Mini Interview with Kristan Higgins

I'm a new fan f Kristand Higgins, but I love her already! Her contemporary romance novels are always believable. I love her characters and I can always find one I can relate with. If you've not picked up any of Kristan Higgins novels, you're in luck. I'm giving one away!! Let's get this sweet party started shall we?

What is the best part about being a published author? The worst?

The best part varies from day to day…sometimes it’s a letter from a reader, sometimes it’s tapping into the heart of the story. I love meeting readers and other writers, but the best moments are generally when I’m alone with my doggy, tapping away at my computer. If I can make myself cry, that’s usually a great moment. 

The worst parts? The worst day writing is still pretty great. My process, for lack of a better word, consists of a lot of doubt and pondering, and there are times when I really wonder if I’ll be able to pull off the story. But I’ve come to realize by now that this is just what I do, so I don’t panic quite as much as I used to.  

What are some of your favorite books?

Oh, man, there are so many! I love anything by Eloisa James, Sherry Thomas, Jill Shalvis, Susan Andersen, Robyn Carr, Elinor Lipman, Elizabeth Strout…I should throw in a guy here, because I don’t want to seem sexist…I love Carl Hiassen. That man makes laugh till it hurts.

What does a typical writing day look like for you?

I spend 4-6 hours writing (basically, when my kids are in school), then come home and do the other things most moms have to do—take my kids to lessons, make sure they’re all set with homework, fold laundry, etc. I work every day, even weekends. Even if I don’t have my laptop, the old brain is churning away.

Can you share a little bit about your road to publication - for your first book and for SOMEBODY TO LOVE?

Well let’s see. I started writing FOOLS RUSH IN about ten years ago. It took a lot longer, because my kids were tiny…maybe a year and a half before it was really ready for the world to see it. I was really determined to write a book that I loved and would sell, so romantic comedy seemed like the way to go.


It took about six months to find an agent, and she made a multi-book deal with HQN. FOOLS came out in 2006; CATCH OF THE DAY came out the next year. I wrote JUST ONE OF THE GUYS (2008) after throwing out 265 pages and starting over (that one hurt, let me tell you), then TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, which came out in 2009. Both CATCH and TOO GOOD won the RITA Award, which was a huge honor and a shot in the arm that I was doing something right. THE NEXT BEST THING and ALL I EVER WANTED came out in 2010, and I started writing two books a year. MY ONE AND ONLY was my first New York Times bestseller, which was a bucket-list dream. UNTIL THERE WAS YOU followed that in 2011. And now, in 2012, SOMEBODY TO LOVE!


The thing I’ve learned is that writing is always essentially the same. We don’t crank books out, because writing is really hard! It require a deep connection to a character we know inside and out, and a plot that keeps this character moving forward toward the person he or she was meant to become. So whether you’re Nora Roberts, who’s written 200 books, or a person trying to write a first manuscript, you’re in the same boat! Although Nora probably has better jewelry and a bit more confidence. 

If you weren't a writer what would you do?
 
I always thought I’d be a pediatric surgeon, but I’m starting to wonder if I’m a bit too old to start medical school. I wouldn’t mind being a gardener, especially at this time of year.      

Thanks for stopping by The Sweet Bookshelf Kristan! I can't wait to read what you come up with next!