Interview with J. Kenner

I’m not sure if any of you know or have read J. Kenner… but she is one of the best! And I had the pleasure of meeting her years ago at the RWA Convention in NYC. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly,  Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Katana: Hey Julie! I’m so excited to have you here today!

Julie: Thank you!!!! Thanks for asking me 🙂

Katana: Some authors love crafting a new idea. Others enjoy finishing the HEA and writing ‘the end.’ While some prefer the marketing side of publishing. What is your favorite part of the publishing process and why?

Julie: Oh, hmmm.  Not the marketing side, though that is fun. I’m much more about the story. But the truth is that I think I love equally–but differently–the conceptual part as well as the craft part. I love coming up with the broad concept of a story and imagining how to pitch it (the “TV Guide” blurb) to a publisher or to readers … or, really, to myself. Getting my head around the new world and the new characters, and seeing the way it comes together in my mind. But I also love, love, love meeting the characters in deep form, and that doesn’t happen for me until I really start to put words on the page from the characters’ points of view. And then it’s like acting without a stage — really getting into character and drilling down. So a different experience from big pictures, but as enjoyable in a totally different way!

Katana: Acting without a stage, I love that! As an actress, I 100% agree! 😉 Your newest release, Wicked Dirty, is part of the Stark International world (but is a stand alone). Do you leave any Easter eggs in your Stark International books? Little mentions that only the super fans will catch?

Julie: Hmmm.  Good question … I guess it depends on what you mean by Easter eggs! Definitely there are cross-over characters, including very minor ones, that only superfans may recognize. And also locations, like restaurants, bars, things like that.  So I guess that means yes!

Katana: Those small little nods to other books are one of the many things I LOVE about reading series! Speaking of, you are a writing machine! With over seventy novels, novellas, and short stories. How many hours a day do you write?

Julie: It really depends on the day.  Some days end up being devoted just to business-y stuff (or life/family/kid stuff), and if I’m on deadline, I can do fifteen easily (and I mean easily … once I’m rolling I like the long, late days).  On average, probably five writing hours.

Katana: I cannot even imagine sitting and writing for 15 hours! That’s incredible. So switching gears for the last question… if you had to give up either french fries or chocolate for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

Julie: Chocolate 🙂 I’m more about savory than sweet!

Thank you again for stopping in and taking time out of your busy schedule! For those interested in reading J. Kenner’s most recent release, Wicked Dirty, you can pick it up here as well as the first book in the series, Wicked Grind.