Author Archives: Author, Kim Knight

Miracle Challenge Week #10: #1 Meeting You – Sweet Romance Story

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romance

My favourite day  of the week to write has rolled around again, Miracle Girl’s writing prompt challenges are up for week #10. 

Write a short story using sentence prompt” meeting you was the best thing that ever happened”

A smile creeps across my face, he’s such a sweetheart today he surprises me with a huge bunch of long stemmed pure white lilies. Forget roses, there’re  old school and dated there’s nothing like the beautiful fragrance of long stemmed white lilies filling the room. Lillies are much more chic and stylish much more” me”, than a bunch of roses – he’s the only man that’s taken the time to think outside the box when surprising me with flowers.

” Girl you are so lucky.”

Gloria my co-worker snaps me out of my day dream as she approaches my desk, and places her large behind on the corner then sits down.

”Yeah I feel lucky.”

” After all you’ve been through you deserve a good man.”

 “Thanks Gloria.”

After 10 months of the single life and unsuccessful dating  I never thought that I’d meet someone after Mark, he broke my heart. After five years together he just stopped trying, stopped playing attention and eventually we drifted apart. I refused to let go. I’d invested so much into that relationship I desperately tried my hardest to make it work. Eventually I told him to leave, I got fed up of giving and not getting anything back in return. The break up was messy and painful, for months I withdrew from everything. It felt almost like I’d lost myself and who I was.

I tried every dating site out there! Getting attention from men was not  the problem it was finding the right  attention from men,  finding one who I saw a future with. Then came Mr X, he sent me a message late one night while I was online browsing – window shopping I call it. Of course I was doubtful that it would lead to anything, but I played the game and returned his messages and smiley faces he sent me.  A 91% match we had according to the websites questions we both answered, one message led to another, then we spoke on the phone and eventually met up.

” So tell me, how did you snag this romantic soul and does he have a twin brother?” I let out a small laugh and look up at Gloria.

” Hmm well, no brother but we met online.”

”OK, and details? Girl don’t keep me in the dark!” I throw my head back and try to hide the cheesy grin on my face.

”OK, about a month ago I joined this new dating site, we got talking and found out we have a lot in common he likes to eat, I love to cook, he likes dessert  and has a major sweet tooth and I love to bake. One sunny Saturday lunchtime we met up, in Leicester Sq central London and head to the ice cream store.”

”And…?”

” Gloria!’

”C’mon don’t hold out on me now, I love to hear sweet romantic stories of people hooking up. It keeps me young and hopeful. How did the date go?”

I smile and look over at my lilies, the sight of them warms my heart further.

”His conversation was mind blowing Gloria my  God, we discussed everything from politics to the best flavour ice cream. He truly made love to my mind that day. Looks wise, his picture on his profile done him no justice. In real life he’s better looking I was quite surprised- tall, well dressed, he had great swag to him. Inside I was doing back flips over how cute he looked that day.”

” As simple as that right, you two just fall in love….?”

” No, not really he did have to work hard for my attention, I just kinda gave up after so many bad dates and Mark, but something was different about him from that first date, and he tried so hard to win me over, so I gave him a chance.”

” Aww so sweet, well I wish you both the best of luck.I better get going, this photocopying won’t copy itself, I catch you later Sam.”

I turn back to my computer screen and try to focus on work, my phone beeps with a message”

From: Mr X

To: Sam

Hey, how’s your day? 

I hit reply instantly

From: Sam

To: Mr X

All the better now I’ve received this beautiful flowers, I have them on the corner of my desk.

Just as I place my phone down on my desk to get to work, it beeps again

From: Mr X

To: Sam

Glad you like them, Sam I promise you I will treat you right. I know a lot of guys may have said this to you in the past, but I mean it I have a good feeling about us and honestly meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me after months of searching. We click and I like it.

I bite back a smile and hold off on my response, inside I feel giddy with happy feelings and butterflies you get during the honeymoon period of dating. I take a deep breath, I want to be honest about my feelings and let him know how I feel, at the same time I’m full of nerves learning to trust again is a big thing for me after Mark. After an internal struggle over honesty and holding back I decide -it’s time I moved on, and stop letting my past govern my future,I hit reply.

