, I have my first ever book tour organised… this time one is virtual though. Sadly, I can’t up and leave London for my book release date on the 20th September and go on tour with it. So I’ve opted for a 10 stop virtual one. The next I hope to be an actual in person one. More details will follow, the date the tour will start is 20/9/16… if you’re from the USA and I’ve confused you that’s 9/20/16 🙂
My Thoughts on Publishing Companies
A blog reader I’ve interacted with a lot over the last few months got in contact with me this month, they asked me a lot of questions about my thoughts on book publishing. Of course I was happy to help and share any lessons I’ve learned and experience I’ve gained on how to snag a traditional publishing deal or two. I thought it would make a great post to share with you all, I’m sure they won’t mind me sharing with you the questions they asked and what I said in response. You can also read an interview I did with Knockin’ book over in the USA on this subject here.
Now I can’t promise what I say is a blue print to success when it comes to being offered a book deal by a publishing house, all I’m offering is my insight and well wishes that something I have to say will work for you! Good luck writers.
I’d like to know how you were able to get your books published. Was it easy or difficult?
How I got published: I started writing , did some research into magazine short story publishing originally and how books are published, then found out you can submit to (some) publishers a sample of your work . So I did, after researching publishers who had put out a “call for new authors”. Then I received a positive response on my 1st attempt at this. My advice is research some publishers that are a good fit for your genre. I think this is part of my luck I really made sure I looked closely at what each publisher works with. Submit following their guidelines very closely I did this to a T. Then pray!
What were the pros and cons? Are you happy with the publishing company you’ve chosen?
Pros and cons : Pros of traditional publishing vs self publishing are with traditional publishing you may get more exposure and the work is done for you in terms of marketing and cover design, all you have to do is write! If you wish to do additional marketing you can yourself. Cons: I have found none so far a lot of what I’ve read mentions that a con of traditional publishing is less control over your final book and cover. In my case my publisher listened to everything I said, so I’ve been really blessed. Even down to my book cover it was designed based on what I said. What I will say is make sure in your contract there is a claus stating or clarifying how much say you as the author have. So in a nutshell yes I am very happy with my publisher and would not go elsewhere.
Are there contracts or agreements to sign? What should a person look out for and/or beware of?
Contract and agreements: Yes these are signed and best to sign them so everyone knows what is expected of them. What to look out for- royalty payments. The % ,when and how paid, copyrights- what rights are you giving the publisher over your work? I would upon advice given to me retain the book movie rights for yourself! If possible).You never know a movie offer may come up and you want to be in control of it and receive a majority of the royalty. How and where they publish you and how long they hold the rights for in years. And how to terminate if you are not happy with publisher. These are things I’d look out for but not the only things. Always get professional advice if offered a book deal.
What are your thoughts on Ebook publishing with Amazon and Kindle?
Ebook publishing thought: The way forward it is a must along side paperback in this day and age. You can also self publish via Amazon and cut out trying to obtain a book deal. But everything is down to you design,marketing etc.
When submitting is there a specific font to use and spacing? How many minim words and chapters are agencies looking for?
Submitting: Every publisher has their own guidelines follow theirs really closely.
What sells the most like hot cakes and what is a hard and slow sell?s
What sells: I’m yet to find out! But a really good cover always helps to draw readers in, and a good blurb for the back, chapter preview and most importantly reviews. In terms of genre I have no idea which one sells the best but my advice is don’t set out to become an author in the best selling genre set out to become an author in the genre you love to write. If your aim is to write and publish for money your motivation is wrong- write well! Aim to be the best in your genre and then you may become a best selling author because you write well, for the love, not the money or status of a best seller. Forget what the genre is doing- be (one of) the best at / within the genre … ya feelin’ me??!
I hope this helps some aspiring writer out there!
Kim
xoxo
Creative Writing Prompt
Who is in on some more writing prompts and challenges? …Me please.
My Official Book Release Date Reveal…..
Just got an email from my publisher, my official release date for A Stranger in France is
Tuesday 20th September 2016
Daily Writing Prompt: Youth – 6 months of labour I’ve given birth
Today’s WordPress writing prompt is a nice fit to what’s occurred today and how I feel after doing some reflection . About an hour ago I thought to myself I might live until I’m in my 80’s that’s 40 odd years of writing books. The thought thrills me! I’m still young(ish) and have a lot of years in me to go and time to write and create. (God allowing of course). For the first time in ages I felt really young in a good way.
For the last 6 months I feel like I’ve been in labour with no pain relief LOL, writing and editing, and just give birth. Tonight I finished editing all 28 chapters of A Stranger in France and sent it off to my publisher. I’m sorry to everyone who I have not returned a call to, emailed back, text back, or engaged with promptly it’s been a mad 6 months. And now I am catching up with everyone- sorry.
I reflected further once I pressed Send and watch my email turn from draft to sent, I’m at the very start of my career as a writer/author or ambition to become one, I still don’t know whether to call myself a ”writer/author” it does not come easy to say it for me as yet ….. even though I still have a day job I’ve signed two publishing deals this year. I still feel very young and youthful in my journey. Maybe I need take myself more seriously as I still see this whole journey as I’m just doing something I really enjoy and have done ever since my school days. I don’t see it as a fame or fortune thing or having a massive street credit as a published author. But I need to realise I guess I am one or becoming one minus the ego!
So what have I learned now that I have completed the whole process of writing and editing a book 93,000 words long originally now 89,500 long to make sure it is ready for commercial sale? It’s bloody hard work, dedication is needed, focus is a must and a lot of late nights will be included if you have a family to juggle and a day job. But it’s all worth it 100% if you enjoy it. What experience will I take with me for editing book #2 for Christmas release and writing #3? Learn from my experience of making sure things are consistent it saves time. It’s so easy to just, well, write but little things like tense, dialogue writing and use of point of view (POV) need a ton more of attention if you want a speedy editing process. Writing a character’s POV can be a challenge at times, as you ( well I) think it is fine, and then an editor says ” show don’t tell how the character is feeling” or ” you’ve slipped into the wrong POV.” I’d also rest my work a lot longer before I go back and edit as I’ve found my eyes, brain and overall writing skill and sharpness are more on point with longer breaks. But in all my excitement I just kept reading and editing, doing my 3rd and final read through and edit I still noticed little things I’d missed as I was not as sharp.
So here’s to being 33 years ” young” and starting my long journey to hopefully a successful international author. I have a tough crowd to crack over in the USA in the books stores to convince them this English chick is worth a shot! And lot of work to do to convince the rest of the world who hit up Amazon and look for a great romance story that my book is worth a read. But I hope during my young years I continue to get better at doing what I love.
Here’s to being young! Fresh and shiny brand new.
Author, Kim Knight 