Hi everyone!
When people ask me what I do, I tell them I’m a writer.
Usually their next question is: “What do you write?” My answer? “Everything.”
I write fiction in various genres and levels of intensity. I
can give romance readers a tender love story or a spicy erotic novella. Fans of
speculative fiction can be terrorized by my horror stories or whisked away into
an alternate reality in my sci-fi tales. I’ve also written several non-fiction
books. Looking to take care of a cat or a hermit crab? I’ve got those covered.
And if you want to write your own fiction, well, I wrote the book on how to get
started.
I’m often asked a lot of questions about how (and why) I
write across the genre spectrum. Here are four FAQ:
How did you get started writing in so many different genres?
I never set out to be such a multi-faceted writer; it was
something that happened gradually. I started out writing short horror fiction
and always dreamed of “someday” having my work included in an anthology. (I’m
happy to say my horror stories have appeared in several anthologies, both
online and in print.)
Then one day I came across a “10-minute love story” in a
magazine and thought, “I could write one of those.” So I did. The story was
accepted and I became a regular romance author for the publication. A year or
so later they asked me if I could write sci-fi. I said, “Sure!” and I did.
From that point on, I realized I didn’t have to “just” write
horror, or romance, or sci fi… I could branch out into any genre or type of
writing I wanted. I figured, why limit yourself? If I have an idea for a story
(regardless of genre), why not write it? Eventually I started writing romance
novels and horror novellas.
Within the romance genre, you write contemporary, gay,
paranormal, fantasy, and historical stories. Why do you vary so much in one
genre?
I get inspired from a multitude of ideas, so I basically go
wherever the story takes me. My fantasy romance, A Most Unusual Princess came
about because I wanted to write about a headstrong princess looking for a
husband. The idea of a gay wrestler forced to come out sparked A Secret Match,
and a mysterious stranger collapsing into the arms of an 1877 storekeeper
became my historical romance novel, Love, Lies & Redemption.
The plot and characters dictate the genre, setting, and heat
level in my books. So I may write a hot contemporary romance one month, and
then six months later I’m writing a mild historical. I don’t mind switching up
genres because it gives me leeway to create unique characters and plots each
time I write. I never know where the next story will take me.
Within the historical category, my books range from mild to
super-spicy and take place in different time periods (Old West, Colonial,
Pioneer, Celtic). I don’t stick to writing “all” Westerns or “all” Colonials.
Once I have the time period for the story, I do research for details and/or
ideas for clothing, occupations, etc. I like to weave authentic details into
the books and blend them in as naturally as possible. When I’m writing fantasy
romance, I try to make the details believable, even if I’m making them up.
How do you balance writing romance and horror? Which one do
you like best?
My horror stories are more psychologically spooky rather
than gory, and usually after I finish writing a few romances I switch up and
write a horror tale or two. I use different “writing muscles” when I tell a
horror story, and I can develop different plots, characters, and have a darker
tone in my horror fiction than I can in a romance.
I like both genres, so it was only a matter of time before I
blended the two… into paranormal romance. When I write paranormal romances I
have to make sure I don’t cross over too far into the horror world. You don’t
want to create a paranormal hero/heroine that’s too frightening and/or violent
in the story. Romance lovers don’t want to read about a full-fledged monster.
The character has to be likeable and loveable with all the traits of a romance
hero/heroine – even if he or she is a vampire who needs to feed. (This was the
basis for my paranormal, Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover.)
Lately I’ve been scaling back on my romances and focusing on
speculative fiction. These short stories aren’t exactly classic “horror” tales
designed to scare readers, but they do include paranormal elements. For
example, my new release More than I Bargained For is an offbeat mini-mystery
about a woman who can talk to the dead.
One of my favorite horror stories is Nightmare in the North.
It’s a novella about a man stranded with strangers in a blizzard. It was a lot
of fun to write and after reading it, my husband called it “disturbing.” I love
writing horror stories (or mainstream stories with speculative elements) and
plan on releasing a few more of them this year. I’ve got lots of ideas, and I’m
working on two new stories now.
You wrote the non-fiction book, You Can Write—Really! A
Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction. What made you decide to write a book about
writing?
Every time I do an interview, I’m asked the same batch of
questions: Where do you get your ideas? How do I get published? How do you
write a book? What advice do you have for writers who are starting out? Do you
have any writing tips?
I’ve answered these questions many times in interviews and
addressed them in blogs, but I always wanted to say more. One day, I started
thinking about everything I’ve learned over the years, and inspiration hit me:
Why not write a book on how to write? The result? You Can Write—Really! A
Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction.
This fun and practical book walks you through the
story-creating process step-by-step: from getting a great idea to meeting your
characters, developing a plot, and on to writing, revising, and submitting your
work. It covers the basics of storytelling—regardless of what genre you write.
Each easy-to-read chapter is based on my years of hands-on
experience as a writer, advice I’ve received, and the technical “know-how” I’ve
gained in writing classes and professional writing workshops. Basically, it’s
practical advice on how to get started, almost like a Writing 101 workshop. Any
writer can use the tips and writing exercises for an extra boost of motivation
or just for fun.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Writers shouldn’t be afraid to try new things. Yes, it might
be “easier” or “better” to find a genre or a niche and stay there for your
entire writing career. You could build a solid brand, get a large fan base, and
become a household name in that genre. That may work for most writers, but for
me, it would become tiresome after a while (like having the same thing for
dinner every night). I like to explore something new and different each time I
write.
For me, writing across the genre spectrum is what I do. Some
days, I venture down a dark and mysterious pathway into a haunted cemetery…
Other days, I’ll lose myself in the romantic adventures of a feisty historical
heroine… But no matter what I write, I enjoy creating the characters, plots,
and settings that bring the story to life for readers—and I hope they enjoy the
journey as much as I do.
Here’s the summary and links to my latest release, More Than
I Bargained For:
More Than I Bargained For: A Paranormal Mini-Mystery
Katie doesn’t like going to estate sales. Why? Because she
sees dead people.
When Katie reluctantly attends an estate sale with her
friend Diane, she gets more than she bargained for. The deceased former owner
of the house, Grace, realizes that Katie can communicate with her, and she has
a lot to say.
As Katie pretends to shop, Grace tells her the story of how
she was murdered—and reveals that her killer is still in the house.
It’s up to Katie to uncover the murder weapon and get it to
the police… before time runs out.
Order your copy here:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CG4J8B2
All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/me9jzl
Read reviews here:
https://www.kelliwilkins.com/more-than-i-bargained-for
Happy Reading!
Kelli
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has
published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books,
and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes
to scare readers with her horror stories.
Her non-fiction tale, “The Dog That Wouldn’t Bark” recently
appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Hilarious, Heroic, Human Dog
anthology.
She also released two horror shorts, More Than I Bargained
For and Silent Sentinel in 2021.
In January 2021, Kelli published Journaling Every Week: 52
Topics to Get You Writing. This fun and innovative guide to journaling is
filled with hundreds of thought-provoking prompts designed to get you writing
about your feelings and emotions.
Kelli posts on her Facebook author page:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins
and Twitter:
www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor
Visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title
list and to find all her social media links.
