Chatting with Kim Hornsby

The Entertainment Industry today is all a-buzz with twisted faery tales and I know I'm a fan of them myself. I heard all the originals while on my mother's lap at bedtime as a small child and dreamed of putting stories together to catch the imagination of kids everywhere. So, it's an honor and I'm very pleased to be chatting with suspense author Kim Hornsby. She's had an intriguing life herself so it's no wonder she writes romantic suspense! Join us today to find out all about her latest book Necessary Detour and her unusual love of Nursery stories. 

What did you see, hear or dream that inspired your book?

 

Necessary Detour came from an AHA moment that turned out to be not so amazing. I was trying to dream up a high concept and thought if I took Nursery Stories and made them into grownup books, the series would sell. But the agents I queried all agreed that nursery stories would never sell. I’m still not sure why, when Once Upon a Time is a hit TV show, but this was three years ago. The novel was originally called Goldy and the Bayers and loosely follows the Goldilocks story. I still think it’s clever and fun but it wasn’t until I renamed the book “Necessary Detour,” that I got someone interested. Go figure.

   

      I think that no matter how good a story is, when you pitch to an agent or a publication,   

      the title has to be the catchy part.

Which one of your main characters came across strongest to you? 

Goldy/Nikki really spoke to me because she is a singer and although I never dealt with fame of that magnitude, I did experience a small degree of celebrity and fans. The side you present to the public is so different from the real you, when you sing professionally in big concerts or in theatre. I even had a stalker in those days, who was wheelchair bound and still have the ‘love’ letters he wrote me. He called me ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ and used to come to my performances on Maui. It all started when I went into the audience one night and sang to him. I had no idea it would affect him that way! He eventually tried to get me fired from singing gigs and got nasty, but like Goldy’s stalker, he was a letter writer. And, another sick person, years later, threatened to cut my tongue out with a Coke bottle when my husband fired him at work. People can be weird. We were living in Canada and we had to get the RCMP involved.

It’s totally sad what some people can and will do to try to ruin the fun and absolute pleasure that gifted people try to convey to make the lives of others a little brighter if for a short time. I’m sorry you had to go through all of that. I’m sure it was pretty scary.

How long did it take you to fall in love with your Hero/Heroine? 

I fell for Pete the moment he grabbed Goldy at the grocery store to prevent her from falling backwards and I saw his blue eyes.

Ah, the eyes are indeed the window to the soul. It seems Pete had the kind of soul to win her heart!

Did you borrow certain traits for your characters from someone you know personally?  Which ones?

Goldy is snoopy, especially when she thinks someone might be in danger. I am a tiny bit snoopy but I’d like to think that I go out on a limb to help people whether they know they need help or not. So I guess you could say I’m snoopy but helpful!

Is this book a single category or can we expect to see more of your characters in a series?

Great question. If this books does well (and it’s #2 in Free Kindle Suspense-right up there with best selling men authors) I might think about continuing with the original series of nursery stories all grown up. The next novel is titled Jacqueline Beane Stalks. What do you think, readers?

Interesting. I think calling her Jacqueline Beane Stalker might make it a little more fun, especially if she was the one doing the stalking for a change. But, that is just my opinion and I’m not a suspense writer. How fun, though!

What is your most difficult “no-no” when you write? (Show vs. tell, dialogue, plot problems, passive voice, etc.)

I have so many! I write a crappy 1^st draft to get the story down, then go back in about 11 times. I’d have to say that showing is a repeat offender as well as explaining too much and not giving the reader enough credit. I really want to write smart, knowing my reader is following, but I’m afraid of being too vague sometimes. Luckily my critique group catches these and I can rely on them to call me out. I’m told my dialogue is good and rarely have to change anything to do with the plot but I have loads of problems with what we like to call, circling the ferry, which means not getting to the point. My critique group has all kinds of secret codes and terms!

I’m learning how valuable a good critique partner can be, thanks to TWRP. Not to mention, making friends with other writers is a little like therapy.

When you take a break from writing, what do you do to allow your brain time to regroup?

I still have children at home so I try to spend time with them even if one is a brooding teenage boy. I take him driving which is not stress free but has nothing to do with writing. And my 10 year old daughter, we draw, shop, giggle a lot. One of my favorite things is to walk my dogs in the forest. Like Goldy, the woods give me strength and grounds me.

Would you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

I used to think I was a pantser but I’m realizing that’s not true. I am an avid list maker so that was my first clue that I like to see things on paper to get myself organized. I am getting ready to write book 2 in my Dream Jumper series and although I’m just plotting in my head right now, I shall be taking my thoughts to paper soon. I have a graph I use to plot and also use Pinterest boards to inspire me. Very visual!

There are so many different things that tend to inspire the stories that we create. I think it’s fascinating how we all come up with our ideas. Visual stimulation tends to be number one. Another for me is auditory. Sometimes, a few words of spoken conversation between two people I don’t know can stir up all kinds of ideas.  However, visual is my number one, too.

In one sentence, tell us what your book is about. 

When International rock star, Goldy, announces her retirement, she hides at her lakehouse to avoid the media fall out and a stalker whose threats are getting more heinous, but finds that she can’t stop spying on the mysterious man across the bay to save her own life.

What is your one “guilty” pleasure?

Writing books is my guilty pleasure. I work full time at Macy’s, am raising 2 kids, have 2 boisterous dogs, a neglected husband, and a terribly messy house! I can’t wait to quit my day job to write full time. :)

Your books are truly wonderful sounding and I will certainly add this one to my TBR pile for this year. I’m sure many others will too and that will help add to your dream to write full-time.

Thanks for having me Lisa! 

You're very welcome. I enjoyed visiting with you today and getting to know you better.

NECESSARY DETOUR

After a stalker's attack, rock star Goldy Crossland flees L.A. for her secluded lake house in Northern Washington. Retired from the music business, she hopes to avoid both the press and her psychotic fan. But obscurity leaves her restless, and when a mysterious and disturbingly handsome new neighbor moves in, she can't resist spying.
 

Pete Bayer is undeniably attractive, but Goldy quickly realizes there's something strange going on in the log house across the bay. Is he a member of the paparazzi? Or a much more sinister threat? Despite her suspicions, Goldy can't deny her fascination with him.
 

When the press discovers her hideout, it's Pete who offers an escape route, but it comes with a price. Unwillingly drawn into his dangerous world, Goldy soon learns the reason behind Pete's secrecy and her crush on her charming neighbor takes a deadly turn.

Buy link

http://amzn.com/B00AUM76

Author Links

www.kimhornsby.blogspot.com

www.kimhornsby.net

www.facebook.com/kimhornsby1

And don't forget to check out her other book; The Dream Jumper's Promise.