Category Archives: Randoms

Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge Week #16: My Biggest Dream? #MFRW

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Hmmm ask an author this question and they’ll all say the same thing… New York Times Bestseller, Bestselling Author. These are all the recognition awards and titles we’re after right? Wrong, okay maybe, but not always in this order. 🙂

For me personally living the dream would mean  a  HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE catalogue of novels and novellas in both the romantic suspense and thriller genres. When I think of this dream, the one author that comes to mind is Stephen King. On my last check he has over fifty published novels. And my all time inspiration Jackie Collins the author I salute, as it was her who introduced me to romantic suspense when I was hardly in my mid twenties. I stumbled across  her novel Deadly Embrace , I then read everything by Jackie I could get my hands, on before I became an author. Surprise surprise I sleep and breathe this genre! Creating my own spin on romance and suspense. Jackie had upon her death something like thirty two novels  published I think off memory.  I was so upset when she died, I feel like some part of life is now missing. I’m one of her fans who would wait impatiently for the next hit, I’d check her site regularly to see what’s coming next and curse when I could not see my next hit coming. My other inspiration the great British crime author, Martina Cole has about twenty odd crime novels from memory. A lot of them I have also read.  When Martina publishes a book, a wicked grin comes over my face! I’m excited.  This is the level I’m talking about in terms of books I’d love to write and the kind of buzz I’d love to create in my genre one day as an author. Considering I’m only thirty four if I get a wiggle on and stay focused,  just maybe it could happen! I could knock out plenty of work.

I’m not focused so much on all the awards or labels authors can get, as nice as they are, it’s more about productivity. I’m also not that focused on becoming rich, this is the last thing I’m writing for.  I had an author mention this who will feature in my Meet The Author – I won’t say who it is look out for them on the 25th.  I’d personally like to give up the part time day job, write more full time, pay the bills by doing what I love and feel my talent really is and not worry. That’s the dream. I’d also love an endless supply of M.A.C and Kat Von D make-up, to create a line of clothing, a house with a pool and large garden for my little boy and to live in the sun…. pretty please if God’s listening LOL.

What’s your dream?? What are you doing to make it happen? If you’re an author reading this is it all about the label, money or the volume of work you put out?

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Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge Week #15: My Love Hate Relationship With Social Media #MFRW

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Okay it’s now just after nine London time. I’ve made myself yet another large mug of coffee and  sat down to work on Lover’s Retreat, novella #2 of my series. I’ve been distracted by the fifty two week Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge. I’ve missed a few weeks, I do have a good excuse I’ve been writing. So here I am catching up with Jazz FM playing nicely in the background. Week fifteen is all about social media hang-ups  we may have as writers… well what can I say, believe it or not I have a rather love hate relationship with social media.  Which is probably not the best thing to say as an author! As it does so much to reach out to readers and showcase our work.

Here’s the deal, before I was a publish author, when I just messed around writing and journaling with no real intention to publish anything  or write novels I NEVER used social media personally. I hated it. My view was (and I say was as I use it for a different purpose now) I don’t need a Facebook account to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. If I know you you’ll be in my phone book  or contacts and I’ll call, text or whatsup message you. I don’t need to email you, or put an update on the internet to tell you what I’m up to, you’ll  know via phone or in person.What the fuck is Facebook all about? What’s the point in that.. huh?  That was me before this whole new direction in life kicked off.

I also thought that social media was the cause of many relationship problems, your other half spending too much time on it, sending messages to random people, keeping in touch with ex- partners that kind of a thing.  Anyone here ever watched Jeremy Kyle the day time talk show… umm you know what I mean now? Why are all the people on that show obsessed with Facebook? Or have some kind of problem that started with ” I saw this on Facebook and so I ….” So I just ignored social media.

My hang up with it (social media)  was as I thought it could be  used to just paint a picture of your life, that may not even be true. You may not be as happy as Larry, enjoying all the updates you post. I thought Facebook was full of smoke and mirrors. As for Twitter… who? I’m a rather talkative person, I could not imagine squeezing all I have to  say into 140 characters LOL.

