C. Kevin Thompson
Greetings from Kevin Thompson on the peninsula more and more people are finding as home. The roads are getting more and more swamped (pun intended). We’re sitting here on the front porch, sipping lemonade with mango, and munching on Late July brand Organic Sea Salt & Lime tortilla chips. Today, I have the privilege of sharing an interview with fellow author Kimberly Rose Johnson.
Kimberly Rose Johnson
Welcome, Kimberly! And congratulations on your most recent book! Tell us about your book.
A Waltz for Amber is a Christmas novella and the third book in my Melodies of Love series.
A dance teacher is desperate to make a success of her studio. The Christmas recital should help except for one problem—the high school music teacher scheduled the holiday program on the same night, causing a conflict for her students. Will she be able to sustain her business or will she lose everything in the pursuit of her dream?
A Waltz for Amber by Kimberly Rose Johnson
What inspired you to write this book?
Amber was in book two and she begged to have her own love story.
You know, for us fellow authors, we get it. Our characters talk to us too sometimes. But for our readers out there, just know it’s figuratively. We all don’t hear voices in our heads. So, what was your greatest challenge in writing this book?
Fatigue. I had been pushing myself hard for too long. Now that this book is written I’ve been working at a much more sane pace.
What’s your favorite scene in this book?
It’s hard to choose one as a few pop into my head, but there is a scene in the end that my Facebook readers group helped me brainstorm. I can’t tell you about it without spoiling the story for you.
What themes do you return to again and again in your writing?
Forgiveness and putting our trust in the Lord are common themes in my books.
How has being a writer impacted your relationship with Christ?
I am more open about my faith then I was when I first started to write. In the beginning I had to be deliberate about including Christ in my stories, now my Christian worldview weaves naturally through my stories, and I’m no longer intimidated to share my faith in my stories.
What is one thing about writing that you wish non-writers knew?
Reviews mean the world to us. The more reviews a book has the better chance that book has of being seen by potential readers.
What do you read for pleasure? What are you reading right now?
I read Christian romance, romantic suspense, and thrillers. I’m currently reading a book by Martha Rogers. I don’t recall the title—I have a hard time remembering those kind of things and since I read on a dedicated e-reader I don’t see the title when I’m reading.
Do you have a “day job” or a previous career? Does it influence what or how you write?
I have both a “day job” and a previous career. I taught piano lessons for 18 years and now I work at a high school part time. I don’t think it influences how I write other than I need to be more disciplined during the school year so I can meet deadlines.
Everyone struggles with time management in our 24/7 world. How do you stay disciplined and meet your deadlines?
Deadlines are a huge motivator for me. I despise having a deadline hanging over me, so the faster I write, the faster I get out from under a deadline. Most of the writers I know turn in their manuscript the day it’s due. That would stress me to the max. I like to have my books turned in a couple weeks early. I’ve been known to turn them in a month or more early.
Tell us about your next project.
Thanks for asking. I have a couple of projects in the works, but I am currently working on a mystery with some romance. It takes place in a small Oregon town, like many of my books. I’m super excited to be working on this manuscript again. I started it more than three years ago and got pulled away when I contracted several books, but it’s always been in the back of my mind. I’m so thankful I wrote a detailed synopsis all those years ago. It’s made picking up where I left off much easier.
Thank you, Kimberly, for stopping by, and may God bless your writing endeavors!
To learn more about Kimberly’s books, please visit Kimberly’s website and Kimberly’s blog.
Until Next Time, may God bless you all, and may you all bless God.
Kevin Thompson
