Today, I bring you LGBTQ erotic romance author Kate Lowell. You very nearly had a very silly bogus interview between me and her squirrel shifter character, so be thankful Kate answered the call, instead.
Author’s note 7-14-2014: I am so out of it I didn’t realize until today I had the wrong book. And Kate has been too nice to call me on it. It should probably be this book (pay attention to the squirrel on the dude’s arm.)
Author’s note 1-03-2016: Kate Lowell has taken the plunge into self-publishing, so the weresquirrel book has new life. And sequels, soon. (Drools.)
Here’s the buy link for Nuts About You.
Nathan and I were gonna play beer pong with unshelled pecans, I had it all planned out…
Me: Have you ever written outside the romance genre? If not, do you ever plan to?
Kate: I have written science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal/urban fantasy, and plan to continue to, but I’m having a lot of fun in the romance genre right now, so it might be a while. The genres blend well with romance, so I can still get my scifi, fantasy, and spec fic fixes, while giving readers their Happily Ever After.
Me: Do you think LGBTQ romance is growing in popularity?
Kate: I think it is–I hear more and more about it all the time. Large publishers are looking more closely at it, and it’s getting airtime/screen time with larger websites and television stations. I’m not sure we give the human race enough credit for the open-mindedness and curiosity this shows. Sure, there are jerks and self-centered idiots out there, with enough fear inside them to drive the world to Armageddon in the wrong circumstances, but most people are just wrapped up in their own lives, without much time to go searching for new experiences. This is the job of artists–writers, painters, filmakers, chefs–to push these boundaries and make these experiences accessible to others.
Given the opportunity, given well-written, sympathetic characters, most people are open to experiencing life through another set of eyes. Curiosity, you see. The human race is curious; we don’t always know what to do with what we discover with that curiosity, but we do like to know things. And what is more universal than falling in love, riding out the bumps and struggles that occur in any relationship, and finding your happy ending? As more good literature makes its way out into the world, more people discover it.
I like the fact that we’re pushing the boundaries on this. Our world is a kaleidoscope of different people, and it makes me happy that people who have been marginalized (and here, I’m talking about POC, disabled, and all other marginalized groups as well) are starting to find fiction written for them, about people like them, and that they have the opportunity to have their stories told. Or to tell their stories themselves. And I’m very grateful for the people who push this and help others discover it as well, since these stories also deserve to be told.
Me: What are you reading now?
Kate: I’m reading Night Terrors, by Tim Waggoner, published by Angry Robot books. The basic premise is that sometimes people dream so hard, it opens a portal between the dream world and ours, letting nightmares through. The two main characters are ‘cops’ who are in charge of taking these being back to the nightmare side. I’ve got mixed feelings about it. It’s an interesting world, but I haven’t connected with either of the two main characters yet. In fact, I have more sympathy for the bad guy they just collared than for either of the two MC’s. The blurb wasn’t entirely accurate to what I’ve read of the story so far, but I haven’t finished the book yet, either. I’m hoping it will redeem itself shortly.
I’m also reading a craft book, called Story Trumps Structure, by Steven James. So far, I’m impressed, though he comes at everything from the viewpoint of a thriller writer–which he is, so no surprise there. But the basics are good. I chat about it with Zoe X Rider and Ana J Phoenix in our column Three Dirty Birds Talk, if you’re curious about it.
Me: I’ve read the James book! (My fellow writers, go find it in the library, or somewhere. It may change your life.)
What genre do you write mostly and what appeals to you most about your genre?
Kate: Right now, I’m mostly writing paranormal, with a side of classic low-magic fantasy and contemporary. I love the idea of there being a world that not everyone is aware of. It parallels to a certain degree how our society is actually structured–there’s the surface that everyone sees, hints of something less perfect that you notice if you’re watching, and then there’s the reality. I very much enjoy playing with the concept of ‘nothing is as it seems’ and twisting it as far as I can. I think we tend to lose our sense of wonder as we grow up, ground down beneath the daily routine of keeping a roof over our heads and our kids decently clothed and out of juvenile court. Paranormal/urban fantasy reminds us that the world is a very different place, if you only change the way you look at it.
Me: If you haven’t yet, check out the secret-world books by Charles deLint. He introduced me to the first wave of urban fantasy in the late eighties, and he’s a master at portraying wonder in familiar situations.
Back to the interview, how hard is the editing process? Self-editing, because we all know working with an editor is another world entirely.
Kate: I find it both harder and easier than writing the actual story. Easier, because a lot of the decision-making has already been done; harder, because now I have to make everything fit. It’s a little like building a piece of furniture from a picture in my head. I create the basic parts, then shape them and tweak them, shaving bits here, building up bits elsewhere, until it all fits together like it grew that way on its own. Sometimes it requires throwing parts away completely and starting with a new block of wood. This is the time period when I need to hold the whole story, and all its details, together in my head–a delicate balancing process that often squeezes out any new material until it’s done.
At the same time, there’s an incredible sense of satisfaction when you start plugging plotholes and can watch the story come together, growing gradually closer to the image you had in your head when you started. Adding a paragraph in one chapter, changing how something is worded in another. Peppering the piece with subtle foreshadowing, until, at the end, your reader reaches the ‘surprising, but inevitable’, conclusion. Tweaking characterization, laying the groundwork for sequels and offshoots.
Editing is fun. 🙂
Me: Chalk another one up for the ‘masochist’ list, then. I’m there, too.
