Author Interview: Kimberly Derting answers your questions and picks her winner of Desires of the Dead!

Remember that competition I had a while back where you could ask Kimberly Derting a question & perhaps win yourself a copy of Desires of the Dead?  Well, here are Kimberly's answers including some very juicy details on her short story Skin Contact which will be included in the upcoming anthology Enthralled: Parnormal Diversions.

Read on to find out more, and to see who Kimberly picked as her winner!

Nic asked: Jay and Violet would have to be one of my romantic couples they have such a strong connection and sizzling chemistry. What are some of your favourite literary romantic couples of all time?



I will always have a soft spot for Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice.  But more recently, I also love Aislinn and Seth from Wicked Lovely, Ethan and Lena from Beautiful Creatures, and Janie and Cable from Wake.

Tore asked: My question to you is what made you decide to be a writer? How did you know you would be good at it? How did you get started?

I knew I wanted to be a writer in the 7^th grade, when I took a journalism class. Of course wanting to write didn’t mean I’d be good at it. I wrote my first book when I was 20, got an agent, and thankfully it never got published…it was awful. But, it was also really great practice!

Misha asked: Since March is celebrated as Women's History Month, who are your all time-favourite women writers and literary heroines?



Harper Lee is my all-time fave female writer.  To Kill a Mockingbird is by far the best book ever written (in my humble opinion!).  So I guess it goes without saying that Scout Finch is right up there in my literary heroines category, along with Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, Clary Fray from The Mortal Instruments Series, and Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Okay, so my reading lists are a just a tad eclectic!

Kristen asked: Why you chose to write YA and not some other genre? What is it about YA that drew you in?



I was writing YA before I knew I was writing YA.  The main character in my first book was 16 years old but I thought it was an adult horror novel.  I think I’m drawn to teen characters because everything they experience is so surface-level. Every day is the best day they’ve had or the worst day.  Things are new and more exciting.  They’re just less jaded than most adults.

Connie asked: Is there any music that you listen to or TV show that you watch that inspires you to write? If so, what is it? 



While I’ve never been able to listen to music and write at the same time, I did create a Desires of the Dead playlist.  When I get stuck, I usually just pop it in and listen. The playlist includes a whole lot of Evanescence, which I think sets a good backdrop for the entire BODY FINDER series.  

Avery asked: How has having daughters inspired you as a young adult author (ie. did you base Violet off of one of your characters? Are your daughters always pointing out books for you that you have to read and whatnot)? 



After my oldest daughter read Twilight, she became a huge reader!  Now she’s always reading and recommending YA books to me.  And even though Violet is not based on anyone specific, I tend to borrow traits and stories from the people around me (including my kids).  In Desires of the Dead, something funny happens between Chelsea and her new boyfriend Mike that actually happened with my daughter and her boyfriend.     

RandomlyKait asked: My question is if we are going to learn more about Rafe in the next book. I'm not looking for spoilers, just wondering is all.

Yes, Rafe will be much more front-and-center in book 3.  Although, if you can’t wait that long, you can always read the upcoming anthology ENTHRALLED which comes out in September. My short story titled Skin Contact is about Rafe.  

JHS asked: My question: How do you convince yourself to keep slogging away at it when you hit a rough spot with your writing -- a scene not working, a plot point that doesn't fit, a character that mystifies you, etc.?


When I hit a rough spot, I usually just hit the road and crank the music.  I’ve found that if I drive around for 30 minutes or so and just blast whatever CD is available, that usually does the trick.  Unfortunately, though, since I have kids of all ages, that music could be anything from Eminem to The Jonas Brothers.  

TheGirlOnFire asked: The whole idea of being attracted to dead bodies is a unique idea. How did you come up with this ability, was there specific inspiration?



My husband first gave me the idea when he suggested a kid with the ability to find dead bodies.  After hearing that one-liner, the rest just came to me.  So I guess I would call him my inspiration, even though he still thinks of himself as my co-author!  LOL!

Lisa asked: If you could have created any other swoon worthy love interest (like Jay!) in YA fiction, who would it be and why?

If I could’ve created ANY other character it would definitely have been Jace Wayland from the Mortal Instruments series, because he’s moody, mouthy, and downright hot!

Anna asked: I'd like to ask Kimberly if she ever plans on writing an adult novel.

My question is if she ever did a plan on writing a contemporary book or a non-fiction book, and what would it be?;))

I’ve learned to never say never when it comes to stuff like this, but as of right now, I just can’t see it happening.  Then again… :)  

Judit asked: I've noticed that in both of your books, you gave us a little glimpse of Jay's mind in the form of a couple of paragraphs written from his point of view. Are you planning to make it a regular thing, so we can get a little bit more of Jay's? And also, were you thinking about writing more from his point of view? Maybe in the form of some extras?


