Sit-down Saturday with Kate James


Today we’re celebrating the release of A Child's Christmas by Kate James.


This is your first book for Harlequin Heartwarming. What does that mean to you?

Yes, A Child's Christmas, is my first book for Heartwarming. I am very fortunate to be able to work with two extraordinary ladies: Paula Eykelhof, my editor, and Victoria Curran, senior editor for Heartwarming. I love being associated with Harlequin. Harlequin has an exceptional team and the company provides tremendous support to its authors. I am also grateful for the warm reception and generous support I have received from other Harlequin authors.


Can you tell us about your road to publication?

I either got very lucky, my business background came in handy or—more than likely—it was a combination of the two. There is the artistic, creative side to writing, but there is a business side to it as well. Publishing is a business and for an author to excel, I believe they have to be able to understand and effectively deliver on both the creative and business aspects. Querying agents and/or publishers requires a combination of creativity and business acumen.

I was fortunate to have my very first manuscript picked up by a publisher. Although the publisher is small, and thus doesn't have a large budget for marketing and promotions, they were a pleasure to work with. The experience also afforded me the opportunity to learn a great deal about publishing. I believe that knowledge was invaluable in securing my contract with Harlequin.


Where do you do most of your writing?

My husband and I are fortunate to own a beautiful cottage in Lake of Bays on the shore of a small lake. We have a guest suite on the main floor overlooking the lake. It’s one of my favorite places to write.


Another favorite spot—weather permitting—is our gazebo in the backyard of our house. You can probably appreciate why this view would be inspiring!



Where do you get your story ideas, and how much of what you write is based on personal experience?

I read an article some time ago that referred to fictionalizing facts. I believe every author does this to a degree. I certainly do. (Heartwarming authors, I’d be interested in your thoughts!)

Writing about what I know or have experienced leads to a more genuine, believable story, in my opinion. My background and experiences provide a wide variety of ideas and perspectives, and I hope they serve to enrich my writing but, no, none of the experiences in my novels are actually my own.


What is it about writing that you enjoy the most?

I love to write and enough so to have left a job I truly enjoyed. What is most gratifying for me is to know that there are people who chose to spend their limited and valuable leisure time reading my work. And even more so, when a reader reaches out to me to let me know they enjoyed what I wrote. Sincere thanks to all my readers for enabling me to fulfil my dream!


What are you working on now?

The manuscript for my next Heartwarming novel is in the editing stage and is tentatively scheduled for a May 2015 release. I also signed another contract with Harlequin recently for a trilogy. I have three manuscripts to produce over the next ten months!


What do you enjoy reading and what are you reading now?

I read for enjoyment, to expand my knowledge and for research. I truly believe I would be lost if I didn't have a book underway at any given point in time. Not a single day goes by without me reading, regardless of tight deadlines or other demands on my time.

Currently, I am reading an advance review copy of the second book in Elizabeth Heiter's Profiler Series, Vanished. I was hooked from the start.


I welcome any questions you may have in the comments section of this post. I also look forward to connecting with you on my websiteTwitter or Facebook.

Best wishes and happy reading!

Kate


Links to Purchase A Child’s Christmas

Harlequin (e-book and paperback)
Amazon 
Chapters (Kobo)
iTunes
Barnes and Noble

A Child's Christmas is also planned to be released in Australia in December as a mass-market paperback duo, along with Pamela Tracy's Holiday Homecoming.


Tomorrow’s Post


Please visit our blog tomorrow for my post featuring readers who have attended some of my signings and other events.



Comments

  1. Great post Kate. Congrats on your book release!

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    1. Thank you, Tara.

      I'm just a month ahead of you and the release of your HONEYSUCKLE BRIDE! I look forward to it.

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  2. Congrats on your release. I also think it is much easier to write what you know, otherwise so much time is spent researching (which I have learned the hard way!) You better get writing - three books in ten month - WOW! :)

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    1. Thank you very much, Amy.

      These three books will require research. Fortunately, I have excellent contacts and the research promises to be fun. I'm already working on the first manuscript . . . just please don't ask about the word count yet!

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  3. Kate, I love your "offices." Beautiful places to write! Looking forward to reading A CHILD's CHRISTMAS. Holiday stories are my favorites!

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    1. Thank you, Anna.

      Congratulations on your release of CHRISTMAS, ACTUALLY, and the wonderful reviews its receiving already!

