Interview With Author, Krista Ames

Krista Ames, Author

Born and raised in Northern Indiana, Krista now resides in Northern Lower Michigan.  She is married to a very supportive man who allows her to follow her true passion of writing and never complains when she is pirated away on her computer for hours.    Krista is also a mother of 4 ornery children who keep her plenty busy.  With an addition of 2 beautiful chocolate lab sisters and a playful kitty, there is never a dull or spare moment in her household. 

Krista has always loved to read and would often sit up for hours into the night not able to put down a book until she was finished.  She still reads when she can but her main focus is creating her own stories to share with the world. 

She loves to communicate with her readers so please feel free to drop her a line anytime at krista@kristaames.com  or visit her at http://www.kristaames.com   or http://www.apassionforromance.blogspot.com.

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The Interview

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?  

Oh well, not sure this would be adventurous to some but you just have to take into account my sheltered life lol.  So after twenty years, I finally got up enough guts to ask my husband for a divorce after being unhappy for a good portion of that twenty years.  When I finally took my kids and left, I went to my niece’s house and got a tattoo, my first lol.

What adventure would you like to have that you haven’t done yet if money and skill were no problem?  The first adventure for hubby and I would be 2 plane tickets to Ireland.  I want to go there so so, so bad!

Who are some of your favorite authors? 

I love this question J  My all-time favorite is Linda Lael Miller.  Then there’s Diana Palmer,  Lisa Jackson, Debbie Macomber…the list goes on and on.     

What commonality do you see in them?  

I never thought about commonality before but at least for a few of them, it’s the western theme.  I’m a sucker for a cowboy so a good western romance is my favorite.  Mostly contemporary however I have read a few historicals and liked them.

I believe color says something about a person’s personality.  What’s your favorite color?   Blue – however I don’t see myself as a blue person, I’m pretty happy and upbeat most of the time.  I’ve just always been fond of blue, and dark blue, not baby blue J

If you could have a do-over life, what one thing would you do differently?  

Actually, I don’t really want a do-over.  I believe things happen for a reason and I just can’t do the what-ifs because I’m happy where I’m at and all the mistakes and great things that happened in my past played a part in where I am now.  

What would you do again?  

There are a couple things I’d like to relive, exactly how they happened…the birth of my 3 wonderful children and I would love to marry my hubby all over again.

What is your writing process from conception to finished MS? 

A cluster.  Seriously.  I get an idea, write whenever I have time until I finish.  There’s always a kid that needs to be run somewhere or picked up and at least during the summer, never a quiet moment, until bedtime.  I usually stay up til between 2am and 4am because it’s so quiet.  Of course then there’s the other ideas that pop into my head while I’m writing one so I always get thrown off on another tangent.

Are you a planner, panster or both?  

I am totally a panster.  I mean I know how I want my story to go kind of but I don’t write out any outlines or guidelines.  I just let the story write itself.

How did you research for your book?   I usually research via the web or asking other authors and friends if need be.  I only wish I could tell you I travel to do the research J

What is your all-time favorite movie?  TV show?  

All-time favorite movie is the original, The Wizard of Oz.  All-time favorite TV show is actually a cartoon lol, Scooby-Doo !   Of course these two date back years.  The I have favorites right are too many to pick just one but the list grows.  Same with TV whenever I find new shows to watch and fall in love with.

How important do feel writing workshops are to any writer? 

I’m probably not the one to give a worthwhile opinion on this never having done them but I’d like to think they are very beneficial and I would love to have the chance to get to one sometime.

If you could learn one new skill, fear and money no deterrent, what would it be?   

Are we talking writing skill or a profession or trade?  I’d love to become a veterinarian and open an animal shelter, both large and small.

If you had a million dollars to donate to any one charity, what would it be?  I am actually a sucker for dogs and cats and with so many strays and abused around everywhere it’d be probably some humane charity but tying with that would have to be a children’s charity for sure. 

What advice would you like to give to an aspiring writer?  

Never give up.  Becoming a published author is a long trying battle but if it’s really what you want then just don’t give up.

Did anyone mentor you or help you along the way?  Please tell us about your mentor and what you feel they contributed to your writing career.   

There is one author that has never hesitated when I’ve asked for her opinion or help.  She’s a great author herself and such a wonderful person, love her dearly!  Kate Douglas !!  She has given me tips and endless encouragement.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?   

The same advice that I try to give, just don’t ever give up!

If you could live anywhere in the world you wanted to, where would it be?   

I’m honestly not sure where I’d pick.  There are so many places I want to go but I’d like to find somewhere that has a mild temperature all year long, a comfortable 70’s type of thing.  Does that exist?

Where do you write?  Wherever my laptop is.  I move between my bedroom and the dining room table.  I like the latter best because I can spread my stuff out.  I wish I had an office but not that lucky yet.  Hubby promises soon so we’ll see J

How much time do you devote to writing each week?  Do you have a day every week that you take off? 

I try to write as much as possible but with 4 kids, I never know how much I’ll get so I don’t really set a specific goal other than to just write.  I try to take the weekends off from most of my work but even then I still find myself writing when I feel the urge.

What is a genre that you have not attempted that you would like to try?   

I haven’t published in Paranormal or YA yet but I’m definitely working on a few things.

Is there anything you would like readers to know about you?  

I love meeting new people so I hope you’ll drop me a line or pm me on facebook J

Harper’s Wish

A Montana Series Christmas Novella

Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but for Harper Donaldson it’s just another day.  Orphaned at an early age, she doesn’t have a single good memory of Christmas. 

But, when a Santa’s Mailbox mysteriously appears in the lobby of the post office where she works as postmistress, Harper wonders what it could hurt to send her own letter to Santa.

Could he bring her the family she’d always wanted?

Buy Links:     Roane Publishing     Amazon    Amazon (UK)    Barnes and Noble 
Kobo    Smashwords     All Romance eBooks

Other Books by Krista Ames

Take Me Home, Cowboy

A Western Escape

Ally Kincaid returns to Freewill, Wyoming, to see her father after a two year absence. Anticipating a quiet family reunion, she finds herself butting heads with her father’s foreman instead. The man’s arrogance and sexy drawl push all her buttons, making her wonder what he’s hiding beneath his cowboy swagger.

Matt Gentry walked away from the past and shies from the future. No ties means no one gets hurt…until the boss’s daughter, a hot, green-eyed blonde, tempts him to break his own rules.

When tragedy strikes, will building tension and pride destroy their growing attraction or show them the way home?

Buy Links:  Decadent    Amazon    B&N    ARe

BookStrand   Smashwords    Manic    Goodreads

Second Nature

If a second chance presented itself, would you take it?

When the love of Dana's life leaves without a word, moving on is the last thing she wants to do.  Despite loving him, she believes she will never see him again but, little does she know, she's being set up for a night that will change her life forever.

Nicholas, A Navy man, did the only thing he could to save the woman he loved.  Driven by a secret, he disappeared and now returns, years later, with hope for love.  With one opportunity, will he be able to make things right, or is it just too late? 

Will she resist the desire she has for a second chance or will it be Second Nature?

Buy Links:    The Wild Rose Press    Amazon    B&N    ARe

BookStrand     Manic     Goodreads