Now, of course I see the benefit of social media, and it has done wonders for me to grow as an author and continue to grow. My feelings now are that social media can be a positive thing, you can connect with people you’d never have a chance to meet in real life. Take for example my new monthly feature Meet The Author, this has been sooooooooooo popular! I’ve had so many authors contact me for a feature, which I am over the moon about. I would never have  the chance to  connect with them, or read their wonderful work if it were not for social media. That’s because I put out a call for authors over Facebook and Twitter, authors from the other side of the world as well as the UK have connected with me. I can’t wait to share all their interviews with you. Meeting a lot of you out there who are reading this, has all been down to social media. Which is great. I now see that social media does have a place in the world with some kind of use and meaning.

So I guess, my hang-ups on social media have changed  (a bit),as I can now see how it can be used to my personal advantage as a writer.  In my personal life I still think just call me don’t FB me and ask me how I’m doing!  I doubt I’ll ever entertain it for personal use, as an author yes and that’s as far as it will ever go.

Do you have a hang up with social media? Do you love it or hate it?

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Writing Tip: Character Profiles & Their Importance #writerslife #amwriting

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I’ve just sat down to do a couple hours work on the next novella story for my Romance Set in Paradise series, I started to think a lot about character development (as I normally do) as I’m creating a scene that’s unfamiliar to me. On top of that my main character is in a situation also unfamiliar to me. In order to do this  scene and story justice, other than research, one thing I have learned while creating unfamiliar or difficult scenes is it’s helpful to react to things as your character would rather than yourself. In order to do this you need a detailed character profile. (In my humble view).

When I wrote A Stranger in France, all 90,000 words were mapped out across chapters and character profiles, it helped A LOT especially as the characters are so far removed from me. I also wrote from a male POV – two very different males! So I had to keep in line with what my character’s traits are rather than me a thirty four year old woman. The benefits of a character profile I can not stress enough to every aspiring or even established writer out there. Here’s my take on this and why I’d say use them, don’t write blindly…. even if Stephen King does it!

  1. You’ll be consistent and save yourself a hell of a lot of headache while editing, you’ll have less red pen marks on your work from your editor saying ” you said x on page 57 now you say y on page 78″ LOL.
  2. Your stories will pop and so will your characters.
  3. You’ll write in an unbiased way, as your characters react to things based on who THEY ARE not  who you are.
  4. Character profiles can help move your story in a new and exciting direction!
  5. You’ll suffer less so called “writer’s block”.

So how do you go about developing a character profile? Here’s how I approach it as a tip generally you could….

  1. First see them as real 3D people. How they look, sound, smell, dress, talk. This helps to enhance your writing. ( I feel) and the reader’s experience.
  2. Interview them. Where do they live, car they drive, hobbies, interests, their general take on life?
  3. What is their overall goal in your story? What do they need to make sure happens to achieve it? What will happen if they don’t achieve their goal? What’s at stake?
  4. Take into consideration your genre and story length. I say this as you don’t want to take up all your words on too much of this if you’re writing a short story- a short story to me is like 30k words, to others this can be as little as 10k…. If you’re crafting a full blown novel over 40k words then by all means really work on your character’s profile and make them pop. With genre, I’m all about the suspense! 🙂 this is where my talent is, so to make the suspense come across character development helps within my genre, as I am SHOWING readers things via the moments of my characters rather than TELLING. Some genres don’t need this much work on characters to create the atmosphere of the genre.

And that’s my reflection on creating difficult scenes, and how to make your characters come across as some what believable! If you’re a writer what approach do you take? Do you even agree that character profiles are useful and important?

I better get back to work on my character profile and try to finish up this scene. In the mean time, drop me a comment writers what’s your view?

 

Success

Calling All Authors/Aspiring Authors…. Take a Look at This #amwriting #author

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Afternoon

And happy Easter, I have come across a lot of talented authors and unpublished authors over the last year. I believe in promoting yourself as well as authors, if you’re an author reading this would you like a spot light  for your book or interview on my author site?? There’s no catch I promise.  Let me know and I’ll share it. This is just part of a new direction I’m taking my author site in, I’ve done a few author interviews, personal book reviews and shared new release news for other authors it will now be a permanent feature on kimknight.com.

Another direction I’ll be moving in as well is sharing (more) writing and publishing tips, now I’ve successfully  traditional and self-published four books and now writing my fifth. It’s been an experience I tell you!

If you’re not published as yet, do you have questions or concerns over the process, your work, ideas or anything else?  Maybe I could help if I have list of questions I’ll happily answer them.

Anyone who wants to participate send me a message via the contact Kim page and let’s begin!

