Author Interviews

Author's Interview

Kim, let's start with you telling us a little bit about yourself.

Hi everyone, I’m twenty-seven years old and a full time writer from Wales (UK). I was first published in December 2008, since then I’ve written over 30 BDSM erotic romances for Total-E-Bound and Resplendence Publishing.

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

Most people might be surprised to learn that I’m dyslexic – but that’s only because I’ve been lucky enough to work with a fantastic editor (Hi Editor Chris!) as well as a couple of great proof readers (Hi Jason)!

When did you start writing, is it something you've always been interested in, or did it develop later in life?

I’ve always enjoyed making up stories and had written bits and pieces, but I first started writing more seriously in 2006, when I was 23. I began to write every day and to actually finish the stories I started! It was supposed to be a hobby that might help keep me sane when I was ill (I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME). I never imagined I’d be published or be able to make a living at it. It’s crazy to think, but if I hadn’t been ill, I might not be doing something I love doing for a living. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Has it been everything you thought it would be or not?

It’s been everything I thought, and so much more. I love writing, and I expected to enjoy spending my days that way. I hadn’t guess that I’d meet so many wonderful people through my writing. My editor is a truly amazing woman. I wouldn’t have enjoyed the last couple of years half as much without her. I’ve also met some really fantastic readers, reviews and bloggers (Hi everyone!).

How did it feel when you realized that your very first book was going to be published?

I remember reading the e-mail several times, and not quite believing what it said. I’d only just started to submit work to publishers and I expected to be rejected dozens of times before finally being accepted. When the reality finally sunk in, my hands were shaking so badly I couldn’t click the scroll button on the mouse to read the e-mail to anyone else.

What's your favorite part of writing a book?

I love that first moment when a character unexpectedly jumps into my head and takes up residence there. Watching their story grow and develop as they fall in love with their perfect partner is so much fun—it hardly ever turns out the way I expect but being surprised by my characters has come to be part of the fun.

Out of your books so far, do you have a personal favorite?

I do have a soft spot for Turquoise and Leather, since that was the first book accepted, and because Eric makes me smile every time I think of him. Duck! also has a special place in my heart, since it’s my first full length novel and I really love the world that developed as I was writing it. I’m hoping to write a few more books in the same universe now.

Do you get time to read for pleasure? If so, which books do you enjoy?

Before I was published, I read all the time. Since then, writing seems to have taken over and I hardly ever dive into a book. When I do get the chance, I love to read Terry Pratchett for fantasy/comedy. Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen are my favourites for old fashioned, sweet romances. I also really like Kipling or Sophie Hannah for poetry.

Are there any other genres you'd be interested in writing?

Anything and everything! I particularly hope to dabble in fantasy, as well as mysteries and sweeter romances in the future. That said, whenever I approach a story, whatever else happens, there’s also at least one guy who starts to look at one of the other men and wonder how much fun they could have with a pair of handcuffs. So the books I tackle in other genres might not be that different from those I’m writing now!

Please tell us a little about your current release.

The Strength of a Gamma will be out with Total-E-Bound on November 8th. It’s the second book in my Pack Discipline series, following on from The Mark of an Alpha. (Both books will soon also be available, in print, combined into a paperback volume.)

Here’s the blurb: Gamma wolf Steffan may have been in love with his best friend for years, but he knows that’s not enough. Francis deserves a more dominant mate, and Steffan intends to make sure he gets one. Steffan has been best friends with Francis ever since the younger wolf joined the pack after his own parents died. He’s been in love with him for just as long. But when a new beta joins their pack, he knows it’s time to step aside and let Francis form a bond with a more dominant wolf. Francis has no idea why Steffan’s been acting so strangely since the new wolves joined their pack. When he discovers the truth, he starts to question things he’d never thought to doubt before. What if he has no interest in a dominant mate? What if he could find the perfect partner far closer to home? Everything is about to change for Francis and Steffan. The only question is: are the gammas strong enough to cope?

What can we look forward in the future from you?

Next month will see Mistletoe and Submission being released by Total-e-bound on December 6th. It’s a kinky, M/M Christmas novel.

Here’s the blurb: “Stand under the mistletoe until midnight, naked, bound and blindfolded. Submit to any dominant who wants a piece of you.” At the junior doms' regular poker night, anything can, and frequently does, happen. Add in crackers that contain dares instead of jokes and two men’s lives might never be the same again. When Carl applied to join the best leather club in the city, he had no doubt about his preference for dominance. It was only when he set eyes on Sloan that he began to wonder if submission might be far more fun than he originally thought. With no time for club politics and little interest in rising through the ranks, ever since experienced dom Sloan moved to the city and joined the club, he’s been quite content to bide his time among the junior dominants and keep a brotherly eye on a young man who is obviously out of his depth amongst his more sadistic contemporaries. One man has to do the dare. The only question now, is which man will it be, and are either of the friends ready for the way their relationship might change after a night of Mistletoe and Submission?

Cameron’s Pride will also be released on December 8th, this time by Resplendence Publishing. It’s the fourth and last book in my Thrown to Lions series.

And here’s the blurb: Franklin doesn’t know anything about the beautiful younger dancer he spotted in his favourite club, except that he’s a lion. When the dancer disappears before he can even speak to him, he doesn’t hesitate to pay a fortune in order to be thrown to the only pride of werelions in the area. Cameron’s been living without a pride for years, doing whatever it takes to survive. Dancing in clubs, and doing whatever the men who throw money at him want, hasn’t given him the best opinion of any kind of human man. All he knows for sure is that the rich ones are the worse. The pride are determined to track down the stranger that’s wandered into their territory and bring him safely under their care, but is it too late for Cameron to find a sense of pride—and if he does, will he be too proud to let a wealthy man like Franklin into his life?

Anything you want to say to your readers?

Thank you! It always means a lot to me to find out that someone has enjoyed any of my books, so I’d like to give a huge thank you to everyone who has bought/read/reviewed any of the books over the last two years. If anyone wants to get in touch with me, I can be e-mailed via kim@kimdare.com. You can also keep up to date with what’s going on in my world by checking out my website: www.kimdare.com or my blog: www.kimdare.blogspot.com If you like competitions, I also run regular giveaways through Chaos Chris’ blog (Hi Chaos Chris!) www.stumblingoverchaos.com

Thanks for this interview, Kim!

Thank you for inviting me—and to Serena Yates for all the reviews she’s given my books here!

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