Interview Kay Sisk

by

Jennifer Lynn

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a native Texan, born, raised, and currently living in a small town. I'm married to my college sweetheart, and we have two grown sons. I've always loved to read and creating my own stories has been very satisfying.

What made you start writing and what 'drive' keeps you going?

I started writing in the 4th grade and continued through high school. My "stories" were a bit on the paranormal side until Star Trek and the Beatles came along, then I think I did an early version of fanfic.

As to what keeps me going... What 's that old saying, a writer can't not write? If I wasn't physically committing words to paper (or screen), I'd be doing it in my head. My head's hard drive doesn't have nearly the capacity as my computer's!

Do you write from an outline, or do you simply sit down and "let 'er rip"?

Alas, I'm a seat-of-the-pants writer. If I outlined, then I'd already know the journey and what fun would it be for me as author? I take the trip first so my readers can follow.

Do you have any rituals to get into the mood to write? What gets those creative juices flowing best?

Rituals? No. I'm an afternoon writer, but I can edit and revise any time. Usually my best lines come to me as I'm going downstairs from closing out the program for the day. Then I can't wait to get back and write it down!

As a writer, I've always got two or three projects on the go, or at least ideas swirling around in my brain. Are you totally focused on one novel at a time, or do you have a little lateral slide from time to time?

I like to be totally focused on one, but that doesn't always work if I'm reading galleys or doing copy edits.

What kind of research do you do prior to starting a new novel?

It depends on the book. Mostly, I find research needs to be done as I go along and my seat-of-the-pants style needs more information as my characters get involved with something I didn't know they needed.

Where do your ideas come from?

I haven't a clue. They're just there.

Who is your favorite author and why?

Do I have to pick just one? Kathleen Gilles Seidel: her characters are so real and natural.

Pamela Morsi: especially in her incarnation as women's fiction author.

When you're creating a novel and fleshing out your characters, are they based on people you know, or completely fabricated?

Ninety per cent are fabricated. That's going to worry the other 10% who read this.

If you could give one tip to an aspiring author, what would it be?

Finish your first book and immediately start your second. If you try to polish the first one to perfection, you'll never reach it. And you'll only tell one story.

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me.