 

How I Decide on The Title of My Books: Romance Writer’s 52 Week Writing Challenge Week #7 #MFRW

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If my memory serves me right it is one year today I started this author site, I signed my first publishing contract  April 2016 and I was over the moon. One year later, I’ve had experience of the traditional publishing route and self -publishing and I am about to release my fourth published book, what a year! Ups and downs but I’m on a journey. Interestingly as part of the Romance Writer’s fifty- two week writing challenge, the writing prompt is ” how do you decide on the name of your books?” This is week seven’s challenge I have missed  soooooo many weeks so I’m catching up with the  challenge. I have a very good excuse, I’ve been writing my book 🙂

So, how do I decide on the titles of my books? Well other than one book I which I never named as I collaborated with twelve other authors ( Code Redhead- A Serial Novel), I always keep it pretty simple, what is the theme of the story? What’s significant that happens? Is it catchy? . That’s it, that’s my formula I have no magic way to capture a good title other than to keep it focused on the theme, setting, location, or message in the story. I have a habit of naming all my chapters I don’t just call them chapter one etc. Within my chapters there is always a chapter named after the book, 9/10. This helps also, I have gone back and forth between titles and changed it as I’m writing. Sometimes, the name of a chapter is better suited than the name I originally picked out. It really is that basic for me.

If you’re a writer how do you go about this very important process? Do you have a habit of naming your chapters too?

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Random Sunday Feeling: Inspiration #amwriting #caribbean #music #sunday

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Island

 

Good morning from London! This morning I woke up in a good mood and the sun is shining in London, every time it does we must celebrate, take a selfie to show how happy it make us and post it 🙂 .. as it does not happen often :).  I’m about to set to work and transport myself to the wonderful Caribbean island of Cuba and work on my next released romance book, before my son returns home in a few hours. Then it’s back to mama duties. I feel like celebrating warm weather,  food, drinks, laid back lifestyle and the culture across all the Carib islands. Then I remembered this WordPress  writing prompt I did almost a year ago for the word “island”, I have re-blogged it below. Whatever your heritage be proud, I am British born but very proud of my parent’s descent from the Carib. In London / UK we have so many cultures and it is great to see them all and experience them.

You all know how much I LOVE music, here is a little song to do a jig to behind your PC, by a beauty who is also of Carib descent Rihanna. She was quite clearly inspired by Bob Marley’s iconic song ” I shot the sheriff” while producing/creating this song, it’s great to see artists influenced by the Carib, as I have been to write my  romance series  of four books set in exotic locations –Romance in Paradise.

 

Have a wonderful Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

Island

I am the daughter of an immigrant from this beautiful island. It’s  been many years since I’ve laid eyes on this beautiful island. I remember  the beautiful golden sands of Negril beach, walking around Montego Bay area  and hearing the sounds of sweet reggae being played. I also remember the mountains, shacks and more deprived areas of the island also, the police corruption which I experienced myself as a tourist to the island.

 I remember  eating rich and delicious  island foods such as plantains, ackee and salted fish, jerk chicken , callao and drinking plenty of carrot juice my mouth waters at the thought! Sipping the island’s local beer Red Stripe at silly o’clock in the day, in the blazing hot sun relaxing, people watching. I remember the mosquito  bites also now that was painful as I had soooooooooooooo many.

I remember how I  could walk out so far into the Caribbean sea from  Negril’s beach, before the water would reach my hips it was so strange to me.  I love this land, I love this island and I hope one day to go back and show my son this beautiful island.

National Anthem of Jamaica 

Eternal Father bless our land
Guide us with Thy mighty hand
Keep us free from evil powers
Be our light through countless hours
To our leaders, Great Defender,
Grant true wisdom from above
Justice, truth be ours forever
Jamaica, land we love
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love.
Teach us true respect for all
Stir response to duty’s call
Strengthen us the weak to cherish
Give us vision lest we perish
Knowledge send us, Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above
Justice, truth be ours forever
Jamaica, land we love
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love.

It’s interesting I was born and raised in London, do I consider myself English –  well with 33 years here yes I do, but I don’t ever forget my heritage and culture.If I was stuck on a deserted island what would I need with me.

  • My  2 year old son
  • A pen and note pad
  • Bob Marley’s Greatest hits and a CD player, so my son and I could dance and sing to them, as we do most Sundays. Just like my mama did with me growing up.

 

  • BM

 

Jamaica the carib island  I love!

