Author Interview & Giveaway w/ Kate Kaynak!

 

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Hey Everyone! Let’s give a warm welcome to Paranormal Y.A. Author Kate Kaynak!

Check out the great giveaway at the end of the post… Enjoy!

 

When did you first start writing?

I did a bunch of short pieces in high school and college. I didn't complete my first novel until 2007, and I didn't finish my first GOOD novel until 2009.

Have you always enjoyed the Paranormal?

Very much. I read Willo Davis Roberts' The Girl with the Silver Eyes when I was in middle school, and it blew me away. After that, I got into everything from high fantasy to Anne Rice to Stephen King.

Why writing Paranormal YA?

Both paranormal and young adult books have endless possibilities and strong emotions. I love writing characters who have the potential to do amazing things!

Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?

Actually, Minder started as a thought experiment. I'd recently finished the Twilight saga and the Sookie Stackhouse books. Both have telepathic characters who can only fall in love with someone whose thoughts they can't read. Lucky for them, they met people like that. But what if that wasn't an option? I started thinking about what kind of person a telepath could fall in love with...and who could be in a relationship with someone who always knew what they were thinking.

Favorites:

Favorite Paranormal themed Movie?

Ghostbusters is probably the funniest paranormal movie ever. I don't care that it's older than CDs; it's still hilarious. As for more recent ones, I've enjoyed the Harry Potters, especially #3 on, since they got darker.

Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show?

Of all time? Either Buffy the Vampire Slayer or X-Files. Currently? Vampire Diaries, but mostly because Stephen R. McQueen (Jeremy) would be PERFECT to play Trevor in the movie of Minder.

Favorite Paranormal themed Book?

Just one? Nope--can't do it. Card's Seventh Son/Alvin Maker stuff; Rice's Vampire Lestat; Maguire's Wicked; Marr's Wicked Lovely; Cahore'sGraceling; Carriger's Soulless; Rowling's Harry Potters, of course; King's The Stand; Harper's Nice Girls series; McMann's Wake books; Stiefvater's Shiver and Linger (although Forever is TAKING forever to come out!); Mead's Vampire Academy, especially Blood Promise; Garcia & Stohl's Beautiful Creatures; Caine's Morganville Vampires series, Meyers' Twilight saga, and Armentrout's forthcoming Half-Blood.

Favorite Author?

J.K. Rowling. I'd pay money just to read her shopping list, which of course would be on parchment and contain amazing ingredients only found in Diagon Alley.

Favorite Genre that is NOT your own?

Sci-fi, high fantasy, or (non-YA) paranormal romance. I also love a gripping narrative non-fiction like Krakauer's Into Thin Air.

Favorite one of your books?

Everything just came together for Adversary. I really love how it turned out, right down to little details like the McFee backstory.

Who is your favorite of your own characters?

I love writing from Maddie's point-of-view, and I have a major book-crush on Trevor, but Drew's the one who cracks me up.

Which was the hardest to write?

I'm a plotter, and I don't start writing until I have pages of notes and character sheets. However, Dr. Williamson took the longest to come to life as a character. In my early notes, the head of Ganzfield was a MacGonagall-esque, stern, older woman, but I wasn't thrilled with the dynamics she created. Then, two years ago, I shared a cab with a guy in New York, and we got into a conversation. By the time we arrived at Penn Station, I knew I'd shared a cab with Dr. Williamson.

What would you be if not a writer?

What? I can't be a writer anymore? Did they pass a law?

Actually, I've been a college professor, a corporate trainer, and a mom of three kids under age two (they're 5, 5, and 4 now). I'll always be a writer--even if I have to do something else to pay the bills. It's not a career choice; it's a part of my personality. I'd simply be a writer who wasn't writing.

If you could be a Paranormal Being, who would you be?

I think I'd like to be a were-bear. People would be more forgiving of my morning, pre-coffee grumpiness if they knew I could maul them.

If you could meet any Paranormal Character out there, who would you like to meet?

Depends on what kind of meeting--I hope it's not in a dark alley. Hmm, other than my own characters, I guess I'd love to hang out with Alice Cullen.

Quickies:

Coffee or Tea? Coffee.

Up or Down? Up.

Virtual or Real? Real.

Right or Left? Left.

Day or Night? Day.

Here or There? There.

Sooner or Later? Later.

Light or Dark? Dark.

Fast or Slow? Fast.

Vampires or Werewolves? Werewolves.

Angels or Demons? Angels.

Reading or Writing? Both!

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I love when the characters have become so vivid in my mind that they just say and do things, and my job is simply to take dictation.

What is your least favorite part?

Actually, my least favorite part was writing the very first scene of Minder. It's a terrifying attack seen from inside the intended victim's head. I knew it had to happen that way to make the rest of the story come alive, but I still get shaky hands when I read it.

The Ganzfield Series in your own words?

Having special abilities isn't as much fun as you'd think...but there are some fringe benefits.

Any plans for more Books in the series?

There will be at least six in all; I've nearly finished the draft of #5, and I have notes for #6. I think I may do a seventh from Seth's point-of-view, as well.

What is coming up next for you?

After I finish the sixth Ganzfield book, I have notes for a book that takes place at Yale (my alma mater) with a character who talks to ghosts.

What are you working on right now?

Ganzfield book #5: Operative.

Do you have any advice or tip to those like me that want to become a published Author someday?

Revise, revise, revise. Then get feedback from appropriate readers--other writers and/or people who are in your target demographic--and then revise some more. Seek out honest, tough critiques, since "It's great!" doesn't give you any directions for improvements. Read your manuscript aloud. And always remember that what's in your head and what's on the page may not bear a lot of resemblance to one another.

Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?

Thank you! It still amazes me that other people like to hang out with my imaginary friends.

Thank you so much for being here!

My pleasure. Take care!

Find Kate Kaynak Online:

Website | Ganzfield Website 

Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Buy Kate’s Books:

Amazon US | Barnes & Noble

 

Win a Signed Copy of Adversary! {US Only}

or

Win a Copy of Adversary! {Anywhere Book Depot Ships}

 

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International!

Ends December 13th!

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