What do you love about being an author?
Kate: I love the control I have over the story, to take it in whatever direction I want. I love the choices I have over how I spend my work day, whether I spend it writing, reading, watching documentaries, or doing promo. Being able to follow whims, to research whatever catches my fancy, and then twist it to suit my interests or the story’s. The process of putting together a character, of exploring the world through someone else’s eyes and experience–they are all part of the excitement that brings me back over and over again to the creation of fiction. Putting together all the puzzle pieces that make up a story, though, is probably the best part.
Me: What do you hate about being an author?
Kate: Promo kills me. There’s such a push to be different, entertaining, get yourself noticed. The hours that I spend on promo–I’d much rather spend them on a new story, or smoothing out the rough patches of one in the works. I’m not particularly outgoing either, and promo feels like going to a big party with all sorts of people, most of whom I don’t know and am rather intimidated by. Besides, I’m not sure I’m all that entertaining anyway. 🙂
Another thing is the constant uncertainty–am I good enough? Is this next story good enough? Did I catch all the mistakes? All the weaknesses? Worrying that you’ve written something that someone already wrote and you just haven’t seen it (happened already to me once). If you’re anxious at all by nature, this feeds the anxiety monster all the yummy things it most particularly likes.
Oh, and waiting. The waiting is…*screams and flails* Yeah, that.
Me: The waiting. Yeah. That’s when I get into the most trouble, too.
When did you start the adventure of writing?
Kate: This is going to sound ridiculous, but about two years ago, in mid-summer of 2012. My contract ended at what had to be the absolute worst job I’ve ever had. I was exhausted, burnt out, and ready to chuck it all. So I gave myself a couple of months to recharge and try something I had very occasionally played with during my preteen years–writing my own stories. I was going through a phase of reading MM romance at the time, so that’s where I started. The first story I attempted to write hasn’t been published, or even finished yet, though I have every plan to do so. Just waiting for the skillz I need to do it justice.
Me: What’s the funniest scene you’ve ever written?
Kate: I would say it would have to be the kitchen sink scene from Nuts About You. Imagine you’re a weresquirrel, and you’ve been caught by this really hot guy you’ve been spying on for months, and he’s got you in his house because he hit you with a shoe. But–escape is nigh. There’s a window over the kitchen sink, and a tree outside the window. If you can just reach it…
Me: Hang on, we have that scene, folks. Enjoy!
***
Vince walked by, shirtless and talking into his cell phone. “No, I know it’s just a squirrel. It’s still a living creature.” A pause, as Vince listened to the person on the other end of the line. He turned toward the table and Nathan froze again. “No, he’s just sitting there, kind of—stiff.”
Oh, you have no idea. Dammit, turn around so I can go for the window!
“But what if he’s bleeding internally?” Another pause. Vince ran his hand through his hair and stared at Nathan with a frustrated expression that made Nathan’s ears twitch. “Never mind, fine, he just moved. Don’t worry, I’ll look after him.” He hit the disconnect button with more force than was necessary and jammed the phone into his pocket. “Well, I guess you’re all mine now. I promised you peanut butter, didn’t I? You sit quiet and I’ll get some out for you.” He turned his back on Nathan and opened a cupboard.
Now! Nathan bolted, leaping the space between the table and the countertop, and raced for the window.
“Hey!” he heard Vince exclaim, but the window was right in front of him. He braced his feet on the edge of the half-filled sink and jumped.
An invisible force stopped him and threw him back into the kitchen.
Flyscreen! he thought despairingly as he tumbled into the cold, soapy water in the sink.
***
Me: Cue wet squirrel.
Kate: And that’s my sense of humour. 🙂
Me: Where can we find you if we want to know more than what we’ve read in this interview?
Kate: Well, I have a blog, which is updated on an irregular basis, at thebluntinstrument.wordpress.com. I’m also on Twitter, @Kate_Lowell, and on Facebook (somewhat neglected) at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008313548018
Me: Thanks for the thoughtful, in-depth interview, Kate!
And now, one wet squirrel, courtesy of a site called http://unclemacsgardenshed.blogspot.com/
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Loved the wet squirrel.
I loved the wet squirrel too! I remember when you were writing that, Kate. I also loved how you described the editing process in artistic terms of working with wood – that’s how I look at the editing process too! Except for me, it’s like an oil painting that’s almost finished. I’m working on the last 5%, the part that brings a painting to life. I’m putting on the final touches, making slight color changes, adding detail in some areas and taking away detail in others.
Thanks for a great interview!
Kate, your promo efforts for Bite Me Tender were what gave me the courage to contact bloggers when the Games Boys Play release was coming up! I wouldn’t say you made it look ~easy~, but you made it look doable. (And it was!)
I snorted coffee everywhere with the wet squirrel scene! LOL
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Oh, I have GOT to read about weresquirrels!
You must, Dee.
One of the really fun things about Kate’s shifters is that she’s actually considered some of the mechanics of shapeshifting. Like the way a science-fiction and fantasy writer would.
As opposed to the sometimes entertaining/sometimes frustrating handwavium used by many romance authors: ‘…And then a werewolf happened.’
I won’t give away Kate’s solutions to making a grown man into a diminutive squirrel (Can it, Nathan, you’re freakin’ tiny and you know it!), but it’s very clever.
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Squirrels are so cute and really agile. I love their fluffy tails and I’ve never seen one swim before. Thanks you for that.