Samantha Hunter (fab writer and wickedly funny woman to boot) was kind enough to extend an invitation to gab with everyone here today and I’m not one to pass up such an offer to babble about whatever my heart desires (especially when I have a new book hitting the shelves in July) so, here goes!

I’m often asked how my day job as a newspaper reporter influences my creative writing and I have to say the single most important contribution was learning how to adhere to a deadline. When you’re writing a news story there’s a deadline that must be met and it doesn’t matter if your muse is on vacation or you just don’t feel like writing that day. After 10-plus years of writing under the gun, for both daily and weekly newspapers, dealing with a publisher deadline was a piece of cake (until I sold a two-book contract and only gave myself two months a piece to deliver). Bottom line? It’s all about discipline.

There have been plenty of times when I’ve wanted to be anywhere but in front of my computer but there just isn’t an option when work must be done. There are two types of reporters: straight ‘just-the-facts-ma’am’ style, or old school; and there’s narrative or magazine style. There are some old school enthusiasts who don’t believe narrative style has a place in newspapers but then there are others who have won awards for it. I think you can guess where I feel most comfortable. Narrative style helped hone my story-telling skills as I learned how to make every word count. Unlike your manuscript, you can’t meander along in a news story. You have to get to the point or your readers will ditch the story and jump to something else—and no one likes to think their story wasn’t written well enough to hold someone’s interest.

But, I’ve found there is a downside to writing news for as long as I have…the style tends to bleed into my creative writing when I’m not looking. And that’s not a good thing. Why, you ask? Because they’re two completely different styles. With news you’re telling people what happened, and as all novelists know…too much telling and not enough showing in your romance novel can ruin an otherwise good story. Conversely, although my news editor doesn’t mind when I get a little creative she tends to frown when I make
things up.

For a reporter/novelists, the two styles can be like two ships bumping into each other during the night and it’s a job hazard! I wrote three romance novels while on the job, scribbling notes on my current work-in-progress during lulls between board meeting agenda items, dreaming of that moment when I finally reached that coveted published status and when I finally got The Call it was unlike anything I ever thought it would be. It’s funny how these things happen, huh? Of course, the moment was better than I imagined.

So, here I am today, (still pinching myself, really) and I’m getting ready to see my second book on the shelves. Father Material is a Harlequin Superromance release and the first of a trilogy featuring three sisters. I received my author copies the other day and I have to tell you, it doesn’t get old. There’s something magical about seeing your name in print, holding that baby in your hands, and watching others gain enjoyment from something you created. I’d say it’s better than sex but that would be a stretch. Still…it’s pretty damn great. I'd like to share that happiness with you by giving away a copy of Father Material. Sunday, I'll pick one winner to get a signed copy -- remember, you need to be a registered member of Cigars.

Kim