Interview with Kim Black
Published 2017-02-25.
Who are your favorite authors?
I've loved mysteries since my third-grade obsession with Nancy Drew. I still grab an Agatha Christie every chance I get. I also enjoy Rex Stout, Dashiell Hammet, and Raymond Chandler. I love the gothic style of Daphne Du Maurier, too!
I adore spies, so definitely a fan of Ian Fleming. As far as my contemporaries, I like Terry Blackstock, Paula Hawkins, and Pamela Fagan Hutchins.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
My family is pretty great, and I love to be creative in just about everything I do. Also, I have a twelve-year-old terrier named Archie who wants to go out for a walk, rain or shine. He's pretty motivating.
What is your writing process?
I'm usually inspired by a dream or nightmare, or even a clever turn of phrase. I tumble some ideas around for a while and then make a (very loose) outline. I prop it up on my screenplay diagram sometimes to work out structure problems, then just start writing.
When did you first start writing?
Elementary school. I had some remarkable teachers.
What are you working on next?
I'm working on a series of spy-novels, and they're going to be fun! My female lead is a former-fashion model, infiltrating a design house to uncover ring of models blackmailing top world officials in an effort to crash the global economy. A cross between Audrey Hepburn and James Bond, with a weapon-ized dress fit for haute couture.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The book that changed my life was Little Women. I probably read it a dozen times through elementary school. I was determined to be Jo March!
What's the story behind your latest book?
I love Bible stories. But usually there is very little background for the characters included in the stories. So with Her Most Precious Gift, I imagined a detailed back story for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany. That's where it began.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I've been writing stories for a really long time, but I think I was maybe in the fourth grade (1977?) or so when I wrote a story about all of the classic monsters-- Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Werewolf-- all converging in one plot. It was a little like Van Helsing.
How do you approach cover design?
Both of my sons are graphic designers, so we have constant discussions about art, design, and typography. We hash out everything and tweak even the tiniest details. We consider the "attitude" of the book when choosing the style and colors.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I use my iPad mini for everything. I think I have every reading app on it.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I'm a Texan, so everything's BIG! Lots of story-telling in my family.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
After my experience with a small publishing house, I felt I needed more control over my final product. While my experience wasn't bad, there were some things that I wanted to do differently, and I just had no say about them.
What do your fans mean to you?
I love my readers. They drive me to push my ideas to the next level and to make every story the best it can be.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
I usually take recommendations from friends, and one of the writers' groups that I'm in chooses three or four books a year to read and discuss.
Describe your desk
It is literally a reclaimed door painted teal. It has salvaged antique table legs, and it is topped with glass. My husband built it for me a few years ago, and I LOVE IT!
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