I spotted a swell, an enormous wave fast approaching the
shore about 100 yards out. Determined not to be taken out by the wave I started
making my way out of the sea, helping my kids as well.
I nearly made it! But the wave caught me and took me out. I
felt like one of those plastic balls rattling around in the bingo basket. I landed
at the water’s edge like a beached whale; half drowned and eyes nipping from
the salt.
Glancing over my shoulder I saw another humongous wave
heading towards shore. Struggling up and trying to gain composure I took a
couple of steps towards the dry sand and stopped dead.
My swimsuit was weighted down by a ton of sand that had
sneakily washed into the lining and I looked like I had … well, I will leave
you to think about that! But that wasn’t the worst part. My swimsuit was not
where it should have been; not covering the right bits! Embarrassed and
reddening fast I sorted out the recalcitrant swimsuit and scurried under the
parasol.
No doubt you are asking yourself, what the heck is she going
on about …? Well, I will be buying myself a new swimsuit with super,
double-sided sticky straps and Velcro ties.
I laugh now, but I didn’t then. Everyone else did … hahahahahahaah....anyway, today's guest is well known Indie author Kim Scott and a big friend of the Wizard's Cauldron.
Here's her original interview for those that missed it...let's hear a big Wizardwatcher welcome for...
Here's her original interview for those that missed it...let's hear a big Wizardwatcher welcome for...
Indie's Kim Scott!!!!
Kim, welcome back! Can you update Wizardwatchers on what you have been doing since
September 2012?
It's fantastic to be back and thanks for inviting me. It's been hectic this year. After
the release of On Grace’s Shoulders,
book 3 in my Ruth Chernock Series, I moved on to complete the saga. In early November 2012 book 4, Pink Sky and
Mourning launched. While working on plans for a new book I worked with my Mother,
Georgia Jones to compile a family cookbook. We scrambled to have it ready to
distribute before the holidays. Presently I am working on a new book, What Happened to Alex Manning?. This
book should be out the end of May.Am I right in saying that Book 4 in
the Ruth Chernock series was going to be called ‘Fallen Acorns’ … why the title
change to ‘Pink Sky and Mourning’? I had only begun to write the book when I chose the title Fallen Acorns. It came from the old
quote “mighty oaks from little acorns grow.”
But the title did not feel right
from the beginning and as I wrote the book I just could not reconcile myself to
it. When I had finished writing it I talked with friends and family and pleaded
for suggestions.
Only days before the book was released I thought of the phrase
“pink sky in morning, sailors take warning” and equated it to that book. With a
little word play it became Pink Sky and
Mourning.
What is your fascination with 18th
century Maine?
The
18th century was an incredible transition period in New England. The
colonies were more settled, yet the wars with the local tribes persisted and a
society unique to this region was established.
 |
| Maine State |
Maine has a blended history that
traces primarily to Britain and France with a strong influence from the local Native
American tribes here. From the food and speech patterns to the architecture and
peculiar traditions, Maine is an exceptional place.
 |
| A Pequot Tribal Warrior |
Who is the first person you would
allow to read one of your completed novels? My sister-in-law was my first choice. I come from a
family of blunt speakers. We speak our minds and apologize if need be, when all
is done with. My sister-in-law has a quieter nature and I knew she would sugar
coat it a bit if the finished work was dreadful.
When she seemed to be
sincerely pleased with it, I felt more confident and shared with several
others. Before moving on to have it published I turned to my younger sister. I
knew she would be brutally honest. When she gave me a virtual thumbs up I was
incredibly relieved.
What keeps you motivated to write?
I have always needed creative outlets
to vent my energy into. Without them I am so restless it is absurd. I sew,
knit, do needlepoint, quilt, and write.
| When not writing, and in need of a relax, Kim often sits down and makes traditional knitted tablecloths (See Wiz's World of Tablecloths on Pinterest) |
At any given time I might have six or
eight projects in the works. But writing provides a creative outlet with an
escape. Mentally I travel to the locations in my books and listen to the
stories my characters tell. The feeling I get from that keeps me motivated and
continually draws me back again after each story is done.
Do you suffer writer's block? I have
been so fortunate I have never struggled with serious writers block. When I
start a new book I have to push harder for the first 35 pages and worry it
might not click. But after I pass that hurdle it begins to flow and quickly the
characters are shouting over each other to tell their tales.
Describe a typical day in the life of
author, Kim Scott.
My
days vary based on how my lungs are functioning. I have sarcoidosis of the
lungs and it can be extremely limiting. The weather, balance of my meds and a
thousand other factors determine how I feel physically. Writing allows me to
escape mentally when I can’t leave the house physically for days on end. Most
days I begin with iced mocha coffee made with espresso and a variety of
prescriptions.
 |
| Kim! For a refreshing change, try Chai tea - known to salve over a hundred human ailments. The Royals swear by it, and other teas. Available at a speciality tea shop near you - Ed |
If all goes well I am on the computer early. I check my FB page,
Twitter and other social media sites. I then move on to tackling emails. My
Outlook calendar is checked frequently for appointments and commitments.
