Please help me welcome Keena Kincaid to my blog today. Keena will I’ll also give away one copy of her current book…or her earlier contemporary, Something More. Whichever the winner wants, to one lovely or handsome commenter. So be sure to leave a comment in order to enter.
All about me
Author Keena Kincaid likes to say she writes romances in which passion, magic and treachery collide to create unforgettable stories. The truth is she’s usually kidnapped by tall, handsome men, who are totally into someone else, and held hostage until she helps them win the woman of their dreams.
Most recently, she’s matched Jane Grey, a risk analyst at NASA, with Andrew Morgan, a small town detective in the middle of taking down a corrupt sheriff. Jane is unable to see beyond her scarred past to a future with Andy, but he knows they will have something special—if he lives long enough to convince her to risk her heart.
Find her:
• https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keena-Kincaid/183583406047
• http://keenakincaid.com/
• http://typosandall.com
Do you have critique partners?
– Yes. Right now I’m not using her very well as I’ve been spinning my wheels on one story for a loooooonnngggg time. I’ve been busy with my day-job (I’m a freelancer, so I work when the money is good) so it’s been hard to dig in and find the rhythm of the story. But I am deep in the weeds of a tale, she always calls me out on my crap, which makes me a better writer.
What is your favorite dessert/food?
– I love a good crème brûlée. In fact, I am a crème brûlée snob. It’s got to be made to order and be warm on the inside. Making it ahead of time and serving it chilled is—in my opinion—a crime against nature.
How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?
– Individuals, not so much. The overheard conversations in a coffee shop or airport lounge, very likely. One of my favorite lines that a character of mine utters came from an overheard conversation on a plane. One man was complaining about an ill-behaved child. His friend said: “Look, you don’t understand. You’re not a parent.” The man replied: “I know. That means I have perspective.” It made me laugh, and I used the line.
What is most difficult for you to write?
Characters, conflict or emotions? Why? I struggle most with character, but then my stories are character-driven. Once I’m past the inciting incident, everything that happens plotwise is a direct result of my character’s conflicts, quirks, fears, secrets and beliefs. Once I nail my characters, the rest is easy.
Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.
As my troubled heroine says: Andy was a handsome, protective man, the modern equivalent of a knight in shining armor. Not every woman went for bad boys. He likely had dozens of lovers over the years, if not an ex-wife or two, although what woman in her right mind would leave him? You did, her conscience pointed out.
She stared up at him as his arms came around her waist. In another life, with another past, she’d snap him up so fast he wouldn’t know what happened until he recovered from the honeymoon. But she was Crazy Janie. She had issues that would stump Dr. Phil. Years of therapy hadn’t taught her to believe love would triumph.
Good never defeated evil, only delayed its victory.
Hi, Cynthia. Thank you so much for having me here today. I can’t wait to talk more about Something Special–or answer questions about most any topic!
Keena–I liked that line you overheard, too. Clever,and it does make sense! In airports, I like to watch how young couples act and react to each other–that gives me some new way to write. I also study clothing, since most of mine come from Penny’s, Target, and Kohl’s. I am not a high fashion person. Recently, in Las Vegas, I finally learned how to wrap one of those long scarves around your neck so it will look like the models in ads. I bet I saw 10,000 scarves wrapped around pretty…some not so pretty…necks. Now I know–it was such a mystery!
I remember reading Something More–I think it’s still on my Kindle–but did not know you had a new Class of ’85 release.
Much luck with this one, too. You’re an excellent author.
Thank you, Celia. Yes, overheard conversations are the best.
I had a woman in Milan show me how to wear a scarf. She clucked at me like I was an errant child, then fixed my scarf for me. LOL! After I got over my shock, I was very appreciative.
Keena, I chuckle about the guy who has perspective with parenting. Conversations can do so entertaining. I have to admit though, I’m not much of a people watcher. Don’t have the time.
Good luck with your Class 85 release! I enjoy all your stories.
Smiles
Steph
Thanks, Steph. I couldn’t write without people watching. I bet your job gives you an very interesting perspective into people.
Keena~
Great interview! My question is how to deal with the mushy middle. I’m great at openings. I think I’ve got it ALL figured out with my characters’ goals and motivation and conflict. Then the middle happens and I’m…stuck. HATE that part. How to you know, I mean really know, you’ve got your characters pegged? Or is it just a leap of faith? *sigh*
Lynda,
Thanks for stopping by. The middles always turn to mush, don’t think? I’m not sure how everyone else deals with their MMs, but I generally kill someone or kiss someone to kick my stories to the next level.
My characters tend to come to me fully formed. Still, I always go back after I finish the first draft and change something because I understand them so much better by the end.
I’m big on phrases catching my ear when I’m in a group setting. I overheard someone calling another person a dirt-mouth cracker and I knew I had to use it. The phrase sounded so authentic and I never would have thought of it in a million years.
I think character-driven stories are more appealing than plot-driven stories, but you better have a decent plot – that’s what I’ve learned after 16 years of being associated with RWA. I still lean more toward plot, which is easier for me, so I stretch to make my characters better.
I’m a Keena Kincaid fan, by the way!
Ah, Maggie. Thanks!
And I love dirt-mouth cracker. If you don’t use it, I will. LOL!
People say the funniest things, and it’s great that you use them in your books. I like to create characters and give them traits that belong to people I know. I think those little bits of reality make them more human. Something Special is at the top of my TBR list!
Keena,
Since I enjoyed Something More, can’t wait to read Something Special. Best of luck with it! Your MM advice was spot on. Kill someone or kiss someone. I like that.
Keena
Welcome to my blog. I’m so happy you were able to join me today.
The winner of the free book is Lynda Bailey. Congratulations Lynda.