RebeccaWow!! Its that time again! I have another author interview for you! Kimberly Rose Johnson has graciously given us this interview! I hope that y’all enjoy it! Immediately under the interview, I will post an excerpt from her book, “Island Refuge.” I hope that you enjoy the read!
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Rebecca Hill: Hi Kimberly, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Kimberly Rose Johnson: It’s my pleasure. Thank you for your interest in Island Refuge.
I recently became an empty nester and am adjusting to life without my boys around. When my boys were little I wanted to stay home with them, so I started teaching piano lessons. When they started elementary I realized that was not enough to keep me busy, so I started tinkering around with writing in addition to being a mom and teaching piano. I became serious about pursuing publication in 2006, and began to actively study the craft of writing. In 2012 I signed my first contract with Love Inspired Heartsong Presents for a three book series that later turned into a four book series.
When the line I wrote for closed, Miralee Ferrell of Mountain Brook Ink approached me about submitting my Wildflower B&B Romance series to her small publishing house, and the rest is history.
Hill: What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Johnson: I want to write books that inspire and entertain.
Hill: Which writers inspire you?
Johnson: Debbie Macomber and Margaret are my two big ones. They are both prolific and have achieved great success in the industry. Plus I love their books.
Hill: So, what have you written?
(*Include books, novellas, short stories, poems, blogs, awards or anything of interest.)
Johnson: The Christmas Promise, A Romance Rekindled, A Holiday Proposal, A Match for Meghan, A Valentine for Kayla, Love in Mistletoe Springs, Island Refuge, Island Dreams, and Island Christmas. I am a part of a group blog at inspyromance.com and have a blog connected to my website at Kimberlyrjohnson.com
Hill: What are you working on at the minute?
Johnson: I am currently writing Island Hope the fourth book in my Wildflower B&B Romance series, as well as promoting Island Christmas, the third book in this series.
Hill: What’s Island Christmas about? (*if relevant)
Johnson: In Island Christmas, Rachel, a strong secondary character from Island Refuge returns to Wildflower Island. I don’t want to give anything away for those who have yet to read the first two books in the series. Each book builds on the previous one and the series is best read in order.
Hill: What genre are your books?
Johnson: My books fit into two genres. Women’s inspirational fiction and inspirational contemporary romance.
Hill: What draws you to these genres?
Johnson: I love to read inspirational romance, so it comes naturally for me to write.
Hill: Do you write full-time or part-time?
Johnson: LOL both. I also have a “real” part time job, but when I’m not there, I’m writing. I easily put in a forty-hour week with all the things I do that are related to writing, on top of my other job.
Hill: Where do the ideas come from?
Johnson: I’m a naturally creative person. My mind is constantly wandering. I see or hear something and my mind takes off with it. For example several years ago I was doing research for another series in Leavenworth, WA. I received a tour of a bed and breakfast there that got my mind chewing on an idea. I had taken the train to Leavenworth and part of that route runs along the Puget Sound, which reminded me of the many islands. The two thoughts entwined and a new story idea was born. I chewed on it for a few months, then put aside my contracted work and wrote Island Refuge. I felt compelled to write it and had to get it out of my head. LOL
Hill: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
Johnson: It depends. When I wrote for Heartsong Presents, I had to submit a chapter-by-chapter outline. At first it was overwhelming to have to come up with that since I consider myself to be a seat of the pants writer, but once I got used to it, I really liked it. Now that I’m not required to do that, I have returned to my seat of the pants ways. I have a general concept. I write out a synopsis and go from there.
Hill: What is the hardest thing about writing?
Johnson: For me it’s writing conflict into my stories. I hate conflict in real life, so it’s tough for me to make my characters experience it.
Hill: What is the easiest thing about writing?
Johnson: Coming up with ideas. I have so many ideas waiting for me to write. It’s frustrating sometimes that I don’t have time to get to all of them. I have three books that have I started and had to set aside. Once I’m finished with my Wildflower B&B Romance series I will be jumping back into a project that I’ve been trying to finish for several years.
