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| www.tikimaster.com |
Kim: Let’s start with New Jersey - what is your favorite sight, smell, and sound?
KT: Since I’m a native New Jerseyan, born and raised, nothing says New Jersey to me than the beach in the summer or in the fall when it’s just cool enough where you have to wear a sweater or a hoodie in order to go for a walk in the park and enjoy the changing of the leaves on the trees. New Jersey experiences all the four seasons and when I think of the East Coast, I think of New Jersey. I can’t think of anywhere else that has a metropolitan city less than 30 miles away, the shore less than 90 minutes away and acres of farmland and wooded areas in under an hour where you can go hiking or buy fresh produce.
KT: Since I’m a native New Jerseyan, born and raised, nothing says New Jersey to me than the beach in the summer or in the fall when it’s just cool enough where you have to wear a sweater or a hoodie in order to go for a walk in the park and enjoy the changing of the leaves on the trees. New Jersey experiences all the four seasons and when I think of the East Coast, I think of New Jersey. I can’t think of anywhere else that has a metropolitan city less than 30 miles away, the shore less than 90 minutes away and acres of farmland and wooded areas in under an hour where you can go hiking or buy fresh produce.
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| www.visitusa.com |
Kim: I came to know you as a blogger. And now I follow you as an author. How did you discover romance? How did you become a blogger and author?
KT: I first found about the romance genre when my mother handed me a copy of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind the summer of my thirteen birthday. I was then hooked for life and proceeded to read every Harlequin category romance my library had, including any books that had covers with a man and a woman embracing. Romance is the reason I picked up classic literature, including other genres. Books are as important to me as the air I breathe. Without them, I would be a shell of a person.
I became a blogger officially about four years ago. One of the main reasons was because of My Space where I would post blogs. People started to read them and recommended I start my own blog. After gaining the confidence by commenting on other blogs and websites, I started Babbling about Books, and More in October 2008 (at this link). Blogging helped me again gain the confidence to start writing fiction and a two years after I started blogging, I published my first book under the name, KT Grant, www.ktgrant.com.
Kim: Your review a wide variety of genres and write several, too. In fact, you describe your books as "out of the box" romances. How do you define "out of the box"? What inspires your books?
KT: I think of an “out of the box” read is a character or a story that’s not the normal or the stereotypical founded in books being published. I want to write characters that are different and walk to the beat of their own drum (much like me). It’s hard to say what inspires me to write a specific type of story. An idea pops in my head of a person and I create a story and let it evolve until I have to get it down on paper.
Kim: Tell us about your new book, LOVING XAVIER'S ARMS (oops, that must be my Freudian mistake as I am loving Xavier).
KT: Xavier’s Loving Arms is the third book in my Sweet & Sinful series, published by Decadent Publishing (at this link). These books all take place in a city on the East Coast and deals with body images. My first two heroines are woman are considered “curvy” or in some opinions, overweight. In Xavier’s Loving Arms, my heroine, Becca Price on the surface looks perfect. She has low self-esteem because she used to be overweight and turned to destructive mean to lose the weight such as binging and purging, as well as starving herself. When Xavier’s Loving Arms begins she’s in a bad place emotionally and mentally because she feels the whole world is falling apart around her and the only way to control her life is to fall back on those destructive influences and turn to people who helped her down this unstable path. She meets Xavier Marks, a handsome, kind and generous business man who has just gotten out of a bad breakup. When he meets Becca, he’s smitten and wants to make her smile and laugh. Poor Xavier has a lot cut out for him because Becca isn’t going to fall into his arms. Xavier may just be my favorite hero I’ve written so far. He’s dreamy ;)
KT: I first found about the romance genre when my mother handed me a copy of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind the summer of my thirteen birthday. I was then hooked for life and proceeded to read every Harlequin category romance my library had, including any books that had covers with a man and a woman embracing. Romance is the reason I picked up classic literature, including other genres. Books are as important to me as the air I breathe. Without them, I would be a shell of a person.
I became a blogger officially about four years ago. One of the main reasons was because of My Space where I would post blogs. People started to read them and recommended I start my own blog. After gaining the confidence by commenting on other blogs and websites, I started Babbling about Books, and More in October 2008 (at this link). Blogging helped me again gain the confidence to start writing fiction and a two years after I started blogging, I published my first book under the name, KT Grant, www.ktgrant.com.
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| Cat in box ... |
Kim: Your review a wide variety of genres and write several, too. In fact, you describe your books as "out of the box" romances. How do you define "out of the box"? What inspires your books?
KT: I think of an “out of the box” read is a character or a story that’s not the normal or the stereotypical founded in books being published. I want to write characters that are different and walk to the beat of their own drum (much like me). It’s hard to say what inspires me to write a specific type of story. An idea pops in my head of a person and I create a story and let it evolve until I have to get it down on paper.
Kim: Tell us about your new book, LOVING XAVIER'S ARMS (oops, that must be my Freudian mistake as I am loving Xavier).
