Kaylin McFarren is a California
native who has enjoyed traveling around the world. She previously worked as
director for a fine art gallery, where she helped foster the careers of various
artists before feeling the urge to satisfy her own creative impulses.
Since launching her writing career, McFarren has earned more
than a dozen literary awards in addition to a finalist spot in the 2008 RWA
Golden Heart Contest. A member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, and
Willamette Writers, she also lends her participation and support to various
charitable and educational organizations in the Pacific Northwest.
McFarren currently lives with her husband in Oregon
and visits her second home in California
once a month. They have three grown daughters and two grandchildren, and look
forward to having more.
Her latest book is the romantic suspense, Banished
Threads.
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More Information
Can you tell us
what your book is about?
Although Banished
Threads is a stand alone book, it’s also part of a series involving a pair of damaged,
insecure treasure hunters who are romantically involved and slowly growing more
confident in themselves and their relationship from the experiences they share.
Here’s the premise for this latest installment.
After arriving in England on a much-deserved vacation, Rachel Lyons
and Chase Cohen are quickly forced into becoming crime-stopping sleuths when a
collection of priceless Morris Graves’ paintings turns up missing at her
uncle's gallery. Determined to clear him of all wrong-doing and free his
accused granddaughter, the treasure-hunting duo risk not only their
relationship but also the life of their unborn child when it’s discovered that someone
is determined to destroy the Lyons’ family by any means necessary.
Why did you write
your book?
As with each of my
books, Buried Threads ended on a cliffhanger with my main characters planning a
trip to England. It became a natural transition to take
them there and expose them to characters more flawed than themselves and also
thrust them into incredible danger that could permanently affect their lives.
Do you tend to base
your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?
I enjoy developing
outrageous characters, exaggerating their strengths and weaknesses and turning
them into unforgettable entities that readers often relate to in regard to
their own lives and situations.
Are you consciously
aware of the plot before you begin a novel or do you discover it as you write?
I have a concept in
mind when I begin writing and often my characters help determine the direction
my story takes. The greatest challenge is reining them in and not allowing the
plot to splitter in too many directions.
Does the setting
play a major part in the development of your story?
I believe a setting
is a character in itself and very important to a storyline. Since Sloan
Rafferty, my misguided character in Banished Threads, spends her nights in seedy
parts of Soho, its important to understand visually what
she witnesses and how her environment puts her at risk.
Open the book to
page 69. What is happening?
While riding as a
passenger in a car, Sloan is mulling over aspects of her life and trying to
understand why members of her family are hiding secrets about her upbringing
and deceased mother.
Have you suffered
from writer’s block and what do you do to get back on track?
I’ve had a few
bouts but found the most effective solution for getting back on track is to
revisit sections of earlier written books. The oddest thing is I often get the
best ideas and solutions to problems in stories by taking a hot shower and
simply relaxing.
Which holiday is
your favorite and why?
Christmas is
definitely my favorite time of the year (and holiday) because I love buying
presents and giving them away. There’s nothing better than seeing the delighted
look on my two grandsons’ faces and getting hugs in return.
What do you like
the most about being an author?
I love the feeling
of accomplishment when a story is completed and when positive feedback comes in
the form of letters from avid readers anxious to read the next book.
What kind of advice
would you give other fiction authors?
Read as many books
as you can by fellow authors. This helps the mind grow, leads to new
possibilities, and confirms the fact that there are hundreds of great stories
out there…just waiting to be shared. J