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My Greatest Strength/Weakness: Romance Writer’s 52 Week Blogging Challenge #MFRW

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I’m catching up with some of the challenges I’ve missed for  the Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge. So week twelve’s theme was to share and write about your greatest strengths, week thirteen was weaknesses so here goes, a chance to know me personally…

I’d say my greatest strength as a person is probably my hard work ethic, anyone that knows me personally knows I’m not work shy in any respect. In fact, hard work kind of motivates me depending on what’s at stake, and how much something means to me. Putting aside the fact that as a writer it’s hard work naturally,  a writer with a three year old son and working part time now that’s fucking hard work!! LOL. But I actually thrive on it in a strange way I think my best work comes when there’s work to be done or some kind of non easy route.  Aside from this “hard work” generally as a person, stripped down bare  removing the fact that writing is hard work, for me work ethic is important to me. I think this comes from my mum.  I was raised by a single mum we only had her and she supported all three of us well, and the best she could with her strong work ethic which I observed all my life. Don’t get me wrong life was not hard with just Mum, I was just always aware how important it is to work hard, follow dreams and anything can be achievable with the right attitude. This is what I’ve learned and observed. This message I for sure will pass to my own son. It’s a very important one.

Another strength of mine stripped bare not as a writer, but  as a person is creativity generally. I love to create, whether it be with make-up artistry, customising a piece of clothing using just a sewing machine, or deciding what colour to paint the living room walls I’m a visual learner and person. I think being more visual feeds into my creative strengths when writing.

So that’s a few good things, now for the weaknesses … drum roll please.

Well, I’d say I am overly organised and this can piss people off if I’m honest. Take for example at work, I can’t hot desk for the life of me, when people work in “organised chaos” that pisses me off! I can’t do MESS of any kind ( well I try not to) it throws me off balance, and I can’t’ think if there is too much mess going on. At home try living with a three year old, ( maybe you do and you know what I am talking about), once upon a time I my home was pristine clean and neat now it’s neat but not as neat as if did not have a family on my own, with no one else to disturb the “organised karma” I like. *Shakes head* what can I say I’m laughing at myself as I type looking around my living room now. To be fair, if I had my way everything would be neat all the time, but in reality my efforts to keep things neat can leave others a bit worried about me lol.

So what about as a writer? Well my strength I think is creativity in writing and description. Being a visual person, this comes out I think in how I (try) to transport readers into the story. You’ll always know what a character looks like, what they feel, think etc due to visualising my characters and their traits. I guess it’s basic character development. My weakness as a writer is … humm * thinking*. I like to plan ( that’s my organised side) and I guess at times this means inflexibility. I set out with a plan, it helps me overcome writers block ( I did a writer’s block blog and how I overcome it here if you want to read it).  I guess if I do what many writers do, just write it would lead to more flexibility. I have (when I wrote A Stranger in France) deviated from the plan for one particular character on the spot, while writing as something creative came to me and it worked.  But generally I think a weakness is  an inflexible style of writing?? I heard Stephen King calls it ” a pantster” meaning you write and create as you go. It’s worked for him that’s his style and  he writes brilliantly, but never works for me!  I’m no pantster I never will be. I plan, create, write. Not just write.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? Blog it put your link below I want to know!

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I Think I’ve Cracked it!… Well Sort Of

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Bonjour from the south of France! My family and I are on a mini trip. I recently wrote this writing prompt response on the word “successful” you can read it here if you missed it, I expressed my desire to move from what I feel is a real basic level of  French, and feel more confident in talking. I can read and write much better I feel. Well, I kid you not today I got us from the airport to the hotel via taxi, changed some money,  checked us in, asked for directions and got us to the city centre by walking , and even understood when someone in Mcdonalds told us ” there is extra seating on the floors above, please move up there”  all in French !  I understood the native speakers well, and thankfully they understood me. In addition to this standing in the line at the supermarket I had a conversation with a lovely French lady, who thought maybe we were American …. oddly.

I am over the moon I had to updated this blog post with my “success”

New Direction: Hybrid Author and Self Publishing?? #amwriting #writerslife

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My gosh

It feels like an age since I sat down to update my author site, I’ve been a busy bee heading in a new direction. Yep! Looks like I’m now what they call a Hybrid author, after I gladly took back ownership of my first two novels I had traditionally published.  That’s it they are  mine! I have my rights back! And I have republished them. This week…. Why did I walk away from a traditional publisher, well I felt that sadly my work was not what I would have expected in terms of quality I work so so hard. I did a blog on this last year when I pulled one down from sale. I’d  be up at night thinking about it. And so I felt that I was happy to have my rights back over my independent work only, and do my own thing. Whether that be submit to another publisher or self publish, I decided nothing wrong with a bit of DIY so I went for the latter.

