You may have caught her on air with us not far back, but if not, then here is your chance to get to know a little bit about Kendra Kilbourn, breakout author. You can purchase her book 'Lovely Shadows' on Kindle and Nook. Her next book is in the works, to be released sometime in 2012 and here you can learn a little bit about her.
Let’s start out by you telling us a bit about why you started writing.
When I was four, my grandma handed me a pen and notebook and told me to shut up and write something because my constant chattering was giving her a migraine. Ever since then, I've rarely been without a pen and paper. Writing has always been something of an escape for me, a way to be a part of something outside of myself. Throughout school I took advance English classes and was on my high school's newspaper staff. Writing is a passion; it's a way of life for me.
As an author, you have to have influences in your life. Who are some of your favorite authors?
I don't really have a favorite author but I do have books that I just adore. My all-time favorite is The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger. Holden' Caulfield's cynical and questioning view of the world just cuts through to the truths about life—that we all might be a little more screwed up than we're willing to admit.
Other books I love are the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr, and of course, the Harry Potter series by the amazing J.K. Rowling. I'd love to trade places with her!
You released your first book, ‘Lovely Shadows’, on Nook and Kindle. Tell us briefly what this book is about.
Lovely Shadows is about Jessa Grace who is haunted by the ghost of Aidan Summers. He needs her help to solve the mystery of his death before he can crossover. But things become complicated when they fall for each other: her boyfriend Levi Moore doesn't know about her paranormal activities.
Why do you think fans will like this book?
Anyone who loves intense love triangles will like Lovely Shadows. There's the constant question of “how do you know?” if someone is right for you or not. Plus, who doesn't love a good ghost story?
Are you writing a sequel to it?
At this time, no, I'm not working on a sequel. I've toyed with the idea but for now, my focus is on my upcoming novel Eternal Sun and its sequels. Maybe sometime in the future I'll revisit Jessa and Aidan but for now, it's not something I'm planning. There has been some demand for a sequel so we'll see what happens. I never say never!
You have been tweeting about your newest work-in-progress, Eternal Sun. Can you tell us anything about that?
Ah, I love this book! Eternal Sun and its sequels are my passion project. I started work on Eternal Sun over a year ago but took a break to write Lovely Shadows. I'm excited about getting Eternal Sun out to the public.
Eternal Sun is the story of Celeste Moon, who grew up believing her father abandoned her as a baby, only to discover he was a king of the mystical country Adelaide, and was murdered fifteen years ago. The people who killed her father now want her dead, as well. Under the care of the True Court Shields, she learns she's part of a race of humans who possess supernatural abilities and hers is the most dangerous one of all. To further complicate matters, she also learns she's magically bound to Tyson Beckwith and Jonas Rose, two Shields who constantly fight for her life and her love.
At its core, Eternal Sun is about following your destiny and discovering what really matters in life and love.
Do you have any idea when it might be released?
If Eternal Sun doesn't find a home with an agent or publishing house, then I plan to release it no later than June of 2012. If I do sign with an agent, it could be two years before Eternal Sun sees the light of day!
As an author, you have to have a million ideas running through your head all at once. How do you decide what to write about and what to tuck away for later?
I always have ideas running through my head. Sometimes it's difficult to keep track of all my thoughts. Earlier this year I created a “Future Writing Box.” Whenever I get an idea for a story, I write as much as I can down on an index card then store it in the box. If I get into a writing rut, I simply sort through the box until I find an idea that inspires me in that moment.
Why did you chose to go with Kindle and Nook compared to traditional publishing?
Honestly, I published to Kindle and Nook as a last resort. After receiving rejections from nearly twenty-five agents, I gave up the process and published independently. Looking back, there are moments were I think I should have stuck it out but publishing Lovely Shadows myself gave me great insight to the business. I'm constantly learning about marketing my work and myself. I'll continue to attempt the traditional route before publishing independently.
Where can fans find you online?
