Interview with Kim Black

Author of Bare Essentials

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born and raised (mostly) in Amarillo, Texas, and that’s where I live now.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I have lived in a few other towns in southern, central, and north Texas, but family has always brought me back to the Panhandle. I love living on the high plains, where the sunsets set the whole sky on fire and the people are genuine to their bones.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I have “made stuff up” my whole life, My dad and my Grandma Kate always told wonderful stories and I picked it up naturally. I got involved with a local writers group, and through connections I’d made in the group I found a publisher interested in my historical Christian novel based on Lydia from the Bible. I have been a Bible teacher for both children’s and women’s classes for years, and my imagination continuously “sees” backstories for the characters I study and teach. In the process of editing and publishing that first novel, I also self-published a children’s book.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My historical Christian novels simply play upon the research I have done, and come from a desire to make first-century believers more relatable to today.
My spy trilogy, The LBD Project includes Little Black Dress, Red Heels, and Bare Essentials. It’s a fun series that features high-tech espionage, fashion, world travel, and a touch of romance. I like to say that it’s as if Audrey Hepburn was James Bond.
All of my novels feature strong female characters.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

I certainly think women are more likely to gravitate to my books, but I’ve had great feedback from men as well. I write in a fairly lean style, and I like to include as much action as the plot allows. My readers enjoy when I mix genres and take a few twists and turns. I also write “clean.” I don’t use profanity or gratuitous sex in my stories. I think that gives me the opportunity to reach many readers that may feel left out or ignored these days.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

I consistently learn more than I expect when I do research, and that thrills me. But what I am surprised by with every single book is how emotional I get when I write. I laugh and cry. I get scared, angry, protective, and even fall in love as I write. I keep telling myself that it’s because I’m tired or stressed, but it happens more with each book.
I am also amazed at how much work goes into the technical aspect of publishing and marketing each novel. It exhausts me just thinking about it.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

I would tell myself not to get so defensive and discouraged when someone criticizes my work. I would remind myself that not everyone’s opinion matters, and to glean what I can from their suggestions to make my story stronger, and leave the rest. I would tell myself to take more notes about things that interest me, and to spend more time in the chair writing.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

I would love to sell half a million books. My goal is to entertain, and I’m a big believer in the positive effects of good entertainment.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

I struggle to find the time and energy to market my books, interact on social media, grow my platform, and still work on my next manuscript.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

In my writing, my biggest strengths are my dialog and my lean style. I think both of these allow me to expand and expound without weighing down the plot in too many details. I also love to experiment with new techniques. I think because I’m not afraid to fail, it keeps my writing fresh.
In publishing, my strength is my clear vision of what the finished product should be. I’ve enjoyed learning the process from concept to completion.
Hands-down, my biggest marketing assets are my family, friends, and network. They keep me energized and informed about new ways to share my work.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Writing time is always at a premium. I struggle to prioritize my “fun time” of writing equally with other urgent activities.
In the publishing stage, I get extremely frustrated and discouraged with the technical side of things. I often feel like I’m doing everything wrong, especially when my technology doesn’t cooperate with my plans.
In marketing, I constantly feel like I’m screaming into the wind or barely treading water. I’ve read about several potential programs and strategies, only to discover they’ve changed or been discontinued when I get ready to try them.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’m currently in the process of formatting my next release, preparing it for publishing. Shooting Stars Traveling Circus will be released before Christmas 2019. In the meantime I’m working on the first draft of my next mystery.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I’m currently indie published, but I have used a traditional small publishing house. I am considering shopping future manuscripts, and weighing the pros and cons of both.