Let’s all give a huge welcome to Romance Author Karin Winter, who has graciously taken a seat on the virtual Killing It Write couch.
Karin, we’re thrilled to have this opportunity to get to know the person behind stories we’ve loved reading.
You came onto the scene with such intensity and depth with your Shattered duet, and you didn’t stop there. I love your characters, and the stories you’ve created for us to enjoy have given us continued hours of enjoyment. I know I’ll be reading these stories again and again, and I have no doubt others will as well.
So, let’s get started.
One of the first questions all book lovers want to ask a favored author is when it dawned on you that you wanted to be a writer.
It never did! I wasn't drawn to writing initially. I spent over twenty years working as a software engineer, and the turning point came with COVID.
Just before COVID hit, I was dissatisfied with my job at that time and decided to make a change, only to start a new job on the first day of lockdown. Talk about timing!
I needed to adapt to a new startup where I hadn't met anyone previously, all with my kids bouncing off the walls at home. Unfortunately, I was eventually let go, marking my first experience of being laid off in my 20-year career.
Given my children's need for assistance at home, I opted to stay home temporarily before seeking new employment. During this time, I reignited my passion for reading, especially romance novels, which had always been my favorite genre.
I began writing a story that had been brewing in my mind for a while, posting chapters daily on Wattpad, which I wrote on my phone. Convinced I wrote a masterpiece (spoiler: it wasn’t), I wanted to write more stories.
A contact introduced me to a fellow writer who recommended a writing and editing course. This decision enhanced my skills and changed my life forever, and I haven’t looked back!
My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.
I would never have guessed you were a software engineer, but I’m not surprised either. Your analytical mind is evident in the depth of your characters.
And today? What inspires you to keep writing?
Anything and everything. I draw inspiration from my surroundings—television, news, social media, and conversations with friends. Even encounters with strangers on the street. I make sure to jot down ideas whenever they come to me, and many of them have found their way into my books.
Well, speaking as one of your fans, those inspiring ideas have been plentiful and wonderful. I mean, you’ve published five novels in just one year, which is incredible if you ask me.
As a wife and mother of young children, I can’t imagine how you do it. How often do you find time to write, and do you have a set schedule?
When I started, it was just a hobby, so I wrote when I felt like it and when life gave me the time. But now that it’s my career, I write daily. I strive to meet my daily word count goals, although I have to admit, there are days when it simply isn’t feasible.
Writing is a muscle that needs to be trained. So yes, I have a schedule and daily tasks. I wish I could write all day, but something that most don’t know is that the actual writing takes only about twenty percent of an author’s time. Managing the business of being an author takes up the other eighty percent.
You know, I’ve never broken it down like that, but you’re absolutely right. People don’t understand that maintaining a writing career is a full-time business, and the author is the business owner. Whether we handle as many of the tasks as we can ourselves or hire others to handle as many of those tasks as we can, the author is still involved in every decision and that all takes a lot of time.
Speaking of all those decisions to be made, I put book covers right up in the top three as far as importance in the selling process, and I’m sure you’d agree.
I absolutely agree with the importance of a cover. While I wish it weren't the case, with over 30 million books on Amazon, standing out requires delivering a supreme quality product, including an eye-catching cover.
You know that old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover?" Well… said no one ever in the publishing industry.
That's for sure! You’ve given us so much insight into your writing life with all those tidbits that I feel a little guilty asking for more. However, I would love to know if an aspiring author asked you for one piece of advice, what would that be?
Oh, where do I start? Writing is like riding a bike—except the bike is on fire, and you’re burning up. But seriously, if you want to make it in this game, you've got to treat writing like a business. It's not all sipping lattes and pounding words. It's about marketing plans, networking, writing lessons, and praying to the literary gods that your book doesn't flop. But the satisfaction and thrill that comes with creating new characters and crafting a good story makes it all worth every minute.
Thank you so much for giving us those glimpses into your writing life. We love getting to know the authors we’ve come to love, and that brings me to one last question. Your fans are already looking for more from you. Can you tell us what you’re working on now?
Ah, the pressure! Well, I’ve got the final book in my latest sizzling series that just released today, and another series in the works.
The first one is The Valeur Billionaires Series, which is about a family of billionaires, blending suspense and humor. So, for those who haven’t yet started the series, get ready to meet four smoldering siblings and dive into all your favorite tropes, from enemies to lovers to billionaire boss to marriage of convenience.
And as for the second series... Well, let’s just say it’s hotter than hell and darker than my sense of humor. But you’ll have to wait and see.
Such a tease! Oh, I can’t wait. Thank you so much for spending this time with us, Karin.
For anyone who is behind, you’ll want to check out Karin’s website for all her books and news. Just go to KarinWinterAuthor.com
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