Interview with Kimberly Dean, author of 'Courting Danger'
When taking the Myers-Briggs personality
test in high school, Kimberly was rated as an INFJ
(Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Judging). This result sent her into a panic,
because there were no career paths recommended for the type. Fortunately, it
turned out to be well-suited to a writing career. Since receiving that dismal
outlook, Kimberly has become an award-winning author of romance and
erotica. She has written for seven publishing houses, both domestic and
international, and has recently focused her efforts on the exciting world of
self-publishing. When not writing, she enjoys movies, sports, traveling, music,
and sunshine. In her mind, a beach, some rock ‘n’ roll, and a good book make
for a perfect day.
Her latest book is the contemporary erotic
romance, Courting
Danger.
For
More Information
- Visit Kimberly Dean’s website.
- Connect with Kimberly on Twitter.
- Find out more about Kimberly at Goodreads.
About the Book:
Title:
Courting Danger
Author: Kimberly Dean
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 400
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Author: Kimberly Dean
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 400
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Rielle Sands ventured too close to the fire once
and got burned. Now when it comes to men, she’s vowed to play it safe. But then
a dashing, mysterious man shows up at Luxxor Limited after hours, the agency
she manages, needing an escort.
Darien Scott isn’t what he appears to be. Beneath
the sexy smile and wicked charm, he’s hiding secrets. Yet the sizzling
chemistry between him and Rielle is real. He tries to stay away, but his
attraction to her keeps pulling him back. When he discovers that he’s not the
only one haunted by danger, he changes tactics. To protect Rielle, he may need
to stay close. Super close. Exclusive Luxxor contract close.
The reward is more than worth the risk.
For More Information
Q: Welcome to The Writer's
Life! Now that your book has been
published, we’d love to find out more about the process. Can we begin by having you take us at the
beginning? Where did you come up with
the idea to write your book?
As I’ve been writing my Courting
series, the book titles have been the key inspiration for the story lines. Each
title sparked an idea, but none more so than my current book, Courting Danger. The title just cried for a romantic suspense,
and the genre made a lot of sense. The
series is about the women and men who work at Luxxor Limited, a high-end escort
service, so danger was an obvious premise.
What wasn’t obvious was which character would take center stage.
Imagine my surprise when it was
quiet Rielle, the Luxxor Limited office manager, who kept popping up as I
brainstormed. The word danger elicits so many feelings: fear, thrill, dread, curiosity, etc. It didn’t fit with an office manager. It fit better with an escort. That was when the key question hit me… What
if the timid office manager took a risk one night and stepped out as an escort?
Boom. Suddenly, I had a plot. It was the contrast that made the idea work
so well, and I kept running with that idea as the hero took form. In the end, it was all about playing off
opposites that made the story take flight.
Q: How hard was it to write a
book like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make
the journey easier for other writers?
Writing a thriller can be
stressful! Romantic suspense and erotic
romance play well together. Both genres
depend on keeping tension high, yet that can also be the very thing that makes
writing a story difficult. There is a
greater demand on the author to keep everything building to higher and higher
levels, and an author can feel this physically.
I found myself leaning in over the keyboard. My fingers were flying, my leg was bouncing,
and my breaths were short. It’s great to
be into your story, but take breaks!
That’s true for your characters,
too. If they’re running from scene to
scene, constantly on edge, your reader will burn out. Give your characters a breather before you
reach for a higher level of tension, yet make that down time count. Have your characters connect as they’re
bandaging wounds, or let them make a big discovery when they’re hiding out from
the bad guys. The low points will make
the high points all that more impactful.
Q: Who is your publisher and how
did you find them or did you self-publish?
My publisher is Mischief Books,
an erotic romance line from HarperCollins out of the UK. I’d worked with my editor at Black Lace
Books. When that line went defunct, he
contacted me to see if I’d like to submit something to Mischief. Of course I would!
Q: Is there anything that
surprised you about getting your first book published?
Haha. Yes, if you count having a contract magically
appear in your mailbox as surprising. Years ago, I went through a spell where
all I was reading were books that disappointed me. I thought to myself, that I could do better so
I sat down and gave it a try. I shipped
the manuscript off to Black Lace Books in England,
and then went on to other things in my life.
Several months later, an envelope showed in my mail. Those were the days when manuscripts were
mailed back and forth – only this envelope was much thinner than the one I’d
sent out. I opened it up and discovered
a contract. A contract!!! It was so much better than the call that everyone talks about. This was on paper. It was real, and I could touch it. Suddenly, I was an author. Talk about a surprise. It knocked me for a loop.
Q: What other books (if any) are
you working on and when will they be published?
I’ve written the proposals for
two more erotic romances in my Courting series and have sent them off to my
editor. If all goes according to plan,
both books should be out next year. I’m
also in the middle of my Dream Weavers series, based on the Greek legend of the
Oneiroi, spirit gods of dreams. The next
book in that series is called Riveting
Dreams, and I’m halfway through the first draft. I’m liking it a lot. I hope to self-publish it early next year.
Q: What’s your favorite place to
hang out online?
I’m a news hound. I just skip from news site to news site. I’m
just as apt to click on an odd news story as current events or pop
culture. Social media is more difficult
for me. I don’t like to post about myself. I prefer to read about others.
Q: What’s your nightly ritual
before retiring for the night?
I’ll walk
around the house turning off lights, checking doors, and making sure curtains
are drawn. Just last week, I discovered
the downstairs basement door standing wide open, looking out into pitch
darkness. I can’t describe how badly
that scared me! I yelped, ran to the door
at nearly the speed of sound, slammed it shut, and braced it with my weight. I have no idea how long it had been like
that. I locked it up tight, but that
meant I had to take another tour around the house, turning on lights, and
looking in closets and under beds.
Sometimes having a writer’s imagination isn’t a good thing! It took me a long time to get to sleep that
night, but it also spurred some story ideas.
If I wrote horror…
Q: Finally, what message (if any)
are you trying to get across with your book?
I wasn’t trying to send a
message, but there was significance in how the story idea came together. The heroine, Rielle, has been a quiet
secondary character for several books now, but she had a big story to
tell. In this day of extroverts, quiet
people are often assumed to be boring.
That’s so not true. They often
tend to be the most interesting and the most complex. Look past the people who only want to talk
about themselves. It’s the quiet ones who will surprise you.
Q: Thank you again for this
interview! Do you have any final words?
A writer’s life can be great, but
the most important thing is to trust in yourself. Learn your
craft and do your homework. Do everything you can to become the best writer you
can possibly be, but listen to your gut. People in this industry love to throw
out advice. Some of it is great, but a lot of it is pure hooey. Just because a
big-time author tells you to do something or an agent demands you make changes
doesn't mean they're right. This can be one of the hardest things to learn.
Don't be inflexible or a smarty pants, but develop a backbone. This is your
story, your business, and your dream. Trust in yourself to make things happen.
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