KC Kendricks...The Interview

Today I have superfantastic author KC Kendricks in the house and I am doing the happy dance. Cue the music! KC writes engaging, scintillating tales for Amber Allure. Some of her titles include The Back Stairs, Netting Neptune and one of my absolute faves, Shine A Light.

Good morning, Melissa! Thanks for inviting me to the Imaginarium today, and giving me the opportunity to talk a bit about my life and stories. I hope I don’t ramble on for too long. Here’s a little bit about me to get things going.

KC’s bio:

KC Kendricks makes her home in Maryland with her partner of almost twenty years. A 2008 Amber Heat Wave Winner, and a 2008 CAPA nominee, KC writes contemporary gay romances that while are adult in nature, celebrate love and hope for mature readers.
Living in a rural area, KC enjoys most outdoor activities except those that require sliding on snow or ice in the cold.

For more information about KC, visit her website at http://www.kckendricks.com, and her personal blog, Between the Keys, at http://kckendricks.blogspot.com . KC is new to Facebook, and you can find her button on the Between the Keys blog.
KC also has a mailing list to announce new releases. Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys , or send an email to betweenthekeys-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

What was the inspiration behind your latest release?
Inspiration comes from so many different sources. I think it’s a gift - and maybe a wee bit of a curse when the ideas come too fast to get them all down. My latest release, Open Roads (http://amberquill.com/AmberAllure/OpenRoads.html), is the second set in the fictional town of Marionville. I like to do a little “world building” when I write, which translates into community building for contemporary works. The inspiration for the lead character, Tyler Phillips, came from a photo. Once he gave me his name, it was easy to give him everything he needed to be happy in Marionville, including Noel.

When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
I don’t remember ever having an “aha” moment about writing. It sort of developed out of a lifelong love of books. My mom read to me when I was little, and I mean she read to me every night or I got surly. She taught me there is magic in a book. She’s still an avid reader.
Somewhere along life’s journey, I had this story develop in my head. It was my own little world and playground. When writers joke about the voices they hear, it’s not really a joke. It’s the story trying to get out. I finally wrote that story and the whole thing took off with me in tow.

What do you love most about being a writer?
I love it all! I love creating the characters, giving them a name and a purpose. I love tweaking a sentence to say exactly the right thing, be it to clarify an action or create a hint of mystery or angst. I love getting up early on a Saturday morning and having the words flow onto the page. I love meeting so many wonderful people who speak the same language I do. It’s the best gig I’ve ever had, and I live for the day I can do it full-time.

What genre haven’t you tried, yet, that you would love to explore?
That’s a tough question. I started out writing speculative fiction (it dates me but I still call it science fiction) under a different pen name, and became KC Kendricks because contemporary gay romance is a bit far removed from your standard het space opera. That grounding in SF is where my love of world building comes from. I’m still actively writing SF, in fact I have a story right now in need of a home and I must settle down and get it submitted. So I guess my answer to the question is I’m currently writing in the two areas of romance that I love – gay romance and sci-fi romance.

If we looked on your bookshelf right now, what are some of the titles we would find?
Encore Performances by Melissa Bradley, of course! (Thank you KC, you've made my month)You’d also find a range of titles from the late Andre Norton, Patricia Nell Warren (The Front Runner, Harlan’s Race), C.J. Cherryh (Chanur series), Anne McCaffrey (the Pern series), Clive Cussler (Dirk Pitt series), Diana Gabaldon (Outlander), J.D. Robb.

But if you look on my Kindle, you’ll find my collection of erotic romance, which is almost all I read these days. It’s several hundred titles small (and Maxie Briscoe is there!).

Music or silence when you write?
I like it quiet when I’m actually writing, but the moment I shut it down and get ready to log onto the Internet, I pick out some music.

If you could take one of your characters out on the town, who would it be and what would you do?
Out on the town, huh? I guess it would be Stacy James of Shining Victory and No One But You. He’s got a Corvette, a subdued yet wicked sense of humor, and he knows how to be a real gentleman when the situation calls for it. He’s got money. He’d pick me up in a hot car, insist on paying for dinner and the Broadway show of my choice. He’d take me home, come in for a nightcap, and since we’re both in a committed relationship, we’d say goodnight.

Favorite naughty dessert and decadent drink.
I love, love, love my cousin’s cheesecake, swirled and drizzled with dark chocolate, and she only makes them at Christmas. I’ve no clue what her base recipe is, and that’s probably a good thing. My favorite indulgent drink is Amaretto di Saronno Originale over crushed ice.

Again, a big thanks to you, Mel, for having me here today, and a big thanks to all the readers who stop by. It’s always great fun to be able “get out of the house” and visit.


Here is an excerpt from Tango in the Night, one of KC's bestselling tales for Amber Allure. It is awesome, if I do say so myself.

Buy It Now

Blurb

Jubal Graham is back on the job after a shooter took the life of his long-time partner, and sent him into a coma followed by months of rehab. Determined to have justice, Jubal is focused on finding a killer, not a new romantic entanglement. Ellis Banks, with his smoldering blue eyes and denim-clad swagger is a distraction Jubal can’t afford – or ignore.

Ellis Banks came to Philadelphia to bust a drug operation; one that connects to the same case agency legend Kentuckian Jubal Graham is working. Ellis finds himself drawn to Jubal, but Jubal holds him off. Sure that Jubal is interested, even though he wears his slain lover’s ring, Ellis mounts a determined siege.

Jubal’s surprise at having a suitor develops into a growing affection for Ellis, one clouded with old fears. Fate ripped one lover from his arms, and now Ellis is in the line of fire. Jubal’s courage can protect Ellis, but is it powerful enough to love him?

Excerpt

INTRO: (from Jubal’s point of view)

“I’ve got a lot of miles on me, Ellis. I feel old.”

Ellis’ gaze locked with mine. I knew that interested look, having been on the receiving end of it often enough in my life. It was nice to know I could still turn a head. He reached out and trailed his fingertips down my arm. “You want some help feeling young again, Jubal?”

I hated to disappoint him. He was a nice looking man, and I couldn’t deny my curiosity about him. But…I rebuffed him as gently as I knew how.

“Not with a co-worker, Ellis, even a handsome stud like you.”

Ellis didn’t blink. His chin lifted the slightest bit as those blue eyes saw straight through my act. A warm little glow sparked to life in my belly. I knew by the way he pressed his full, sexy lips together he knew. We stood there staring at each, the air between us sparking with a strange blue lightning. He tried, but he couldn’t keep the corner of his mouth from quirking up in a little smile.

“If you change your mind, Jubal, just say so.”

I nodded. Ellis pushed off from the counter and walked towards the door. I had one more thing I had to say to him.

“Ellis?”

He stopped and turned around.

“Yeah?”

“Nice ass.”

He laughed as the door closed behind him.