Not Just Nonsense: For Wannabe Writers - Interview with Kate Smith

Thursday, March 07, 2013

For Wannabe Writers - Interview with Kate Smith

Hey, everyone! Do I have a treat for you today! ;)

The amazingly talented (and such a dear!) author Kate Smith agreed to give us an interview!

Enjoy!!!

Personal Information:
1) Name and Pseudonyms: Kate Smith aka Kady Cross, Kate Cross, Kate Locke and Kathryn Smith

2) Age: 40ish :-)
3) Gender: Female
4) Time you have worked, or have been working as a writer: I began writing at age 8. I sold my first book in 1999.
5) Institution you presently work at and have worked before as a writer: A bunch of awful retail jobs.
6) Level of Instruction: College graduate

About her Profession

1) Why have you become a writer?
Because I can’t imagine NOT writing.

2) What would you say about your very first experience as a writer?
I’ll never forget the day I sold my first book. I was working at a job I didn’t like much, and the editor called me there. I spent the rest of my shift in a daze.

3) How do you view writing as a career?
For me writing is my passion, not just a career. It’s something I have no choice in. It sounds weird, but I can’t stop writing anymore than I could stop breathing. If I go too long without working on a story I become irritable.

4) What could you say about your writing process?
I like to plot and plan to an extent, and then I just start writing and see what happens. Each time I start a new series I have to give it its own binder that I turn into a bit of a ‘bible’ for those books. I use it to reference things that happen in other books so I can keep my facts straight.

5) Would you say that you are inspired and/or influenced by other writers?
I would definitely say I’ve been inspired and influenced. I’m still finding new inspiration. There are so many fabulous authors and books out there -- I’ve barely scratched the surface!

6) Is there anything else you would like to add concerning your experience as a published author?
Publishing can be a crazy business. It’s full of ups and downs, heartbreaks and disappointments. It is also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Don’t give up and read, read, read.

8) Please tell us about your new projects.
Right now I’m finishing up the 3rd book in my Kate Cross written Steampunk romance series, The Clockwork Agents. The book is called Breath of Iron and will be out next summer. And then I’ll be writing the 3rd book in the Immortal Empire series for Orbit as Kate Locke.

9) Would you like to say anything else concerning your experiences in being a writer? Mention anything you consider important and you would like to share with us.
I’ve made some of my best and beloved friends doing this job. It’s amazing to have that support -- people you can call through the good and the bad, and who always understand where you’re coming from.

3 Could you possibly complete the following statements?
Writing is…my life.
Learning to be a writer is …. difficult.

Being a writer is… Frustrating, rewarding, terrible and wonderful -- all at the same time.

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Kate Cross

Arden is an undercover agent for one of the most powerful organizations of this steam-powered world—the Wardens of the Realm, a group with extraordinary abilities, dedicated to protecting England against evil....

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Kady Cross

As Kady Cross, Kate is the award winning author of The Steampunk Chronicles from Harlequin Teen. The series has been published in Australia and Germany, and is scheduled to be published in Turkey, France, England and Italy in 2012. It will also be released in Japan.

THE GIRL IN THE STEEL CORSET

THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR

THE GIRL WITH THE IRON TOUCH (June 2013)

Find out more at KadyCross.com!