Interview with Kim Harrison

www.kimharrison.net

First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com! My name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and fans.

Hi, Jen. It’s always a pleasure to talk to the readers, so fire away!

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

I have to laugh when you ask me that, because most of the aspiring writers I talk to have wanted this their entire life. I sort of stumbled into it in my early 30’s. Before that, I read a lot, and I mean A LOT. Mostly SF and fantasy. I know that’s where I picked up the subtle things about what makes a story good. Pacing, character development, that kind of thing. I’d sort of gotten out of reading for a while, and when I went back, I read two books in a row I wasn’t happy with the ending. I thought “I could do that.” Well, I couldn’t. I didn’t have the skills, but I did start writing, falling in love with how the printed word can manipulate emotions and thoughts. I worked at it almost like a part-time job until my ability caught up to my drive and I was good enough to start submitting my work. Even then, it was a long road. I look back now and see the miracle that it was, but as my grandpa used to say, the harder I work, the luckier I get.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

Someone told me that it takes on average ten years for someone to become published once they set it as a goal, and I’d go along with that. I spent a handful of years working alone trying to figure it out on my own, then about three more with an intense writer’s group who helped me polish my writing voice and build my confidence. It was with their help that I got brave enough to go to a couple of writing conferences where editors and agents go to find new talent. I had been submitting to editors and agents previously, but having the chance to actually shake someone’s hand and ask if you can send them your work makes a stronger impression. I eventually caught the eye of my agent, who didn’t take me on right away. No . . . I had to rewrite my entire manuscript for him. It took a year of him shopping it around before it found a home, and the rest is history!

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

My next release is going to be the first full-length novel called Once Dead, Twice Shy, due out the last week in May. It’s about Madison Avery, an average Americana girl in high school who unexpectedly finds herself dead at her junior prom. A reaper named Barnabas was supposed to have kept her alive, but he messed up, and now the two of them have to find a way to get her back among the living. At least, that’s the plan. Fate has something else in mind. ;-)

One thing to convince you to read the story? Madison is a normal person doing extraordinary things, and watching her figure things out, both with her magic and her personal life, is fun.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

That is a really hard question to answer. I get a lot of my inspiration for my characters from the music I listen to. Evanescence, Garbage, NIN, Coldplay. Alternative rock mostly.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

My mom and dad are so very proud of me. ;-) The stuff I write kind of confuses my mom, but she reads my work just the same, and then tries to figure out where I got all those weird ideas. My hubby, whom I affectionately call Guy as in “The Guy In The Leather Jacket” is probably my biggest cheerleader, though.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

Chocolate, hands down. Milk chocolate I can scarf down like, uh, candy, but I really like the bittersweet stuff too, that you have to savor to appreciate. Cheez -its will do in a pinch.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

Say “hi” to my dog, who sleeps on the bed, shuffle outside for said-dog’s pottybreak, then check my email. I’m an email junkie.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

Hats. I love hats, and I’ve got a lot of them. My favorite is a broad-brimmed, red suede hat that I had on when I met Guy, but the one I wear the most is a Greek fisherman’s hat.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

A bright, shinny yellow. I don’t know why except gold goes good with black, and though I’m not a Gothy person, I wear a lot of it.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Sponge Bob, though I know he’s kind of fallen out of favor lately. That guy has everything. A job, a pet snail, friends, his own apartment. Now if only he could get his driver’s license.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Probably Sponge Bob again. Guy doesn’t let me drive, either. Scatterbrained? Me? Nahhh.

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

I know a lot of people would like to be in the romantic past where sexy guys would save you and treat you like royalty, but give me right now, this very day. I like the freedom I have to be anything I want. I can’t think of any other time when that exists in such accessibility. Give me now, with all the possibilities that might happen tomorrow.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I usually have my music on when I’m writing. If I’m working on angry/bad magic stuff, I like A Perfect Circle/Tool, NIN, maybe some Godsmack, Marilyn Manson, or Korn, if I’m really tense. If I have to think about what I’m writing, I’ll stick in some Breaking Benjamin, Cold Play, Evanescence, Cake, Garbage, or Foo Fighters. If it’s action, I’ll go right to The Crystal Method or “Chill” on my Sirius. “Octane” on Sirius is usually where you can find me.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

I don’t get a chance to watch much TV, but I will sit down and watch a movie on the weekend. If it makes me think and has a bang in it, I love it. (Rush Hour is a favorite.) The last movie I saw was Grand Torero. If I’m flipping through the channels, I always stop at Blade Runner and The Princess Bride.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Keep your friggen seatbelt on. No, really. Keep your seatbelt on. Life happens fast, and things can change in an instant. And there you are for the rest of your life. Think of it as your reset button.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

Madison is set right now to be a three-book series, so after the debut release this May 26th, there should be a follow up about a year later.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!

It was my pleasure, Jen! Any time!