      I just came in from a walk with our pups and my "office" doesn't look too appealing right now. It's snowing . . . and not for the first time this season. Oh well, I better move my office close to a fireplace!

      I hope you enjoy A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS.

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  4. I love reading about how you got your start in writing, Kate! And I'm really getting into my ARC of A Child's Christmas. Everyone needs a gazebo like yours!

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    1. I am so glad you are enjoying A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS, Dale!

      That gazebo is actually our second one. We lost one to severe winter conditions. We almost lost this one last winter, too, but it got jammed against the tree branch you see in the top, right foreground of the picture. We were able to "walk it back" in the spring!

      Happy reading!

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  5. Kate, your lake cottage and gazebo are the perfect places to dream and create. I love a water feature no matter what--ocean, lake, fountain. I have to settle for a morning walk through desert. Hey, there's a swimming pool in my complex. Looking forward to your Christmas book.

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    1. Thank you, Roz. We're getting our second snowfall of the season right now, so I would gladly trade you a (frozen?) water feature for desert and a swimming pool!

      I would love to get your feedback on A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS, once you've had a chance to read it.

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  6. I love holiday stories, I read them the year round. I can't wait to read your book.

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    1. Thank you for visiting our blog and leaving a comment, Linda.

      I enjoy holiday stories all year round, too! I hope you enjoy A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS and would love to know how you liked it.

      Happy reading!

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  7. Congratulations on the release of your first HH title! And best of luck with the three manuscripts that are next in line. You have inspiring work places-- and is that your dog"helping" behind your chair in the gazebo? (Grin) my cat does that too.

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    1. Thank you for the good wishes, Leigh.

      If you look carefully, I have two critique partners with me. My left hand is resting on the back of the second pup.

      If you would like to see how the dogs help with my writing, have a look at the pics in my last post: http://bit.ly/1BFIx1y. :-)

      I bet your cat doesn't use your laptop as a chew toy!

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  8. Okay, I'm coming to your house and sitting at the gazebo to write. There's nothing like the first book. Major congrats.

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    1. You are more than welcome, Pamela . . . although if you visited, we may not get a lot of writing done!

      Thank you.

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  9. Kate, Congratulations on this release and on your future books as well! This is wonderful news. Looking forward to reading A Child's Christmas. Your 'outside office' is spectacular. I think I would be very happy writing there as well!

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    1. The more the merrier, Carol. The condition is you must love dogs and the outdoors. I think you'd be okay with that, am I correct?

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  10. You'll have to get out every chair in the house, because I'm coming, too. Love writing outside and dogs! Also love creating fiction out of fact. Real life events you've witnessed allow you to hear the real dialogue surrounding it and collect all the little attendant details you'd never get from simply researching. Congratulations on the holiday book - love those. And good wishes also on the new contract. Nothing like being gainfully employed. Happy weekend, everybody!

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    1. Muriel, you just said it so much better than I did!!

      Start heading over . . . I have lots of chairs and some very comfortable lounges, too!

      Thank you for the good wishes.

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  11. Congratulations on the release of A Child's Christmas!! I've been waiting for this book - and I can't wait to dig in! Those are some gorgeous writing spots/views you have...I think you're in good shape to be inspired as you head into your next three deadlines!

    And thank you so much for the mention of Vanished; I'm thrilled you're enjoying it!

    Elizabeth Heiter

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, Elizabeth. I look forward to hearing what you think of A Child's Christmas.

      Let me know when you plan to come visit "the wild!" We may have a Harlequin authors' party on my patio.

      One of the benefits of being with the same publisher is that I am able to enjoy the ARC of Vanished before it's official release!! I can safely say, if your readers liked Hunted, they are going to LOVE Vanished!

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  12. Congratulations on you first book with Harlequin! As for an answer to your question about writing from our experiences...Since I write more romantic suspense than anything else, I definitely do not write from my personal experiences. :-) I don't think there's a good answer for where our ideas come from other than God. I think he endows writers with a special gift to create stories outside of ourselves.

    Loved your post and your writing spaces! Tell everyone to move over...I want to come, too.

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    1. Patricia, I definitely will not argue with you as to where our good ideas--or inspirations--come from.

      You are more than welcome to join the Harlequin authors/readers party in our backyard! Since we had our second snowfall of the season today, I suggest we plan it for the spring.

      Happy writing and reading!

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  13. I envy you those settings. Congrats on the book.

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    1. Thank you, Shirley!

      I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

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