Well, I still have a copy of the first poem that I ever wrote in the second grade. It is entitled “Black Cat, Dark as Night”. So, that must have been my first masterpiece!
What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
My love of reading has always driven me to write. There is nothing more satisfying that getting lost in a truly great book and losing yourself in another world. It is the ultimate escape from reality. I just always wanted to provide that same experience for others.
How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract?
I was so excited that I felt like running laps around the neighborhood. Instead I tried to call my husband and then my mother and no one was answering the phone. I kept getting everyone’s voice mail. LOL!
How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale?
I sold my first book in January of this year (2009) and since that time I’ve sold a total of 9 books! This has been an amazing year, to say the least!
Tell me about your latest release. Please include if it is part of a series or a standalone book.
My latest release is a Christmas short story entitled When Ginger Snapped. Right now it is a stand alone book but I’m thinking of making it into a series. I have tons of ideas for these characters and I enjoyed this project so much. This book was made possible by my win of the Browler Books Holiday Short Story Contest! The story is all about Holiday Madness and a sensual Massage!
What was your inspiration for this book?
Well, the holiday season was fast approaching and I thought about how insane it gets for some people. My husband always rushes out on Black Friday to get the best deals but you would never catch me out there fighting the crowds. So, I thought about how I could write a book set at that time frame and When Ginger Snapped was created.
How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
Oh, I am totally a pantser. I get the initial idea for a book and then I just run with it. I never really know where the characters are going to end up until I get going. I’ve tried to do the plotting route and it just never works out for me. I spend more time revising the plot outline that I never get anything actually written.
How do you handle the editing/revision process?
I don’t do any editing or revisions until I’ve completed the entire book. I just sit down and write until it is done. Then, and only then, do I go back to do any editing or necessary rewrites. It is the only way that works for me.
You’re received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why?
I love each and every one of my reviews. I was a reviewer for a while and it is actually a tough job. It’s not the reading of free books but the summarizing of your thoughts on someone else’s work that provides a real challenge. You want to be totally fair and impartial and yet you need to let reader’s know your opinion of the piece. I appreciate all the reviewers who have taken the time to read my work.
Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story?
I don’t have anything odd on this latest story as it didn’t require much research. However, I would say the toughest research and most challenging book that I’ve written so far is my Scottish time travel book entitled The Mystical Kilt. It releases later this month and it was so tough for me. I love reading historical and I’ve always wanted to write one. I never dreamed that it would be so tough. You need to have enough factual information about your time period to make it realistic. Yet you don’t want to bog down the readers with too much detail. It was exhausting but I’m really proud of it.
What is the most interesting part of writing for you? The least?
The most interesting part of writing for me is the fact that when a reader purchases my book…they are really just reading my thoughts, dreams, and imagination. It is almost like they are reading my mind. My tagline on my website represents just that same idea… “sharing my imagination with the world…one page at a time”.
If you could time travel, where would you go?
I might like to visit the Regency era England. I’ve been researching it for a new book that I’m working on. It was a very wealthy time period and I simply love the attire and the attitude of the time. I don’t know that I’d like to stay in that time period but a visit would be grand.
Who is your biggest fan?
This would be a toss-up between my husband and my mother. They are both incredibly supportive. My husband edits most of my work and offers invaluable advice and suggestions. My mother is always the first person to buy a copy of my book on release day. She brags to everyone she knows and even told a stranger on an airplane to buy my book for their Kindle that they were using during the flight!
Do comments or letters you receive from fans and other writers influence you in any way?
I adore comments from readers and fans. They are what keeps me going and motivated to write more and to write better! You can never practice and improve your craft too much.
Why do you write romance novels?
I write romance because I truly believe in the happily ever after. Who doesn’t want a happy ending? I love to make my characters believable and it is important that they experience real life scenarios. That makes them relatable to the readers. I don’t think there is anything in life that people can relate more to than the ups and downs of romance. Everyone has loved and lost and many have found out the hard way that love doesn’t come easy. Romance is a way for readers to know for sure that they are not alone out there.
Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
http://www.kerrinelson.com/
http://www.kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/
Kerri’s bio:
Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.
After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She is a true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman husband and two little belles-in-training. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family, feeding her addiction to blogging online or designing custom made book trailers. Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous Chapters including Southern Magic, Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal, Hearts Through History, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.
Thanks for taking part in my 2 for Thursday promotion. I wish wonderful things for you in the future! Good luck in the Dorchester contest!
Lynn
