Tell us a bit about your writing – How long have you been
writing? How many books have you written and in what genres?
I’ve been writing for about eleven years now. I started
writing children’s books and then decided to try an adult novel. It turned out
to be a romance and the start of the greatest adventure ever. My love affair
with romance hasn’t ended yet. I began writing inspirational romance, then
tried a contemporary. Soon after that, I was published. How many books? I have
about fifteen to twenty books on my PC but only a handful have found success.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Even as a child, I dreamed of writing my own books. I showed
some talent at school but never pursued it. My dream began to resurface when we
were living in Zambia and I was bored.
Where is your favourite spot in which to write? Garden?
Study? Kitchen table? In bed?
I enjoy the study the most. I like a neat place and I prefer
my computer on a desk than on my lap. My best moments of writing though are in
the car on a Tuesday waiting for my daughter to finish Cubs as I don’t have any
person or the internet to distract me.
How long does it take you to write the first rough draft of
one of your books?
It depends. Most times it takes about four to six months. I
have written a rough draft in a month for Nanowrimo but that was very rough.
Do you prefer to write with pen and paper or straight to the
computer?
I touch type much faster than I could ever write so prefer
the computer.
Do you plan a plot out in great detail before writing or
start with the basics and let the book evolve that way?
I plan the basics of my plot in my head – sometimes
including quite a bit of detail and then I write. When I take a break and do
other things, the next step in the plot becomes clear.
Do you ever get part way through writing a book and find the
characters are leading the story off in a different direction to how you had
envisaged?
Oh yes, many times! That’s why I never plan a book too
rigidly because something always changes. Mostly though, the ending works out
how I planned.
Who is your favourite character from all the books you have
written and why?
Winston Harper from Three Tiers for Win is still my
favourite. I love a tough yet wounded hero.
Is there such a thing as an average writing day for you and
if so what is it?
Lol, I’m very sporadic. Because writing isn’t my day job, I
try to fit it into any free time I have. Some days, I just work on promo and
other days, I write like crazy. I write in spurts. One day, when writing
becomes my day job – well, I would really like that, then I could say I write
maybe 4k a day.
How do you create the characters in your books?
I normally start off from what they do for a living – what
they’re passionate about and then work from there. To me, that often shows the
essence of who they are and creates a background for the story.
What is your favourite book of all time?
I honestly do not have a favourite. There are too many good
books out there.
What is your favourite film of all time?
Notting Hill.
What was your journey to being a published author?
I started writing romance in 2007. I self-published my first
novel in 2009 – not a good idea. I wasn’t ready to be out there and the sales
were absolutely dismal. Since then, I’ve written so many books but many of them
were just learning curves. My first ever contemporary novel was taken under
Stephanie Taylor’s wing – the owner of Astraea Press. She worked with me to get
it into shape. It actually never materialised and I can see why when I go back
and read it. Armed with all she’d taught me and what I’d learned from my fellow
writers of the Romance Writers of South Africa group (ROSA), I wrote “Wedding
Gown Girl.” It was published in September 2012 and to be honest, I’ve been
quite overwhelmed by my life since then – I actually now have three other books
out with Astraea Press and another out with Decadent Publishing.
Biggest myth about being a novelist?
That it’s easy. That you make lots of money as soon as you
get published.
Advice to aspiring novelists?
Don’t give up on your dream. Keep writing, learning and get
some critiques from seasoned writers. Take criticism from them because it will
propel you into your future.
Three Tiers for Win
Three Tiers
for Win is a story of adventure, romance, and family passion that unfolds with
the backdrop of the 2012 London Olympics. Elaine said she would never date an
athlete as they’re too driven. That’s until she meets kind, yet intensely
focused and ambitious South African Olympic swimmer, Winston Harper. He stands
for everything she’d chosen not to go for. Win also has a bad family history
which keeps him from opening his heart to her. When intense attraction and affection
breaks through some of their barriers, family secrets and conflicts pull them
apart again. Only Elaine’s support and Win’s brokenness can draw them back
together, but will that be strong enough to wipe away the past?
Excerpt:
Her hands
shook as she spooned the mixture back into the food processor and he came
closer to peer into the bowl. Electricity seemed to ooze out of his pores
instead of sweat. She had a strong desire to rub the raised hairs on her arms.
“What are you
doing?” he asked.
“I’ll mix the
baking powder into a paste and add it in.” Wish he would go away so I can do
this in peace.
“Good idea.”
“Aren’t the
guys missing you?” she asked.
“Trying to
get rid of me?”
Her cheeks
throbbed, and she steadied the dish she was holding with all the willpower left
inside of her.
“I’ll only go
if you let me make myself some coffee. The other guys are drinking sports and
fruit drinks. I feel like coffee.”
She laughed.
“Are you eating right for your training?”
“Not really.”
“Okay.” She
couldn’t help smiling. This guy was becoming more and more appealing with each
minute.
“Ooh, there’s
biltong.”
“It’s Mick’s.
But I have some chocolate if you’re in the mood for being naughty.” Why did she
say that? Now her face must be as red as a tomato because of the thoughts
running through her head.
“Do you think
he’ll mind if I grab some?”
She
considered offering to buy Mick some more. The poor guy was starved. “What
exactly did my brother buy for you all tonight?”
“Chicken
salad.” The face he pulled forced a strange squeaky giggle out of her. She
would have given her usual trill laugh if she didn’t feel so embarrassed and
overwhelmed with strange feelings for the guy.
“I wish I had
something else to offer you.”
“Come out to
dinner with me. Then I can order a man-sized steak.”
Flustered was
not a strong enough word for Elaine at that moment. She could swear the
temperature in the kitchen was as hot as the oven and that the room was about
to explode. “I have to bake a cake.”
“That can
wait, can’t it? Tomorrow’s another day. If you want, I’ll help you with it.”
The guy was
probably aiming to get into the Olympics team. They had two months left before
the trials. He couldn’t be serious about giving up a training day to help some
silly girl bake a wedding cake? That idea didn’t match the solid,
oozing-with-masculinity man with piercing steel blue eyes, standing a mere two
feet from her. She must be dreaming. Maybe she’d fallen asleep next to Peggy on
the sofa, and she would wake up to find this all a crazy dream.
“I think a
cup of coffee will have to do then.” He turned around and pushed the kettle
button on. She hadn’t said ‘no,’ and now he was giving up. Her heart plummeted
to zero in two seconds. She’d just missed the opportunity of her life to go on
a date with the hunkiest piece of male on the planet.
What was she
thinking? Of course it wasn’t a good idea. She wasn’t setting herself up for
disappointment going with someone smooth and driven like him who would hurt her
as soon as the athletic or model type woman came along.
Author Bio
Kathy loves
reading and writing even more. She homeschools her three children, one a
teenager, so in between unsuccessfully explaining the difference between
subject and predicate or how to divide fractions, she enters an imaginary world
of troubled and passionate characters whose stories take over the page. Kathy
lives in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, where the summers are hot, the winters
cool, and bugs thrive. Her first published novel, Wedding Gown Girl, came out
in 2012 with Astraea Press. She belongs to the Romance Writers of South Africa
Group (ROSA) which has been her greatest support and inspiration the last few
years.
Buy Links
Barnes and
Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/three-tiers-for-win-kathy-bosman/1116975780?ean=2940148432197
Connect with Kathy Bosman online:
Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/KathleenBosman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathleenLBosman
Thank you, Zanna, for having me on your blog today!
ReplyDeleteLovely interview, ladies! I loved Notting Hill too. Congratulations on your release - the premise is fascinating!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Patricia!
ReplyDelete