Author Interview Kelly Abell

Tell us about you:

How long have you been writing?

I started writing in high school and was the literary editor of our high school magazine, but I didn’t seriously take it up again until the year 2000.  I was challenged by one of my employees to write that book I’d been dreaming of writing.  He even brought me a gift card for a book on writing that I’d been thinking about buying.  By then I was guilted into it and finished my first novel, Noble Intentions.  I’ve not had that one published yet, but who knows…maybe someday.  From that point on I was hooked.

How did you get started? Tell us about your journey to publishing.

Boy that’s been a long road, but one filled with thrills, heart ache, and a lot of really super nice people. I wrote Sealed in Lies in 2005 but it took almost three years to get it published.  Solstice Publishing took a chance on me and I was so grateful.  I’ve since also been published by World Castle Publishing and really love that relationship as well.  I tried the agent route and I haven’t given up totally on that yet, but I’m thrilled with my journey so far.  I’ve got a folder with all my rejection letters that I review from time to time just to remind me of how far I’ve come.

Tell us about your book(s). What inspired you to write it/them? I wanted to write something my teenage daughter, who is not much of a reader, would enjoy and hopefully inspire her to read more.  I asked her what kind of story she’d like and she told me a clique ghost story.  So…I imagined a young girl, who through tragic circumstances found herself in unfamiliar territory in more ways than one.  Plopped in a new community with people who were different from her how would she cope? Then what if she found out she could see and talk to ghosts?  Haunted Destiny was born.  It’s basically a story of how a teenage girl is challenged by her new horrifying gift and how she chooses to use it when someone who was less than friendly to her gets in trouble with a paranormal visitor.  I fell in love with those characters right away.  Destiny is such a strong girl and I hope teaches young adults that being different doesn’t mean that you’re weird or less than those around you.  Sometimes your gifts can be very important to others and it’s how you choose to use them that sets you apart.

What inspires you to write? Do you have a particular song or mood that carries you through? I’m truly inspired by the story and the voices of the characters in my head.  I’m probably one of the few writers who doesn’t listen to music when I write.  I like a quiet room because I don’t want to miss a thing they have to say.

Who is your favorite character and why?

My favorite character that I’ve written about is Kindra in my new release The Lost Jewels of Hera.  She’s a female Indiana Jones torn between two lovers and an ancient past that ties her to the Greek Gods of old.  She’s spunky and tough and knows what she wants.

What made you decide to write a book?

The characters living in my head just wouldn’t be quiet until their stories were told.

Who are the writers that inspire you the most? There are so many fantastic writers out there that this is a very hard question to answer.  I admire the writing style of writers like Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Nora Roberts.  I hope to meet them one day.  I write to give my readers an escape and a thrill that will keep them up at night, the way these writers did me.  I only hope I’m half as successful at doing so.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Most of my story ideas come from real events that I then begin to ask the favorite question of writers…What if?

Women’s History Month Questions:

Who are your favorite women authors and how do they inspire you as a writer? There are so many female authors that inspire me.  From the time I was a tween till now I’ve always admired the historic mystery writers like Victoria Holt or Phyllis Whitney.  They wrote novels in a day where women had to fight to be respected.  A more modern author I admire is Nora Roberts.  Her stories inspire me and the speed with which she turns them out is truly amazing.

Tell us about the women who have shaped your world, whether it be a family member, teacher, friend, or celebrity.  I’ve been shaped by two women in my family.  First of all, my mother.  You never appreciate your Mom until she’s no longer with you.  I was very young when I lost my mother and looking back on it now, I owed her so much more respect.  From her I gained my strength and tenacity.  From my grandmother I inherited my creativity.  I can remember one Christmas when she hid all of my presents and wrote some rhyming clues for me to hunt down each gift.  It was so much fun.  Treasure all the women in your life and learn from them everything you can.

What is the one writing tip you want to pass on to others?

The best writing tip I can give you is to write because you want to write and never give up. It’s a hard business to break into but the more you write, the more you learn and the better you become.  Also build a strong network of fellow authors because you need the support during those rough times.

Just for fun

Are you a night owl or early bird? What time of the day works best for your muse?

I am an early bird.  I write best in the morning.

If you were an animal what would you be and why?

Favorites: color, food, season, music, movies, books.

Favorite color is green

Favorite food is popcorn

I’m not a real music listener which probably makes me a weirdo. LOL

My favorite movie is My Cousin Vinnie

I have too many favorite books to list, but if I had to pick an all time favorite it would be Black Beauty.

Links where you can be found?

www.kellyabellbooks.com

www.twitter.com/kellyabellbooks

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Abell/83527376788?ref=hl