Interview With Carey Krieger

by Judith Miller

1. For our readers, in what genre do you write? Where do you live? Tell us about yourself.

My most recent works have been sweet romances, however I started out writing historicals. I just love them. I live outside of St. Louis, Missouri with my husband of eight years and our two daughters.

2. How long have you been writing? Did you start as a child, or come to it later in life? 

I've been writing since 1996, when I took a How to Write Romance class form a local author. I didn't write when I was a child, in fact I didn't start reading romances until I was in college and working in a public library. Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux was always on reserve and was never on the shelf. I wondered what the fuss was about and finally got to take it home. I was instantly hooked on romance.

3. I am a junkie for writing programs that help with plotting, characterization. Have you tried any of these?

I've never tried a program for plotting but they sound like they would be helpful.

4. Have you taken writing classes or belong to a critique group, and were these things helpful to you?

I've taken several writing classes, in fact that is where I met my critique group. My critique group is wonderful and supportive. I would've stopped writing a long time ago if it weren't for them.

5. I am sure you read a lot. Are there any authors that have had a major influence on your writing?

I would say the Julie Garwood, Jude Deveraux and Catherine Coulter inspired me to write historicals.

6. Do you have a story plotted out in detail before you begin to write, or do you let characters and things that happen to them build the story for you?

I have done stories both ways and prefer letting the story unfold as I write. I like to write with a general plot of the story and nail down details as I go. My critique group is very important in this step.

7. What is your special place for writing--an office--the living room--a local coffee shop?

I used to have an office in our spare bedroom but when our second daughter was born in September 2002, my computer got moved into the kitchen. Now that I have two children, writing has been put off for while.

8. When do you feel the your best ideas come to you?

I don't' really have a special time when ideas come to me. They can either come through a character that I'd like to write about or from a place that I'd like to go.

9. What do you plan to do to further your career as a writer?

I'm really bad at marketing ideas and am a very introverted person. Furthering my career as a writing is going to be difficult.

10. Words pour from some people like water from a spring, others pull them out painfully like teeth. How is it for you?

Sometimes words come easily and sometimes it seems impossible to get through a scene. I find that when the scene is difficult, my critique group can come up with some ideas to help. Or sometimes it's good to let the work sit for a while and then go back to it.

11. Do you have another book sitting in the wings, wanting to be written?

I would love to go back to my unfinished historical but when I look at it I think it would be better to just start over from scratch. Someday I'll finish it. Other that that, I have no current works in progress.