Today I'm very excited to bring to you a very special guest, Kerrigan Byrne. Here on The Lovely Books, we are so happy to have her because we get to hear more about the deliciously sexy books, along with getting to know her as well. Sounds like a win/win to me! We'll have four lucky readers have a chance to snag a print Advance Reader Copy when it comes out next month. Now let's get started!
• Hey Kerrigan, I want to thank you again for agreeing to come on to the blog! How are you on this fine day? (Easy enough question, right?)
~I'm doing so well! There is a lot of stress and craziness that hits around release day, but it's mostly just excitement and gratitude for readers and their willingness to take a chance on a debut author like me. Also, now that the kids are back in school, things are getting a lot less busy! Amiright?
• Tell us a little bit about yourself.
~I'm pretty boring, to be honest. Before I wrote about sexy men for a living, I worked in law enforcement. There are days in my life when I miss it, only because working around that many alpha males can be a whole lot of fun!
• Where did you come up with the idea to write The Highwayman?
~Oddly enough it was during a night of terrible insomnia. I was watching TV at maybe like one in the morning and flipping back and forth between the movie THE SAINT and THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO between commercials. I loved that Val Kilmer in THE SAINT had a connection with a girl in an orphanage when they were young. Also, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO reminded me that I LOVE a good revenge story. And so THE HIGHWAYMAN was born!
• When did you first know that being a writer was what you wanted to do?
~It was about 14, and all I could seem to do was read. I went to school. And read. I went home. And read. I went to the movies. And read. I went to sporting events... well, you get the idea. I think every writer has a moment where they get frustrated that a plot line doesn't go the way they wanted. Then they have that thought... "If I had written this I would have..." The rest is, as they say, history!
• Did you always see yourself writing historical romance?
~YES! I read Victoria Holt in Junior High and knew that I needed to turn my LOVE of history into my writing.
• What sets your stories apart from the rest?
~This is a hard question because I don't want to put my book above any other one, but I think THE HIGHWAYMAN stands out because of the depth of the tragedy each one of the characters had to overcome. I love to give a sense of unflinching reality to the undeniable romance that comes with writing about love in a historical setting.
• How many books do you have out?
~I have 3 compilations of Paranormal Highland Historicals and a Romantic suspense.
• Is there anything you have to have while working on a story? Such as needing to Dr. Pepper, eating a pickle, etc.
~I know this answer is as cliche as they come, but it's coffee! With three teenagers, a busy husband, (and I'm in the middle of a move right now) I am plagued by a huge energy crisis. Coffee is my magic elixir right now. It's the only thing that keeps the words flowing.
• Favorite book? Movie?
My favorite movie hands down is MIDNIGHT IN PARIS by Woody Allen. It's so damn charming! Oh wait, it's the AVENGERS! Oh wait, it's PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Oh wait it's...
It's hard to pick a favorite book, but I'll have to say my favorite author is Christopher Moore. If you must read something of his, read A DIRTY JOB, or SERPENT OF VENICE. They're hysterical!
• What's it like in the life of an author? More specifically, you!
~Ask me in a week when THE HIGHWAYMAN is released! All in all, it's pretty amazing. Making a living creatively is alternately incredibly marvelous and incredibly terrifying.
• Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
~One of the things I see a lot of authors doing is writing what they think they should write instead of what inspires them. They spend so much time trying to figure out algorithms and gimmicks, trying to work the system, instead of taking the time to write the book that is in their hearts. Markus Zusack said once that the book you need to write is the one you'd finish even if you knew you would never sell it. For me, that was THE HIGHWAYMAN.
There you go folks! Make sure you check this wonderful book out:)
There you go folks! Make sure you check this wonderful book out:)
