Reading by Deb: INTERVIEW with K Rose

I would like to thank K Rose for taking the time for this interview!

BIO:

K. Rose has been a part of the Indie Author Community for years. Getting her start as a reader, her keen eye led to a wonderful career in Alpha/Beta and ARC (Advance Reader Copy) reading. As a joke to her fellow advanced reader colleagues, she created a spoofed blurb and cover for a story and the feedback was so positive that it sparked her to run with it.

That stoked a fire that has her racing down a multi-genre freeway with no off-ramp in sight. K. doesn’t write to “market” and she is fairly certain that her humor and use of puns may cause an eye roll or two, but as she likes to say, “That’s how I roll.” and “Puns are always welcome!”

She has traveled the USA extensively, including Alaska, and lived in thirty-eight of the fifty states. Home is now the beautiful state of Wisconsin, where she dreams up her stories in the company of her guy of over twenty years, and their menagerie of furbabies, including five puppies, three rescue kitties, eighteen chickens, ruled by a Rooster named Chicken Parm, plus eight ducks, a ninety-gallon tropical fish tank and a chatty nineteen-year-old Cherry Headed Conure!

Life will always be interesting for K. Rose, which will fuel her works, and keep her muses singing, come join the chorus.

When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I just kinda tried because I wanted to tell a story that had been building in my mind.

So one April Fools Day I wrote a “fake” blurb and used a photo editing software to make a cover reveal as well…

The response was so good that I actually felt pretty good about it, and this is How the Prophecy of the Water Sprite was Born.

Did you have any influencing writers growing up?

I love Stephen King and Shel Silverstein when I was grade school age, but lost the thrill of reading somewhere before middle school. I didn’t pick it back up until about 3 years ago during covid.

Are any of your characters based on people in real life?

No, I don’t use real people to base my characters off, though there will always be some similarities, art impersonating life and all.

Where do you draw your book inspirations from?

I dream creative things, and these often end up in my writing now.

Do you use have a basic outline when starting a new story or do you let the characters lead the way?

I am definitely an outline user.

When you are picturing the characters in your book, do you have a cheater photo for inspiration?

I did for The Prophecy of the Water Sprite, but haven’t for the Elven Prince, My first Secret, or In the Pines.

Many people read as a form of escape and relaxation. What is your favorite way to sit back and relax?

I love to read, and write, but I also use cooking and baking as a form of escape and relaxation.

Who are your favorite current authors to read?

I love to read my fellow Indie authors’ books. The hidden Gems, the lesser known, or just starting.

What are your favorite books by others?

I never like to pick favorites, it somehow diminishes the greatness of others in my mind… so the favorite is always the current world I am immersed within.

Do the locations in the stories have any meaning to you?

Perhaps on a subconscious level, they might. Nothing extremely significant that I can think of off hand though. Other than Nature is a feature in all of my books, and she is beautiful in all ways.

Do you write in single or multiple POV?

I write all in First Person, with Multiple POV, its easier for me to tell the story when I can change the prospective occasionally.

What do you find to be your best research tool?

My best research tool is the author community, and of course the online search engines inside my “not so Stupid afterall” phone.

Do you write under a pen name? Also, do you write under more than one name?

I currently write under the Pen name K. Rose.

I will have an anonymous competition ending September that has assigned an anonymous Pen name that I didn’t choose. It’s a book writing derby, and everyone who submits is anonymous.

What genre do you write and why is this your preference?

I currently write mostly romance. I have a fantasy romance, a PNR/ Sci-Fi mashup that I am working on, a PNR/Acedemy romance, a kids illustrated book, and a YA fantasy adventure… so maybe a bit of a genre hopper, as I do have a couple other projects that are more just cozy mysteries as well.

Tell me something about yourself outside of writing. Jobs, accomplishments, family, quirky trait...what led to you being you?

I am both a Middle Child and the Oldest.

I love to try new hobbies, all the time.

I was just found by my oldest brother 4 years ago, and super stoked to have another brother! Turns out my dad had a kid when he was 17, and put him up for adoption.

I have taken the personality test every few years to make sure it’s not changed, and always come out as INFJ-T so I guess they know what they're talking about regardless of the questions to get to the end.

If you are a duo writing team, how do you share the writing process?

I asked a couple of authors to consider me for a duet, but we haven’t been able to make our schedules work yet.

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Just do it. Write the words. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar or any of that. It’s a first draft. Get that done, then worry about the next step.

How do you deal and process negative book reviews?

I usually laugh, because they're so far left field it's ridiculous.

What is the most difficult part of your writing process?

The most difficult for me is actually sitting down to write. Taking the time and not getting distracted by the promotion or social interations that are also required as an Indie Author.

What do you need in your writer’s space to keep you focused?

I need silence, and comfortable clothing… maybe a snack too

What is your naughty indulgence as you are writing?

My naughty indulgence is actually a distraction, and its all social media and chats with other authors

If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose? And why?

I would like to pick the brain of Kailin Gow. She seems quite friendly but also super knowledgable.

What is your schedule like when you are writing? Do you have a favorite writing snack or drink?

I don’t have a schedule, I just go with the flow (maybe I should get one though) I love Lime Seltzer, its my go to beverage.

Do you listen to music when you write – what kind of music is your favorite?

I don’t listen to music because the lyrics take over my brain, so I need it quiet to be creative.

My favorite kinds of music are basically everything but most classical, elevator Jazz, and older bluegrass and country.

Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing?

ALWAYS! I have so many pets my life is basically picking up poop every day

What is your kryptonite as a writer? What totally puts you off your game?

I don’t think I have a kryptonite yet, at least if I do I don’t know about it just yet.

What throws me off my game is when I get to the point of sharing things with others and then they all have a nitpick on how they would do it…but at the same time, I like when they say it too because it gives me ideas.

Have you ever killed off a character that your readers loved?