From: Sam

To: Mr X

Just  keep looking after me, and I’ll keep baking you cakes to feed your sweet tooth. After 10 months of unsuccessful online dating you’re like a breath of fresh air. xx

Mr X  over the last month has  made me feel special, alive, like I’m truly the only women in the world he has his eye on. He cuddles me non-stop, showers me with affection  and makes me laugh. Could this be it? The true love I’ve been seeking after a one sided dead end relationship that was heading no where fast. I hope so, as in my heart meeting Mr X  was the best thing that ever happened to me in the last 10 months of online dating.

Kim’s on WattPad

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Hey,  

Just a short note from me to say I’ve  finally got around to checking out Wattpad. I’ve signed up as a writer on here also. Via Wattpad  you’ll  will find the free chapter preview I placed up on my author site for A Stranger in France. (Note that next month the chapter preview will come down, as my book  is officially published). I will also post on Wattpad all the short stories that I write for challenges, and any I write that are not part of a challenge….. The ones I write just ‘cos I feel like writin’

If anyone knows how to embed  a ”follow me on Wattpad” button in a  Wordpress widget please do give me a shout, I’ve been sitting here for well over an hour racking my brain. Nothing seems to work.

Here’s the link to my Wattpadd account 

https://www.wattpad.com/user/KimKnightAuthor.

Kim

Daily Prompt: Complications of an Author’s Genre Specialism

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idea

 

via Daily Prompt: Complicated

  1. Difficult to understand, analyse or explain ( dictionary definition)

What a word! Today’s WordPress writing prompt word describes exactly my  situation today. I’M  23 /28 chapters into editing my final draft of A Stranger in France good news is I’ll make my publisher’s due date for next month’s release. Bad news, or the downside is  today started to think about my current book I’m working on; if you’ve been following a while you’ll know it’s a story with crime/murder  (and love) involved, and was originally the first ever book I started to write before A Stranger in France and certainly way before my creative idea came for my #2 novel due for release after A Stranger in France – later this year at Christmas.

The my dilemma  or complication is, as a writer /author do I pigeon hole myself to just one genre romance-suspense writing or do I do what I love, and what I feel I’m also good at writing crime also. From research I’ve done I’ve read so many conflicting views. Some say YES!  You must just stick and specialise in one genre it is suicide to gain readers and then write in another genre and build up a readership from the ground again, some say go for it, do what you love to do, your brand is not your genre it’s your own unique story telling voice and ability to engage others in a story – your readers (or potential readers) will follow you regardless of genre. Hummm  a complicated and  hard choice for a new or even established author.

Personally, I have some authors I love to the bones I wait impatiently for the next book to be released, and I buy their new release the day it is released, without even reading the blub or questing what it’s about. Just because I love their writing style and stories  in general. From this personal view as a reader, I’m tempted with this story I’m writing with an element of crime/murder to just do what I love and write in both genres. My professional head who wishes to build a nice readership and allow some form of consistency for my potential readers says Kim – don’t be a fool girlfriend stick within the genre you will be published in first…. romance suspense. It’s so complicated!

 I thought about the story I’ve been working on and I did some further research  there is in fact  thriller sub genre under romance I read about. No, not suspense, thrillers are  a lot more darker think of the book ” Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn an excellent book and example of a thriller. When I read  about this the creative side of my brain ticked, that’s it! Re-craft the story a little so that the crime and romance blend so it does not  come across as essentially  a crime friction story that just so happens to have 2 people that (once) loved each other… surely I can do that right? …. but what about the ” brand” I keep reading about? Would I confuse potential readers with writing a romance story with an element of crime- especially as by the time it’s ( hopefully) published, I will have  1. romance suspense book published and 1. romance story published, can I really throw MURDER or crime in with it too? … Like I said it’s complicated. I also changed my tag line on the blog from romance-suspense & crime fiction writer to romance-suspense and thriller writer to keep it broader in genre and creative outlet.

I never realised that writers who end up published are faced with such hard decisions that may impact their future career. I honestly (maybe naively) thought you write what you want, go where  ever your creative juices take you, after all it’s not ( for me) about the money or fame  that’s lovely but firstly it’s  the fact that the story is out of my head, on paper, in print and I achieved something great that I’m proud of.  And secondly, I’m just writing, as that’s what I do and what I enjoy it’s part of me.

So my questions are

 Readers: Would you abandon an author you liked because they wrote in a genre that is not your first choice. For example you found a great author read a few books or a book and then they wrote something else  or throw in a red herring in a genre? Or would you still read along?

Authors: Are you brave enough? Have you done it? Have you committed ” suicide” and wrote in more than one genre. Who has big balls out there?? Is it wise  in your experience?

