An Interview with Kimberly Dean

CourtingDanger HI RES_webHow did you get started writing? 

Years ago, I went through a spate where all I was reading were disappointing books.  I thought to myself, “I could do better.”  That led to “Why don’t you?”  It was a pretty big claim for somebody who’d never written anything creative, beyond what was assigned as homework in school.  So I sat down and gave it a try.  That was eleven years ago, and I haven’t stopped writing since.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write contemporary romance, paranormal romance, and erotica (that always ends  up being a romance, too.)  I like variety, and most of my story ideas are in the contemporary and paranormal genres.  I started off writing erotica.  That’s where I was able to enter the marketplace, so it still holds a special place in my heart.

Tell us about your current series. 

My Courting series is about the women and men who work at Luxxor Limited, a high-end escort service.  The company caters to the wealthy by matching them with escorts who are as smart, mannered, and cultured as they are beautiful.  The one limitation in Luxxor’s contracts?  No sex allowed.  Except, of course, if the contact is mutually acceptable.

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park? 

My road to publishing was different than most writers (I’ve since learned).  My first manuscript was Tiger Lily, a gritty erotic thriller.  I sent it off to Black Lace Books in England, and then moved on.  I wrote a short story next called Playing with Fire and sent that into the abyss, too.  A few months later, an envelope showed in my mail.  Those were the days when manuscripts were mailed back and forth – only this envelope was much thinner than the one I’d sent out.  I opened it up and discovered a contract.  A contract!!!  It was so much better than “the call” that everyone talks about.  It was on paper.  It was real, and I could touch it.  Another contract showed up for the short story a week later.  Suddenly, I was an author.

Do you have a view in your writing space?  What does your space look like?

I do!  I’m very lucky.  My house backs up to a creek and woods.  I’ll get distracted by wildlife like deer, red-tailed hawks, red foxes, birds, and squirrels.  They’re fun to watch.

Tell us about your hero.  Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses. 

My hero is Darien Scott.  He’s mysterious, handsome, and  dangerous.   His biggest strength is his commitment to his job.  His weakness is that he’s stayed in the shadows for so long, it’s hard for him to come out into the sunshine.

Tell us about your heroine.  Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses. 

Rielle Sands is quiet, strong, and resourceful.  Her strength is that she’s observant.  She picks up on the littlest clues and reads them.  Her weakness is that she’s been looking over her shoulder for so long, she’s forgotten that she can trust people.

What are you currently working on? 

I’m in the middle of two series, one paranormal and one contemporary romance.  I have several more ideas for my Dream Weavers series about the Oneiroi, Greek daemons of dreams.  I’m also in discussions with my publisher for the next Courting books.  I have lots of writing ahead of me.

What is your writing routine like?

It has to be quiet.  For a long time I wrote at my desk, and that’s still where I do all my editing.  More and more, though, I’ve been writing on my AlphaSmart word processor.  The technology is ancient, and the keys are stiff and clunky.  The strengths are that there’s no Internet connection to distract me and only four lines show on the tiny screen.  For some reason, this keeps me moving forward in the story.  I’ll dump as much into Alphie as quickly as I can, and I get very excited when I run into the “File is Full” warning.  I’ll then transmit everything to my computer and see if it’s gook or gold.

EXCERPT

‘Good evening.’

She wasn’t overreacting. The guy had danger written all over him, in that good-girls-beware sort of way. Tall and strapping, he had closely-cropped dark hair and a rough-and-tumble aura that didn’t go with the tuxedo he was wearing. That wasn’t to say he didn’t look good. He looked damn good. The combination was powerful, and it hit her first in her belly and next in her knees.

Sex appeal oozed from him.

Which, of course, meant he was here for an escort.

His gaze was running over her just as alertly as she’d evaluated him, so Rielle quickly put herself behind her desk. She tucked her barrette behind her phone and fought the urge to run her fingers through her hair. ‘I’m sorry, but we’re closed.’

He cocked his head. ‘The door was open.’

And that had been a mistake.

‘Did you have an appointment?’ She knew very well he hadn’t.

‘No.’ Her question had been sharp, but his blue gaze didn’t flinch. Instead, the lines of his face softened, and she had to lock her knees to keep them from melting. ‘But I’m in a bind. I was hoping you could help me out.’

She lifted an eyebrow. The man might be putting out pheromones by the bucketful, but her brain was still functioning – admittedly better on some levels than others – and she’d begun to sense danger of another sort. The entrapment sort. Luxxor was not a company that took walk-ins. ‘For whom are you looking?’

He walked closer to the desk, and she instinctively gripped its edge. The way he moved, all silent and stealthy. The expensive carpeting absorbed the noise most people made, but the air didn’t even stir at his approach. Her fingers edged closer to the silent alarm, but she didn’t push it.

Not yet.

‘I’m looking for Luxxor Limited. I know I’m late, but I need an escort for the evening.’

Her guard stayed up. She knew they were alone in the office – she was acutely aware of the fact – but her company’s clients knew better than to go spouting off so casually about Luxxor’s line of work. They signed nondisclosure agreements to ensure it. If he was wearing a wire, she wanted to make everything perfectly clear. ‘You need someone to attend an event with you tonight?’

‘Actually, I need someone right now.’

She shook her head. Luxxor went to extremes to satisfy its clients. She’d blush if she thought about how far some escorts went, but there was no way she could accommodate his request. The employees they had working tonight already had their assignments. Even if she did contact someone, the timing was impossible.

And for some reason, that relieved her. ‘I’m sorry, but we don’t have anyone available on such short notice, Mr… I don’t believe I caught your name.’

‘Because I didn’t give it.’ He slid his hands into his pockets. The tuxedo looked good on him, but it was failing badly at taming him. Especially when he winked. ‘Tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.’

512x512jpgBIO

When taking the Myers-Briggs personality test in high school, Kimberly was rated as an INFJ (Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Judging). This result sent her into a panic, because there were no career paths recommended for the type. Fortunately, it turned out to be well-suited to a writing career. Since receiving that dismal outlook, Kimberly has become an award-winning author of romance and erotica.  She has written for seven publishing houses, both domestic and international, and has recently focused her efforts on the exciting world of self-publishing. When not writing, she enjoys movies, sports, traveling, music, and sunshine. In her mind, a beach, some rock ‘n’ roll, and a good book make for a perfect day.

 

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website, blog links

http://kimberlydean.com

@KDean_writer