Today, Kristine Kibbee is with us. Last week, she released her newest book “Whole in the Clouds.” Let’s get some insight into her creative process.

1. Tell us about yourself. May include links to Facebook, twitter, blogs, websites, Amazon author page)

I’m a Pacific Northwest native with a love of language, nature and animals. My passion for creative writing began in my early youth and led me to the doors of Washington State University, where I wrote for the Vancougar while earning a degree in Humanities, with a focus in Professional Writing. I’ve has since had works published in S/tick Literary Review and The Salal Review Literary Review and I’m a featured columnist for the nationally syndicated magazine, Just Frenchies.
My novella The Mischievous Misadventures of Dewey the Daring is available on Amazon.com and I anticipate following the release of my fantasy novel Whole in the Clouds with the comedic collection of dog stories, Frenchie ‘Tails’—which are short, cheeky and ripe with mischief!
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Kristine%20Kibbee&search-alias=books&sort=relevancerank
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wholeintheclouds
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7797928.Kristine_Kibbee?from_search=true
Twitter: @K_Kibbee

2. How do you choose names for your characters?

Truth told, I think the characters themselves choose! I’ll feel them out for a bit . . . let them find their feet and then before I know it –poof! A name reveals itself!

3. Do you talk about your book/characters as though they are real?

(Head bowed) I do! But now I’m feeling a bit less crazy about it since you wouldn’t have asked if it was a rarity among writers!

4. Do you listen to music when you write or edit? What kind?

Eeek–never! Music is far too distracting. I literally must have complete and total silence while I write or edit. Noise is maddening!

5. How long have you been writing?

At what point can a child hold a writing utensil? Perhaps three? If so, then put me down for three.

6. Tell us about when you realized you were ‘meant to be’ a writer.

My memory is shoddy at best so I’m sure I can’t recall the exact instant. It’s just always been in my blood. From a very young age I gravitated towards writing. While my friends were playing with Barbies I was clipping photos from magazines and making up stories about the people in the pictures. I’ve always loved the fantastic, the embellished, the enchanting and I’ve always wanted to share that with others.

7. Do you have a muse?

At times, yes. I would say that my wee dog has been a muse to me on the occasion that I’m writing comedic animal shorts.

8. How do you improve as a writer? (Workshops, conferences, reading)

As uncomfortable as it’s been to receive, critique (from other competent writers) is what typically helps me to improve as a writer. It’s a delicate dance, ensuring that the critique doesn’t overwhelm me and shut me down but just the right smidge of critique paired with a sprinkle of encouragement can go a long way.

9. Writing quirks or superstitions?

Hmm . . . like baseball players wearing the same hat every day until it becomes so yellowed from sweat and grime that it threatens to grow feet and leap from their head? Can’t say I have any such peculiarities. Don’t get me wrong . . . I have plenty of oddities . . . but none of the superstitious sort.

10. Tell us about your current work-in-progress.

I’m presently working on a couple of projects–a collection of comedic dog shorts and a YA fantasy series but since the dog shorts (‘Frenchie Tails’) have already been handed off to my editor, the focus has narrowed on my ‘Forests of the Fae’ series. The first book in the set, ‘Devlin’s Door,’ centers on an abandoned Victorian ghost town whose inhabitants mysteriously disappeared in the early 1920’s. So spooked by the legends surrounding the town, no one has ventured there in nearly a century and as I imagine the rows of crumbling relics, shrouded in curtains of ivy, it inspires me while I write about the brave young girl who ventures there and unearths a secret that no one could have imagined.

11. What book are you reading now?

My own! I’m a tireless editor and every time I pick ‘Devlin’s Door’ up I find myself trying to perfect it. Every paragraph, every sentence, every word has passed my eyes at least a dozen times!

12. What genre do you write in? What about PoV?

I typically write fantasy but dabble in comedy as well. Typically I write from a first person omn

iscient viewpoint.

13. Tell us about writing preparation. Character Profiles? Outlines?

I’ve tried the gamut when it comes to writing approaches–free-ballin’ it, pre-outlining every detail down to each character’s clothing and sleeping preferences, and just a rough outline. I’ve found the latter works best for me. Working off of a fluid, rough outline allows the story to remain malleable yet gives it a sense of direction and purpose so that I know how to get my characters from A to B.

14. Do you know how your stories will end?

Typically, yes. I find it’s easier to input the clues and weave a more intricate and tight story when you know its ultimate destination. Of course in honoring the story as the living, breathing entity that it is, it helps to be flexible with that ending and let it arrive in the fashion that it likes.

15. Do you books have a message or theme? Or are they purely for entertainment?

It depends upon the book! I feel as if my first (hard-bound) published work, ‘Whole in the Clouds’ does attempt to parlay some meaningful messages about conservation, friendship, inner-beauty and the like but I’ve written plenty a piece just for the kicks!

16. Do you have any favorite snacks or drinks that you eat/drink while writing?

I refrain! As engrossed as I become in my writing, I’d eat the entire contents of my pantry if I were just mindlessly plunking along while feeding my face!

17. Tell us about your other passions.

I’m quite passionate about animals; animal rescue. I’ve been involved with rescuing death-row dogs at numerous points throughout not only my adulthood but my childhood as well. I believe that animals (and dogs in particular) can give us the type of unconditional devotion and love that even another human could never match. I’m also passionate about the environment and working to decrease our species’ carbon footprint. There is so much that is precious in this world that we are losing on a daily basis as our population continues to dominate the planet.

18. What’s something interesting about you?

In general I think I’m a fairly unique person. But as far as a quick, interesting one-liner type tidbit goes–I’ve never in my life consumed a drop of alcohol!

19. Share a small sample (limit to one paragraph, please) of your writing… can be a WIP or already published.

From the pages of ‘Devlin’s Door’:
“They moved as a unit, clustered in packs of twos and threes. Anne watched amazement bloom on several faces as they gaped at the Victorian relics that passed on either side while they walked. Heavy clouds had settled over the valley and the homes seemed to materialize out of the mist like ghost ships, their mast chimneys cutting through the grey.”

20. Anything you’d like to say to your current and future readers?

Only that I hope to enchant and delight them with every word!

Awesome, Kristine!! We’re glad you featured with us.
E&M