Throughout the day I do housework, writing, reading and watching an occasional
old movie.
Classic old film - Citizen Kane: ideal armchair viewing for all
Everything is dependent on feel and what my body will allow. On
average I am out of the house only one to two days a week. Really it is not as
bad as it sounds.
What do you do to relax, to get away
from work and writing? I seldom get away from writing and marketing. To relax find a comfortable chair and read or watch movies. In general writing allows me to get
away so completely I don’t mind not being able to do it physically.
Kim, you have a new book coming out
soon, please tell us a little about it.
I am very excited about my next book,
‘What Happened to Alex Manning?’ and
I am looking forward to the reviews. This story has evolved so far beyond the
original tale now but I love it.
 |
| Alex Manning cover and Atlantic swell |
What was one of the most surprising
things you learned in creating ‘What Happened to Alex Manning?’ This book is written more from the
male point of view than the female as it had been in the Ruth Chernock Series.
I listened to my teen nephews talking and picked up a lot from them to use in
determining the point of view of Alex Manning. In the beginning I thought I
would dislike him immensely but I do love this character.Are the names of your characters in
your novels important? They are important to me. I factor in the time period, the surname and
likely country of origin before choosing a name. The time period used in my
books makes this information essential. I research common names of the period
and earlier generations too. Making the names fit the time and place is more
important to me than assigning any hidden meanings to them.
Do you work with an outline, or just
write?
I begin with
a six to eight page outline. I also work out a timeline of births, marriages,
deaths, etc., to minimize errors as the story progresses. The outline changes
as I work through it but the beginning and ending generally remain the same
straight through.
 |
| Popular modern pastime - treemaking |
What do your family and friends
think of your writing? My family and friends are incredibly supportive of my writing. Some have
expressed concerns about the dark threads that run through my books. I don’t
mind, that observation amuses me. It keeps my story unpredictable and
entertaining. I am careful to keep the intimate scenes PG-13 because my Mom,
Aunts and Niece all read my books. |
| Traditionally famous for crayfish, lobster, REM, old things, lions, lush green environments, giant trees, massive jacket potatoes, men in big hats, vultures, garden peas, Gingham, Stephen King and lighthouses, Maine has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons lately. Sumptuous Zumba instructor Alexis Wright is in a Kennebunk courthouse accused of running a brothel alongside her popular dance-yourself-slim activities. Kim's iconic creation Ruth Charnock would be most unamused! |
What’s on your desk?
My “desk” is an antique dining room
table with extensions on each end that snap up and lock to make it longer. It
provides plenty of space so it is reasonably organized. I use a laptop and an
ergonomically designed keyboard. The
table/desk is in front of two large windows. It is a good space for writing.
If you could spend a day as someone
else, who would it be and why?
Honestly I would like to be a man for just one day. I can
only imagine how much information I could pick up to use in future books from
that. The opportunity to think and react like a man for one day would be
priceless.
 |
| Al Bundy for a day!! |
Kim, you get a once in a lifetime
chance to join some members of your family for a trip to New Zealand. Whilst on
a guided tour to experience the diverse Maori culture you participate in the
traditional dance the haka. Unfortunately, you sustained an injury to your
ankle during the dance and had to rest for the duration of the tour. What 4
books and 2 CDs did you bring along with you on the trip?
The Alienist
by Caleb Carr
Cabinet of
Curiosities by Lincoln & Child – I would love to read both of these great
books again.
Cold
Vengeance by Lincoln & Child
Ghost Train
to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux
The
Traveling Wilburys Collection
The Grand
Tour – Aaron Neville
And finally,
where can fans of Kim Scott keep-up-to-date and find out more?
My FB author
page is always brimming with news. https://www.facebook.com/RegardingRuth
‘What Happened to Alex Manning?’ has an FB page all its own https://www.facebook.com/pages/What-Happened-to-Alex-Manning/416970635055640
My website also has the current info on all of my books and
where they can be found http://www.kimscottbooks.com/
Kim, it's been an absolute pleasure to have you on the show. Hopefully, we'll see you next year!
Ngaire, its been a pleasure and I'll be delighted to see you all again!
(Ed: And I'd like to thank Ngaire Elder for covering for me while on my holidays. She's been a massive help and I love her dearly for all she's done. Ngaire promises me that she will be back, as I know, from the contents of the Cauldron mailbag, that's what you want to see.
Ngaire, from the frozen wastes of Middle England, to the sun-dripped, bougainvillae scented orange groves of your seventeenth century hacienda in Cadiz, thank you. You will be missed.)
Kim, it's been an absolute pleasure to have you on the show. Hopefully, we'll see you next year!
Ngaire, its been a pleasure and I'll be delighted to see you all again!
(Ed: And I'd like to thank Ngaire Elder for covering for me while on my holidays. She's been a massive help and I love her dearly for all she's done. Ngaire promises me that she will be back, as I know, from the contents of the Cauldron mailbag, that's what you want to see. Ngaire, from the frozen wastes of Middle England, to the sun-dripped, bougainvillae scented orange groves of your seventeenth century hacienda in Cadiz, thank you. You will be missed.)