The different POVs are just something that happens when I’m writing, not something I actually plan in advance.  I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think it added something to the story.  As far as extras, it probably would be fun to do a short story based on Jay’s POV.  Hmm…now you’ve given me something to consider! 



Reading Mind asked: what are your all-time favourite books (both YA and non-YA)?

In non-YA, Definitely To Kill a Mockingbird!  But also The Shining, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Color Purple, The Kite Runner, The Passage, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  In YA, it’s tougher because there are SO MANY! Wicked Lovely, Beautiful Creatures, City of Bones, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Summoning, and The Demon’s Lexicon…you know, just to name a few!

Reading Mind also asked: What was the main inspiration that drove you to write this great story? Also, have you always wanted to be a writer? 


Actually, I really wanted to be a Lady Trucker and / or Princess Leia, but fortunately, I grew out of those…well at least the Lady Trucker dream.   

I have to give my husband credit when I hear the inspiration question because technically, he did suggest someone who could find dead bodies.  Although, I think he prefers to be called “the wind beneath my wings.” HA!   



BooksforCompany asked: A question wanted to ask an author when they have a series out is -
When your writing a series do the characters become more alive to you with each book and does it ever get to a point where you think "No, l can't write that, he/she would do this instead" and they change what you write as they have such a personality? 


I think a character should definitely grow throughout a series but not so much that their actions are not believable or true to who they are.  But to answer your question, I do sometimes second-guess what I write and what my characters say and do.  Thankfully, I have wonderfully talented editors who are not at all shy about pointing out if I’m not staying true to my character’s voice!           

*WINNING QUESTION!*

WulfLuva asked: Okay, so Kim what made you decide to have Jay be Violet's bff instead of the whole random stranger, love at first sight bit?

Don’t get me wrong, I love an instant attraction as much as the next girl, but for Violet and Jay I really wanted their relationship to be deeper and sweeter, something that only comes with a long history together.  Plus, I love all of their inside jokes!

Mikki-Mano asked: Thanks for the giveaway, I would like to read it! My question would be "Had you ever thought you would be an author?" I mean, in the past, I wanted to be an author, but then I had to realize that I don't have any affinity for it. I've always written short stories, but never got them published :)



Once I hit 7^th grade, I really wanted to be a writer, although at the time, I pictured myself as a jet-setting journalist covering exciting events all over the world.  Of course when I realized that I would have to cover wars and disasters too, I thought being an author was the better / safer choice.      

Fi-Chan asked: Have you decided on the title for the next book? Any hint? :D



Why yes…yes I have.  The only hint I can give is that it will not be called TBF3, which is what it was called before it had a title.  :)  

Llehn asked: What is your writing mantra in 15 words or less?


You can edit a crappy page, you can’t edit a blank page.
(Someone much wiser than me made that up…I just stole it!)

Shooting Stars Meg asked: My question would probably be...what sort of research (if any) did you have to do to get in the mind of a killer?



As far as research, I’ve been doing that since I was in my teens, reading psychological thrillers and true crime books, watching documentaries on serial killers, along with every kind of crime drama out there (CSI, Bones, Medium, Criminal Minds, Law & Order).  Writing the scenes from the killer’s perspective came shockingly easy to me…which sounds incredibly sick and twisted! 

Badass Bookie asked:  My question is - is there any special meaning behind both Violet and Jay's names?




Not for Jay and Violet, but most of the rest of the characters names are first and last name combinations of friends and family.  You’d be surprised how many people I know wanted to be dead girls!  

Dovile asked: What is your favorite childhood book?



Charlotte’s Web!  Cried when I read it as a kid, and would probably still cry if I read it now.  

Ammy Belle asked: My question, and thanks for answering all these questions, but how do you keep going towards your dreams amid the rejections and delays and let downs? You reached something pretty amazing, and I congratulate you - but where did you find the fortitude to really fight for it?
Thanks!


- 

At some point, I decided I would just write because I loved it, not necessarily to get published.   The rest just fell into place after that.

Mariska asked: Do you have plan to collaborate with other authors in writing a book ? what genre ? and with whom ? and why ? 





I have this motto: Never say never.  At this point, I can’t imagine collaborating (can you say “Control Freak”?), but that doesn’t mean at some point down the road I won’t give it a shot.  Who knows!  

I asked: I just found out about this new anthology (Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions) that you've contributed to, and I'm dying to know what your story Skin Contact is about.

It’s about Rafe from Desires of the Dead.  That’s all I’m gonna say! :)   

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So, there you have it! Eeek! Skin Contact is about Rafe from Desires of the Dead, the guy we all want to know more about! I'm still firmly Team Jay, as if you had to ask!

Big thanks to Kimberly for answering all these questions, and an extra special thanks to Sam from Headline - it was her idea  to do this! 

Congrats to WulfLuva on asking the winning question.  Please email me at daisychainbookreviews(at)gmail(dot)com with your full name and address and I will send you a copy of Desires of the Dead!