Interview with Kate McGinn
Published 2016-08-23.
What are you working on next?
I am currently writing the second book in the Clare Thibodeaux Series - Winter's Icy Caress.
Who are your favorite authors?
I have so many favorites but a quick list would include Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Karen Marie Moning, Lori Foster, Tom Clancy, J.R.R. Tolkien, Maeve Binchy and Dan Brown.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Sunshine and coffee.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Reading, gardening, golfing, traveling, and training to walk a half-marathon.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Goodreads, internet sites and recommendations from friends are the primary ways I discover the books I read.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
It was a short story entitled "A Man Called Pop" and it was a retelling of a story my father told me. I added fictionalized details and dialogue. I think I was about 9 years old. I don't think that was my first one, but it is the first one I can remember in any detail.
What is your writing process?
I'm pretty much a "pantser" which means I fly by the seat of my pants more often than not. I have some very basic ideas about my plot and characters. I look for photos as inspiration for the characters and the settings and make a Pinterest storyboard with them. I do research on aspects of the story I need more details on, and I'll use situations from my real life when they fit. As the individual characters develop, their personalities set the arc of the story. When I'm stuck on a plot line that isn't working, I find a long walk gives me time to relax and think.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
When I was very young, I liked biographies, but one of the first books I loved was "A Wrinkle in Time". I found an old copy of the book recently and had to purchase it.
How do you approach cover design?
I find an aspect of the story I think would make a dramatic cover. I use my own photos and some stock photos and I meld different pieces of the photos together. The cover of Exodus is a combination of three of my photos -- my Jeep Wrangler, a beach in Puerto Rico and a beautiful sunset. I've used up to 3-4 photos at times to make a cover. Once I've gotten the image I want, I use different apps like Photoshop and Waterlogue until I'm happy with the final product
What do you read for pleasure?
I read a bit of everything, really. The classics, old Agatha Christie mysteries, paranormal and fantasy, military/political thrillers and romance books are the books I read most often.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I have two Kindles, so one is always charged!
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