Friday, April 13, 2018

Interview of Author T.W. Kirchner

AW: Tell us about yourself…
Although writing is my passion, my first loves are my husband, two children, and furry menagerie known as the Kirchner Zoo. I like to paint, draw, play tennis, hike, bike, and do yoga. If I could, I’d spend all my time outdoors, and I’m never bored. I love animals and especially wolves. Anything wolf, pirate, or zombie-related will grab my attention. I’m vegetarian and love coffee and dark chocolate. Fun Facts: I make my own book trailers and shoot most of the footage. At least one member of the Kirchner Zoo is pictured on the bio page on each of my books.

AW: What genera do you write and why?
I started writing picture books but found I enjoyed writing middle grade more. After finishing several middle grade books, I switched to YA. I am currently working on two YA series as well as short stories for adults. Overall, 
I like to write action-packed stories with a touch of the supernatural.


AW: Tell us about your book….
Dagger & Brimstone: Town from Hell is the first book in my YA paranormal series. It also has a bit of romance and horror with a lot of suspense. The story follows two seventeen-year-olds that want to be together despite their parents’ disapproval. Racer, a motorcycle-riding, tattoo loving, bad-boy and timid Arloe, also seventeen, come from completely different backgrounds—even more so than Racer realizes. After Arloe’s parents make arrangements to send her overseas for the summer, the teens come up with a summertime plan of their own. They run away to a map dot in the Nevada desert. They don’t tell anyone that they’re leaving and don’t take their phones. Unfortunately, they’re vacationing in the town from hell.
 
AW: What was your inspiration for this book?
I was born and raised in Nevada, and I still live here. You can drive the highways for miles without seeing a town or a car on the road. The state is full of ghost towns, semi-ghost towns, and closed silver mines. Let the horror begin…

AW: Do you have a favorite character and why that one?
Racer is a fun character to write, but Arloe is probably my favorite. She has the biggest growth spurt of all the characters from the beginning of the book to the end. Arloe learns a lot about what she’s capable of doing, and she finds freedom in letting her true self emerge. The town from hell definitely tests Arloe and Racer individually and as a couple.

AW: Did you find anything particularly difficult in writing this book?
The most difficulty I had was with pacing. I didn’t want to give the town’s secrets away too fast, so readers would have some mysteries to figure out.

AW: What project(s) are you currently working on?
I am wrapping up the third and final book in the Dagger & Brimstone series, Kiss from Hell. It should be released around summer 2018. I am also working on a few short stories. Two of my short stories will be in anthologies released soon. If you follow me on Twitter, you will see when they’re available.

AW: Do you have any interesting writing quirks you want to tell us about?
I have a few writing quirks. I usually do my best writing between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. probably because I don’t have any distractions. When I get a story idea, I sketch a rough flowchart, like a spider diagram, to visualize the plot. I also like to have at least two projects going, so if I’m having writer’s block on one, I can work on the other.

AW: Do you have any advice for writers out there?
Join a critique group. I’ve been in a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) critique group for 10 years, and I find the experience invaluable. I’ve made wonderful friends and have received great advice. The group’s feedback can alert me to problems with my story as well as stir up ideas. Critique groups aren’t cookie cutter, so you need to find one that works for you.

AW: Where can we find you? (facebook, twitter, blog, website, etc)
My blog, TWK Books and Creations https://aceinlv.wordpress.com/
My Art & Books website: http://www.twkirchner.com/
Twitter: @TinaInLV

AW: And of course we have to know, where can we find your book? 
Dagger & Brimstone: Town from Hell is available on Amazon. Here is the link:

1 comments:

  1. I want to thank Ashley's Bookshelf for the opportunity to interview!

    ReplyDelete