KT: Xavier’s Loving Arms is the third book in my Sweet & Sinful series, published by Decadent Publishing (at this link). These books all take place in a city on the East Coast and deals with body images. My first two heroines are woman are considered “curvy” or in some opinions, overweight. In Xavier’s Loving Arms, my heroine, Becca Price on the surface looks perfect. She has low self-esteem because she used to be overweight and turned to destructive mean to lose the weight such as binging and purging, as well as starving herself. When Xavier’s Loving Arms begins she’s in a bad place emotionally and mentally because she feels the whole world is falling apart around her and the only way to control her life is to fall back on those destructive influences and turn to people who helped her down this unstable path. She meets Xavier Marks, a handsome, kind and generous business man who has just gotten out of a bad breakup. When he meets Becca, he’s smitten and wants to make her smile and laugh. Poor Xavier has a lot cut out for him because Becca isn’t going to fall into his arms. Xavier may just be my favorite hero I’ve written so far. He’s dreamy ;)
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| Diamond Head is dreamy .... |
Kim: What's next for KT Grant?
KT: My next release comes out on February 14, a Contemporary M/M romance from Decadent Romance called A Bid for Love that’s part of their popular 1 Night Stand series at this link. I also have a Lesbian twist on the Cinderella fairy tale coming in the early summer from Ravenous Romance and I’m working on a slew of other projects I hope to published this year and beyond!
Mahalo, KT, for returning to Hawaii! I am giving away a ecopy of XAVIER'S LOVING ARMS (in which you will be LOVING XAVIER'S ARMS) to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about "out of the box" romances - what would you like to see more of and less of in the romance genre?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, January 14, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 15.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
Check out my review of XAVIER'S LOVING ARMS on Goodreads at this link.
Sounds like a great book. I am not fond of time travel but would like to see more romance set in exotic or unusual locations.
ReplyDeletecongrats KT you are getting all sorts of great buzz for this book! keep up the great work
ReplyDeleteI love "out of the box" romances, to read and write. They draw me in with intense emotional connections to the characters and I'm left satisfied yet wanting more.
ReplyDeleteAll the best! :)
~Jessica
jessicasubject.writer at gmail dot come
Debby: I'm not a big fan of time travel romance, but one of my favorite's is Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. Jamie and Claire le swoon!
ReplyDeleteLiz: thanks for your kind words. I'm so excited people are enjoying Becca and Xavier's story.
Jessica: I'm always looking for me different "out of the box" read also.
This sounds really good. I love me some romances. I think if you look hard enough the different genres and sub genre's have so much already covered, I'm not sure what more I could want.
ReplyDeleteHi ya to a fellow Jersey girl! I was born and raised in the Garden State, too, but have escaped...um...moved to the southwest several years ago. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm with Mary ~ a lot has been covered already that it's not all that easy for me to pinpoint what to add or subtract from what's out there. I'm glad, though, that there's a wide variety to choose from.
I like how you say your books deal with body images. Sounds interesting. :)
C.
Great to meet an author new to me who is so enthusiastic! I'd like to see more of what KT has written - different characters and settings that reflect real life.
ReplyDeleteTina
A little spice to start the year off right! I think paranormal is oversaturated but some might say my favorite, Regency, is oversaturated. A good book is just that - a good book no matter what the genre!
ReplyDeleteSue
I agree that Xavier looks dreamy!
ReplyDeletePam
Mary: sometimes it can be hard trying to find that one special book to read, depending on the mood you're in.
ReplyDeleteC. Moss! Jersey! What exit on the GSP? lol. Thanks for the kind words.
Tina: The first 2 books, For the Love of Mollie and The Claiming of Suzy also deals with body image acceptance and the hot men who loved them for the way they are.
Sue: Aw thanks! And we all need a little spice in our lives ;)
Pam: Isn't he? Sigh...
I like out of the box, too. I think we are truly lucky to have all of the kinds of genres and sub genres we currently have and can't think of anything to add. Wishing you much success!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat exit? LOL! haven't heard that in ages. :)
ReplyDeleteGSP: 127 I believe to get to 287 or 15 for 18 depending upon traffic and mood & 10 for the turnpike ;), but I do remember 16W for the Meadowlands on the turnpike & 7A for Great Adventure. 95 into Philly and take a train into NYC. & hubby may still laugh at me for this but I still say avoid the Somerville Circle at all costs! :D
Karen: Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteC. Moss: Exit 151! Seems anyone who has lived in NJ knows the catch phrase all too well- what exit are you on the GSP. LOL
I'm also near Route 3, Route 4, 17 and 46.
Congrats on new book! Out of the box romances are good with me. I've really expanded my genre reading over the past year. It's been fun!
ReplyDeleteOut of the box romance is a great read for me. Someone else mentioned that with all the genre's and sub genre's I'll never run out of stories to read. I have to say I love Diana Gabaldon's Jamie and Claire, my first time travel read. I also love Allie Mackay/Sue Ellen Welfonder's time travel books. Actually anything involving a kilt wearing Scot is my favorite read. I too am from Jersey, born and raised,. I'm exit 10 going North.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your interview.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Linda: Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCarol: Jamie is my second favorite hero of all time. I heart him so much. Hurray for us Jersey girls :)
more overweight women :)
ReplyDeleteBlackroze: Word!
ReplyDelete