Hill: How can readers discover more about you and you work?
Johnson: Website: http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/
Blog: http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyRoseJohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimberlyrosejoh
LinkedIn:
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krose1990/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Rose-Johnson/e/B00K10CR6E/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1435862403&sr=1-2-ent
Smashwords:
Book Links: (* American, UK, etc.) http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Kimberly+Rose+Johnson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7082210.Kimberly_Rose_Johnson
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From his place at the reception desk, Nick looked out the window beside the front door and breathed a little easier. Zoe was home! The day hadn’t been a disaster, but it could have gone more smoothly. The front door swung open, and he smiled. “Welcome back. How was your day?”
“Interesting. Yours?”
“The same.” He stood and walked around the reception desk.
She glanced from side to side, obviously trying to see if Olivia had destroyed the house. She had more than made her opinion clear about her lack of faith in the new girl, and unfortunately Zoe had been at least partially correct. Olivia did not know her way around a kitchen.
“But I’m glad you’re back.”
A smug smile rested on her face, and a gleam lit her eyes.
This was a side of Zoe he hadn’t witnessed. “The couple staying in your room checked out early, and I forgot to have Olivia clean it.”
Zoe shrugged. “I’ll take care of it. Why’d they leave after making such a fuss about staying until Monday?”
“Some work emergency.” He stepped past her and ambled into the kitchen.
Zoe followed and caught her breath. “What happened in here?”
“Olivia tried to make scones. I sent her home and told her I’d clean up. Kind of reminds me of your first morning here.”
Zoe crossed her arms. “That was an accident. This is—”
“A disaster zone. I’m still not sure how egg got on the ceiling.”
“Looks like she used an electric mixer instead of stirring by hand.” She turned to him with a sweet smile. “I’m glad you’re cleaning this and not me.”
“I’ll get right on that, but first I need to make sure everything in your room is intact. You can’t be too careful.” Nick slid the key into the lock and pushed her bedroom door open. He walked around the room. “Looks like everything is here.”
“I should hope so. I can’t imagine people running off with your stuff. Then again, things disappeared from the restaurant all the time.”
“Exactly. When you’re free, would you mind making up a checklist for Olivia? She’s insecure, and I think a list would help her.”
“Sure.” She strode to the bed and yanked the covers back. In the process, a decorative pillow flew up and smacked Nick in the side of the head, making him jump. She giggled. “Oops.”
He waggled his brows, grabbed the pillow from the floor, and tossed it at her hitting her on the back. “Oops.”
Her eyes widened, and her lips tipped up. She gripped a bed pillow in her hands. “You asked for it.”
He ran around to the other side of the bed and snatched up the other pillow. “I’m armed and dangerous.” He chuckled, unable to hide his pleasure in their game. Zoe looked ready to pounce.
She darted around the bed and swung the pillow, hitting his shoulder.
“Is that the best you can do?” He wiggled his fingers, egging her on.
“Nope.” She belted his head, laughing.
He whipped a pillow to the side and swung, hitting her across the back as she bolted to the foot of the bed. “You can dish it out, but you can’t take it, huh?” He knew the woman was feisty, but she had a competitive streak too.
“Bring it on.” Zoe flashed white teeth.
A frenzy ensued that ended in fits of laughter and Zoe waving the white pillow case. “I surrender. I’m sorry I started it, even if it was accidental.”
He caught his breath and stopped mid-swing, struck by how beautiful she was when she smiled. Her entire face glowed. Granted the pillow fight had turned her cheeks pink, but it was more than that. She was gorgeous. He stepped closer and tucked a loose hair behind her ear, stopping himself barely in time from cradling her cheek in the palm of his hand.
Zoe’s questioning eyes searched his, her strawberry red lips parted.
He couldn’t take his eyes from her mouth. It begged to be kissed. He titled his head and inched toward her.
Stop!
He sobered and straightened. He ran his hand over his face. What was he thinking?
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