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.
Can you tell us what your book is about?
My Courting series is about the women and men
who work at Luxxor Limited, a high-end escort service. Courting
Danger is the story of Rielle, Luxxor’s office manager, who decides to step
out one night as an escort with a mysterious man.
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
Are you consciously aware of the plot before you begin a
novel or do you discover it as you write?
I’m a plotter. If I tried to
discover the story as I wrote, I’d stare for a long time at a blank
screen. I start plotting at a high level
to make sure I know all the major points of the story. I often use flash cards for this. Then I break it down, chapter by chapter, so
I know where I’m going and why. The
better I’ve plotted, the faster the actual writing goes.
Your book is set in Washington DC. Can you tell us why you chose
this city in particular?
I needed a big
city where an escort service might be based.
The capital was the first place that came to mind. Ha!
Actually, it offered a lot of intriguing storyline possibilities, and
there are so many settings within the city that I could use. It’s worked out very well.
Does the setting
play a major part in the development of your story?
DC plays a huge part in Courting Danger. The White
House, cherry blossoms, and the Kennedy Center all show up.
The locations are integral to the plot.
Open the book to
page 69. What is happening?
Wow!
You are good. It’s actually the
start of a love scene. It’s also my
favorite scene in the book. The hero is
still a vague, shadowy figure. Everyone
is telling Rielle that he’s bad news and to stay away from him. She’s angry with him, but when he appears,
they have a quiet, intimate moment. It’s
the quietness that appealed to me. By
all rights, there could have been a big, dramatic moment with anger and
yelling. Instead, there was a quietness
that solidified to me that these two characters belonged together.
Have you suffered
from writer’s block and what do you do to get back on track?
Yes.
As I mentioned before, if I don’t know the story, I can’t sit down at a
keyboard and hammer it out. Instead, I
do anything but write. Seriously. Others say you need to put your butt in the
chair and fight through it. That doesn't work for me. I get more frustrated,
and the block gets bigger. Instead, I'll let my subconscious mind work on it.
I'll do dishes, watch a movie, or listen to music. Another trick is thinking
about the scene from another character's point of view. When the answer comes,
it's just like the proverbial light bulb popping on over my head. I get all
excited, the energy returns, and I'll write like crazy. Getting to that point, though, can be
excruciating.
What would you do
with an extra hour today if you could do anything you wanted?
With Halloween right around the corner, I’d
carve pumpkins! I’m desperately wanting
to do this right now, but I can’t find the time. I love seeing jack-o’-lanterns
with their flickering faces.
Which holiday is
your favorite and why?
I love
Halloween. There are no presents to
worry about, no stress, and no awkward gatherings. It’s all about fun and imagination.
What is the most
pivotal point of a writer’s life?
I
think the most pivotal point is when things go wrong. A book might not sell well. An editor might have a different vision for a
story than you. Bad reviews might come
in. It’s all about how you respond to
adversity. Does it make you stronger? Can you filter out the important
feedback? Or do you crawl into a ball
and hide under the covers? The next step
you take is the most important.
What kind of advice
would you give other fiction authors?
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.