At the end of the day, as a reader I love both genres I write, as a writer I really enjoy as well as love to write in both genres I have chosen . So I think I will grow some balls rework book #3 slightly and now ”pigeon hole” myself as Kim the romance-suspense and THRILLER writer rather than crime. This way  I (think) I can get away with romance &  a bit of murder  *wink.

Man that decision was COMPLICATED! 
Complicated

 

                                        

Daily Prompt: Reach

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via Daily Prompt: Reach

  1. To reach out one’s arm
  2. To arrive at, to get as far as

(Dictionary definition for the word prompt: reach)

For today’s WordPress writing prompt, my response is a personal one…This morning,  at 8:00 a.m I was in the pool, the water is one of my favourite places to be. I went for a swim! I learned that residents in my area now can swim and use the gym for free, at certain times. This is a great thing and new health incentive in my area.

Now, I can (maybe) reach my long time fitness  goal of going for a swim once a week by myself  (with my son there’s no swimming or work out for me, more like splashing and teaching him how to swim and float). I hope to go each week, now that it’s free I have absolutely no excuse after I drop off my boy at nursery school, to not and head to the pool and swim before work, or go after  work. No excuses- none what so ever. Starting from Friday next week, I will work toward reaching my long term goal of swimming maybe 20 laps (straight, no stopping). I’ll start with reaching 5 at first, and work my way up slowly to reach 20 laps.  I am not the fittest person in the world so wish me luck!

Do you have a health or fitness goal, or  any goal that you’d like to reach? What is it let me know?

Haters

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Haters! They will always be lurking…. Feed them to your creative and focused self for dinner and keep pushing forward. Great post.

Aria Bella's avatarAria-Bella Rises

No matter what you do with your life – there are always going to be haters, those that want to put you down even when they should be your greatest supporters, and people that just plain piss you off.

It really will not matter if you are not doing much with your life, if you are playing small or if you are living large and stepping up in the best way possible. They will still always be lurking.

 

I had one such incident today where there were just plain mean comments on social media from someone who I would have said were among my greater supporters… I read it and I hurt, badly, I wanted to cry and lash out just so she could feel a little of what she just did to me. I wanted to go find a corner and just hide.

 

I allowed myself to…

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Daily Word Writing Prompt: Paint

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via Daily Prompt: Paint
Paint

WP_20160706_001

Paint can be used to mask or decorate  so many things, the colour of walls, graffiti, finger and toe nails- like my picture above. I have no idea why I took a picture on my phone when I painted my nails these pretty shades a few weeks back. Anyway, the list of what paint can be used for is endless.  It can also be related to colours. What would we do without it? More to the point what would we do without colour?

 Think of a world where everything is colourless or just one colour-  What colour do you imagine?  Look around the room you’re in now, could you visualise it in just one colour? or what about colourless- see through?

I’m sitting in my favourite writing spot at my glass kitchen table right by the window, I can see trees, the next building where my neighbours live, the main road etc. In front of me on the table as always is a large vase of flowers, this week I have yellow and purple ones. It’s hard to imagine this room, my view from the kitchen window, the flowers or life just one colour, I can’t even decide on a ONE colour to imagine it as there are so many pretty colours out there. 

Short Poem: Paint

If I had to paint you, you’d be full of colour vibrant, alive and bold, caramels, browns, dark browns, blues, I’d really make sure I did a good job at capturing you my baby boo,

If I had to choose a colour to describe you, I’d choose yellow,

Like  sunshine, that’s what you are to me , my ray of sunshine,

In my mind, you’re one of a kind, so choosing one colour for you just won’t do,

Yellow, as you’re so bubbly and cute, blue as you’re just a tiny baby boy of only 2, 

Green as you’re like fresh pine scented air to me, when you run into the  room,

Stamping your tiny sized feet, laughing and shouting, then jump up and down on the seats,

Grey for your ” terrible 2’s tantrums” when you have them it’s not often but my god you have them!

I try not to be mad at you when you’re in a tantrum,  remember your mama’s baby boo, and after all you’re just a teenie tiny 2. 

A little poem for my  2 year old son, who I can see from the kitchen area where I am sitting asleep on the sofa, taking his afternoon nap. Looking gorgeous (as always)  with  his curly Afro out of his  normal braids- it’s  hair wash day today  he looks so cute 🙂 He’s my inspiration for today’s writing prompt.

