| A.E. Albert: A Writer's Blog

Author Interview: K.K. Allen
by A.E. Albert

@aealbert23

Book Title: The Summer Solstice: Enchanted (Book 1)
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance/
Young Adult

What inspired you to write your first book?

My first published story idea came about after I’d moved from Seattle to Florida. I was completely infatuated with the sun and the beaches around here that while in between jobs I started drafting a contemporary romance novel, based in Florida.

But something about it felt lacking…I've always been interested in Greek Mythology and at some point in the process I began researching ways to tie some of that into my novel. That’s when I came upon the different rituals and beliefs revolving around the Summer Solstice.

This one day of the year holds such importance for so many different cultures, I found it fascinating to the point of wanting to weave into my story. I had no idea that my story would become The Summer Solstice: Enchanted until after I drafted this version of the book.

Over time, more and more ideas came to me through my research and the story just kept growing. It’s like a floodgate opened and I've yet to find a way to stop it – not that I want to!

Is there a message in your book and/or books?

Absolutely. There are messages throughout my series regarding internal beauty (especially in young women) and the importance of ‘nurturing nature’ as I like to call it. More on the environmental awareness in Book Two, The Equinox, but you do get a small taste for it in Book One.

I keep my messages light because ultimately I write to entertain, not to preach. But I feel that by writing I have an opportunity to give back by helping to raise some awareness.

Although my stories have a supernatural element to them and my characters are not exactly ordinary, they symbolize the purest form of our earth. Here’s a hint: Enchanters in The Summer Solstice series are descendants of gods that protect the earth and all its inhabitants.

Is there anything in your book and/or books based on real life experiences?

In order for me to write how I do, which is very descriptive, I try to draw upon reality when it comes to places and history. By doing this, it keeps the realm of what I'm writing about as close to truth as possible before adding some doses of the supernatural.

My characters are completely invented and so are the stories I write. But every now and then when I'm describing a memory or an encounter I do find myself drawing upon something from my own life.

There’s a scene in Book One where Kat visits a bookstore and Alec mistakes her Summer Solstice research for Wiccan research. This actually happened to me! During my own book research phase a sales associate at my bookstore invited me to his Wiccan club when he saw what I was reading. I got a good laugh out of that and it was my inspiration in writing this particular scene.

What books and/or writers have influenced you the most?

Nicholas Sparks has a beauty in his words and such a charismatic way of portraying stories while sticking true to his timeless writing of simple, yet heart-wrenching love. He is a genius in my eyes and his books are number one on my auto-reads list as I call them. As soon as his books hit the shelf you know I’ll be reading them.

I've studied his On Writing section of his website, which is such a great tool for new authors. I also attribute my passion for writing to the YA books that I read when I was young – I was a huge Sweet Valley High and Fear Street fan, which is probably why I’m into the whole ‘series’ thing.

What has been your greatest challenge when writing?

In order for me to evolve in my writing career and continuously improve upon my craft I accept that nothing I do will ever be perfect. But I'd have to say that the greatest challenge when writing is not getting enough time to do it!

There are always a million and one things on my plate but I try to write/edit 80% and work on marketing things 20% of the time. Every now and then those percentages flip-flop; it just depends what’s going on.

What are you working on right now?

At this moment I’m in the final stages of prepping The Equinox, which is the second book in The Summer Solstice Series, for its release on December 11th. I just released the cover and the book description on my website at www.KK-Allen.com.

If you've read The Summer Solstice: Enchanted then you'll know that it leaves readers with some questions. What is the Equinox and what to they want? What happens with Alec and Kat? Where is Kat’s father? Why is Rose so distant with Kat? Is there more to Kat’s mother and why she kept Kat away from her family? And where did Kat’s pendant go? All of these questions and more will be resolved in Book Two.

What have you learned and do you have any advice for other authors?

Moving from Book One to Book Two, I maintain the thought that the editing process is the MOST important of all. I’m always learning from my mistakes – and I make a lot of them (wink).

As I'm nearing the end of editing Book Two, it’s obvious to me that I've improved not only my writing, but my processes a lot. It’s true that the more you do something, the better you get at it.

My advice to other authors, especially Indie Authors, is to treat your editing process as if it’s more important than the first draft. Sure, your first draft is where you spew all of your ideas out onto paper (hopefully from an outline) and initially tell your story. But the magic comes during the editing phase (or rewrite phase, as I like to call it); so don't be afraid to completely rewrite your story. Chances are it’s better told the second, third, or even fourth time around J

About K.K. Allen

K.K. Allen is the Author of The Summer Solstice

Series, an Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance

which takes place in Apollo Beach, Florida. Ms. Allen has always had a passion for reading and writing and has done so every day since the young age of 12.