That does not mean I will never traditionally publish again, hell no! My  full manuscript for my third romance book has been requested by another publisher from last year, I’m working  on completing it.  I am happy to try other publishers. BUT it does mean I’ve learned a hell of a lot also, about me as a writer and if I feel better going it alone as an indie author, hybrid author  by the time I’ve finished the book  I’ll keep going. I have no regrets walking away, I feel better. Here’s what I’ve learned..

  1. Don’t  accept compromise on quality or your overall vision for your work . You will never truly be proud of your work.
  2. Chose carefully! Ask questions about processes and procedures, and see if you feel happy with the process your work will undergo. Then make sure that the procedures actually happen.
  3. Have balls, always if your gut tells you it’s not right, chances are it isn’t and you should listen.Don’t be nervous just be respectful and say how you are feeling.
  4. It does not matter how you are published! Once you have finished your novel, novella, short story whatever and it is out there in the world, you’re an author baby and a writer and that’s all that matters!
  5. Self publishing seems to have many benefits, if you understand the process well.I would urge any aspiring author to consider it and not hold out for that book deal, if you have passion go for it! Don’t look back. Put out some of your work and keep chasing the ideal publishing deal.

 

So that’s it! We’ll see what direction I go in now as a writer but one thing is for sure I’m not going to stop writing! This experience has unleashed something great that I truly don’t think I will ever live to regret. I tread these waters much more wiser! I’ll keep going down this road and see where I end up. It’s about the love of writing.

Eight Random Questions…

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I came across a cute blog http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/ as I started reading, I noticed “eight random questions” left for readers, kinda like a small writing prompt. A great way to get to know one another here’s my response. Take a look at the blog and maybe add yours.

1.What do/did you call your grandparents? If it’s something unusual tell us the story behind the name. If you’re a grandparent what do your grands call you? Who chose your moniker?

I called my grandparents mama and poppa when they were alive. My gran died when I was fourteen, and my granddad when I was about twenty nine.

2. Ever taken a road trip along the California Coast? If so what was the highlight of your trek? If not, any desire to do so? What’s one tourist attraction along the coast you’d add to your must-see list?

I’ve never been to California, the only place in the USA I’ve been to is Las Vegas. It was AMAZING! I’d love to see more of the USA, New York especially.

3.What are three things you don’t know how to do?

Play the piano or any instrument, I’d love to be able to. Paint my nails on my right hand as good as my left it takes me longer, drive on the right hand side of the road. Well I’ve not tried yet, but I think I should some day.

4.Tom Peters is quoted as saying, ‘Celebrate what you want to see more of.‘ If that’s true, what and how will you celebrate?

Who?.. Anyway  I’d like to more intolerance in the world, more tolerance of other faiths and races.  Especially toward black/ Hispanic males, I have a son to raise in a tough world, that’s not that tolerant towards “his kind”.  In the UK it’s pretty OK and here he’s safe but then I hear all the stories from #blacklivesmatter from the USA and how many young Hispanic, or African-American males are killed, and how bad their relationship can be (on TV) with the police and it’s heart breaking. So I’d like to celebrate more tolerance and less stereotyping of any religion or race.

5. Thursday (February 16) is National Almond Day. Do you like almonds? Which would you prefer-an Almond Joy or a macaron? What’s something you make that calls for almonds?

Eh,neither I don’t like  almonds at all… how about Cashew Nut Day instead??

6. What does Saturday morning look like at your house?

Ha! Oh boy, well I’m jumped on, have my eyes kissed and poked open about 8:00a.m the usual greeting from my son, then we get up, I make coffee and he watches some TV … Then I decide what the plan is for the day if we don’t already have plans as a family. Normally, Saturday morning is food shopping day also. Saturday morning is quite lively in my house.
7. Share with us a favourite book you’ve read this winter.

Gosh, wow, I have spent most of my time writing, but I have dipped in to “Voyage en France” also a young adult book written in French I’m reading to help improve my French comprehension.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

“Why the hell does it rain so much in London … I’ve got to head out in the next hour!”