Category Archives: Randoms

Daily Word Writing Prompt: Letter to a Stranger

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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!

My Thoughts on Publishing Companies

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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

25+ Stirring Muhammad Ali Quotes

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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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?

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.

 

 

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.

Sunday Vibes: Music to Feel Good

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I have done all the housework this morning with a You Tube play list in the background, I felt in a very ”Island” mood today. Maybe it’s the sun and warm weather I wish London was always like this all year around. I listened to two great artists from small Islands miles away from me, Bob Marley and Rihanna.

I’ve not heard this song by Rihanna ” Diamonds” for what seems like ages I played it about five times before moving on to the next one while cleaning. It’s a very catchy, empowering and uplifting song. I love the way she sings it, it’s very close to the original version (Sia wrote this song for her).  So today  I play tribute to a fellow Islander the beautiful Rihanna from the sunny island of Barbados in the Caribbean.

Shine bright like a diamond people! Have a wonderful Sunday, I’m off to do some chapter edits and writing.

Daily Word Prompt Response: Admire (One For My Girlfriend)

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IMG-20160730-WA0004 (1)Admire

Write a response to today’s word prompt: Admire

  1. “To regard with respect or warm approval”
  2. “To look at something ( impressive or attractive) with pleasure”

(Oxford Dictionary definition)

For today’s response I want to share with you my admiration for the girl on the left, no it’s not Kim Kardashian it’s one of my best girlfriends Ellie! If you have read the preview chapters of my novel, you will see in the acknowledgements I thank Ellie for being such a dear girlfriend. We took this picture today . We both had a well deserved break from motherhood, left our sons with their fathers and took off to enjoy London’s sunshine. We head to the shopping mall, had lunch, gossiped,laughed,shopped,went to Starbucks and sat outside in the sun talking some more.

Ellie and I met years ago, in our early 20s at university here in London, we both left our previous careers (she’s a qualified lawyer)  and went on to study to qualify as teachers. Our paths crossed as we were placed in the same group to work together on a project, I’m not going to lie when I first realised I was placed with Ellie  I looked her up and down and I thought ” Oh my god, this girl is going to be hard work  to work with number 1. she is beautiful with her  big wild dark curly hair and perfectly applied make-up,  and nice clothes and  number 2 she’s a qualified solicitor (lawyer) she’s bound to be argumentative and a real diva.”  I remember I took a  deep breath, slapped a smile on my face and hoped for the best as she said ‘‘ Hey I’m Ellie”. How wrong I was, she is one of the most kindest, down-to-earth and gentle females I have come across. We also have so much in common we both spend way too much time on You Tube watching make-up tutorials and product reviews. In another life  we’d both be make-up artists. We are both spiritual souls.

I realised looks can be deceiving and I was wrong to pass judgement on her due to how she looks and what she did previously for a living. Her clear brains and beauty are  non diva like at all. All these years later she has not changed.

Anyway, why do I admire this lady? Why am I dedicating this post to her with my word prompt response? Why did I thank her so openly in my author acknowledgements and why would I be upset if I lost her friendship?….

  1. Ellie introduced me to ”The Secret” and the ”Law of Attraction.” She is a very spiritual soul. Thanks to Ellie my already spiritual self was enhanced when met in our early 20s. To this day, the main achievements in my life especially my publishing deals I’ve scored,  have been thanks to this school of thought Ellie introduced me to. She has helped shape how I walk through life. One afternoon over lunch about 6-7 years ago when we were having a deep conversation about life, religion and beliefs I  I was learning about her cultural background-she’s of Iranian decent, she pulled out her phone and started to show me all this ”stuff” I never looked back. I admire her way of thinking about life and how forward thinking and positive she is.  She may serve you up some blunt home truths, but she means well. She is very straight down the line, fact based, no bullshit kinda person. Probably the lawyer in her but I admire it.
  2. When we were broke students, I was in a panic  one day as I had received final notification from my electricity suppliers. They were going to cut off my supply for late and non payment. I am not ashamed to say this  I had NO money to pay! Ellie knew something was up, I didn’t know her well enough to explain my situation, I just lightly brushed over money worries as a broke student  which she could relate to. Ellie paid my bill, just like that, that very day. I did not ask her she got it  out of me what the ”real” issue was. She never asked when I will repay her. Of course I did in bits and pieces I  was determine she’d get her money back. Bottom line, she is very generous, caring and trusting she hardly know me  back then. We met in September this was like October/ November time. She saved my ass big time. I will never forget this. I admire her giving heart.
  3. Ellie helped me understand the legal aspects of my publisher’s contract and oversaw that all my interests are protected. I lucked out making friends with a lawyer! I admire that no one can pull the wool over her eyes.She’s a smart-ass when it comes to the law.
  4. She constantly has my back and encourages me. I admire that she is a friend that has your corner, and never makes you feel like the friendship is one sided.
  5. She’s a great mother,   I admire how she juggles work and family life so well.

I admire, respect and trust this lady. It feels like in some past life we knew each other we just click and she just gets me! Thank you for your friendship. I also did another writing prompt on the word buddy which you can read here.