Kat Martin shares her secrets and fun facts

Today Romance Books 4 Us is happy to welcome one of our very favorite authors, Kat Martin. She's sharing some of her secrets and fun facts to get us ready for her new release, AGAINST THE SKY.

Tell us a little about yourself.   

   I live a double life…that is, I live 8 months in Montana and 4 months at the beach in California.  Different activities, different sets of friends.  Its the best of both worlds, but its also kind of strange.   I’ve been writing for nearly 30 years.  I have more than 65 books published.  Last time I was in Barnes and Noble, I had 17 different titles on the rack.  That was a real thrill for me.

You have a new book out. We’d love to hear about it. 

   Against the Sky is Nick Brodie’s story.  Nick’s just quit the Anchorage Police Department, but he can’t quite stay out of the action.  It’s the 2^nd book in the Brodies of Alaska series.  It’s very high action, when Nick and Samantha inadvertently get involved with the Russian mob.  This one’s very fast paced , but it has a soft heart.  I think it’s one of my best.   

What made you decide to write romance fiction? 

   I’ve always been a storyteller.  I would sit in my dorm room at college and tell stories and the whole room would fill up.  Learning to write them down was the hard part.

What does your writing schedule look like? Are you a

morning writer? A night owl?

   I’m NOT a morning person.  I’m up about seven.  Takes me an hour or so to actually wake up.  I do promo stuff for a while, then start writing.  I like to write long stretches, then revise the next day.  It takes me at least five months to finish a book.

    

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

  Persistence is the key.  Never give up.  Listen and learn, but just keep charging forward. 

What is your next project?

   I love writing romantic suspense.   Rafe Brodie’s story is next, out in June, the last of the Alaska books.  From there I’m continuing with the Brodie cousins.  They work at Brodie Security in Seattle.  I’m just getting going on the book.

Do you have any writing rituals? Like special music, times of the day, food quirks, etc?

   I just love quiet and nice scenery.  Fortunately I get that both places.  For me the computer screen is like a TV screen.  I just want to look into it and see my book unfolding.  I don’t want to be distracted.

If you could interview any of the characters in your books, which one would it be, and why? What shocking thing might that character say?

   I might interview Nick Brodie, ex Ranger, ex-homocide detective, a guy who lives on the edge.  He might say that deep down, he’d really like to have a family, but it would be nearly impossible to get him to admit it.

Now, here is the totally off-writing subject question. What’s the coolest, wackiest, most risk-taking thing you’ve ever done? 

   Stayed overnight in a house on stilts while the river just a few feet beneath us was dangerously flooding.  It was the DUMBEST, not coolest, thing I’ve ever done. 

What else would you like to tell us? 

   I hope you’ll try Against the Sky.  It was a great book to write, one I’m really proud of, so  I’m hoping readers will like it.  And if you’re writing, best of luck with your work!

Now for fun:

Favorite television program 

  I loved Crossbones and am hoping it returns in the fall.   Outlander is fantastic!

  

Favorite all-time movie

   I have soooo many, but Quigley Down Under, a western with the gorgeous Tom Selleck in boots and chaps, has to be in the top three.

Favorite ice cream

   Butter pecan

Favorite place to read

   Curled up in the overstuffed chair in front of the big picture windows in our living room in Montana.

If you could spend 24 hours with anyone, who would it be

  Wow, that’s tough.  I think I had better say with my husband!