 

 

Thank you so far… but

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award free blog button copy

Over my holiday last week, I was away from my blog but I was  thinking about it a lot! Especially the 3 awards I have received for it so far.The last one I received is a really special one to me ” versatile blogger.” I interpreted this as versatile writer ! Which for me is amazing as I write in 2 very different genres. I HAVE to be versatile and it’s nice to know that so far, I have managed to achieve this due to feedback from a reader with the award.

On the other hand, awards are great, I love participating with you all and answering questions so you can get to know me, and of course nominating other blogs I think are great, It’s all great fun.  But I’m here as a writer/author first, on  holiday I thought about the direction I would like my author’s website to go in after my first book is released, so I’ve decided to become an award free blog, comments, likes and interaction/conversation are really cool with me and more than enough.

I plan to continue to do  as many writing challenges as I can, those of you who have been following know I  hunt out 1 or 2 each week and blog a poem or short story according to the challenge prompt. I love participating in  this way,  I’m on the look out for more bloggers which post them for others to participate, I also plan to continue writing personal writing posts, and of course updating you on my book(s) and  magazine publications, and writing about my random thoughts and feelings on life. I also plan to interact, get to know and have fun with all of you! Nothing changes in that respect.

Thank you for the awards I have received so far, thank you for considering me for them. As of the 7th August 2016  www.kimknightauthor.com  is now award free!

With love,

 

Kim 

Romance/Suspense & Crime Fiction Author

Tick Tock… Countdown Begins

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7 days

Good morning and happy Sunday,

I’m back to a cloudy and overcast London. I’ve had a week away in the south west of the UK at the coast, on my first ever UK/ seaside coastal holiday (longer than  a 1 day visit). We had a great time at the beach (freezing water) the zoo ( my son freak out with excitement when he saw a real lion). Now back to reality…. editing the final version of A Stranger in France ready for next month’s release date.

I’ve set myself a personal challenge so I can submit my book to the publisher and crack on finishing up the plots and writing of my 3rd book. I’m exactly 50% through the editing process of A Stranger in France, I have 14 more chapters to  go. My challenge is to complete  the last 14 chapters  in the next 7 days- by editing 2 chapters per day. This will be done around working and life! 

This is quite a big challenge, as editing does take time you’re not just reading over things you’re really reading over things almost with a different hat on. I’m finding that as well as making the minor changes my editor has recommended, I also rethinking parts that I’ve wrote. I’ve come down in word count from 93,000 originally to now 89,000 and I’m half way through.

So I hope to deliver a trimmed, exciting, romantic, suspenseful and sexy story  for you all in September.

 

Versatile Blogger: Let’s do the happy dance

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versatile-blogger-award

I’m actually rather honoured to be nominated for this award. I write random things, make stories up from a few word prompts some using experience, some by just being creative or getting into  another character’s head, or point of view. Thank you Eddaz  for this nomination , as a creative  writer across two genres  before ” blogger” this one means a lot to me.

7. Random Facts About Me

  1. I’ve travelled/ had a lot of holidays. I’ve been lucky to go to quite a few counties but I’ve never  had a holiday in the UK. This week for the first time  in my 33 years I will visit the coast for a few days for a holiday. 
  2. My first book to be published next month, was originally due to be my second completed book. This was the goal I set. I was working on a crime fiction story ( still am), life or the universe had other plans for me and lined up a publishing contract for the romance suspense story. I’m yet to complete my crime book… I will but I have been so engrossed in the romance genre.
  3. Before anything, I’m a mother and extremely proud and happy about this fact. I can’t and won’t imagine life without my son.
  4. I love the water, I don’t mind if it’s the pool, sea, lake, pound I just really like being near it. One of my favourite places in the world is the beach I just wish in the UK a sand one was nearer to  London and not a 3 hour train ride away.
  5. I paint my nails and toes once a week without fail, chipped polish and horrible feet are a pet hate of mine also plain nails. I like bold colours for summer and dark vampy colours for winter. That said this week I have on  a dark ” ink blue” and it’s summer!
  6. I speak French to an intermediate level
  7. At least once a  month I write a letter to a friend overseas- yes I have pen friends.

Blogs I nominate:

A lot of them I follow are award free but I’ll go with

MiracleGirl- I love the versitile writing challenges

Opinionated Man-  versatile in what he writes about, love, the world, race anything goes!

Harlem ATL- interesting reading lots of different things to look over

E. Denise Billups- interesting reading also, not often you get a writer who writes books and health stuff!

Thank you for the nomination, this one really means a lot.