Author Spotlight: Kerri Williams

At the RWA blog, we’re always excited to interview a debut author, and today we have Kerri Williams with her debut novel, Taking Back His Widow.

Tell us about your call (or email) story.  How did you find out you were going to be published?

I remember after I had submitted it and was told it would be a five week turn around- which is amazingly fast in the publishing world- at first I was checking my emails with anticipation twice a day and then slowly once a day to every couple and so on until I put it to the back of my mind. Then one day within I think about three weeks I received an email; my heart raced and I yelled for hubby, crossed my fingers and opened it to find that EP wanted the whole ms.

Well that was huge, my first novel and it wasn’t a straight out knock back. Within the next couple of weeks I had decided not to get my hopes up and when the email came I took a huge breath and this time didn’t yell for hubby because frankly, I thought it would be a polite rejection- instead I was gladly offered a contract.

Lol, didn’t I yell for him then and literally jump out of my chair and bounce around the room. That night I was to face the next major decision- who to call first and share my news. Lol.

How long have you been writing?  Is TBHW your first manuscript?

I’ve been dabbling since I was sixteen after I met my husband. Taking Back His Widow was not my first attempt but was my first completed and fully edited ms.  I wrote Taking Back His Widow in 2008 during the 50k in 30day challenge affiliated with RWA (God Bless their cotton socks).

It’s amazing how much you can write under pressure.  We all say write, write, write and edit later- Taking Back His Widow is evidence that the concept works.

What inspired you to write this story?

I actually aimed Taking Back His Widow for HQN but it didn’t quite fit the ‘recipe’ As for the inspiration: it may come from watching a movie or reading a book but this one was inspired by the many HQN books I read while I lived in QLD in Tin Can Bay- a small fishing town on the coast. It was beautiful and we miss it so much.

When you write do you hear your characters, or do you visualise the scenes like a movie?

More like a movie, I can see it all- the scene, the characters. Hear them and watch their reactions and so on. It helps tell a good story.

Which authors and/or books have influenced your writing?

Ooh, that’s trick for me. I read all genres and have to be careful because I am very easily influenced and that is a rotten habit when you need to be consistent and want your story to flow with your one voice.

I was a HQN junky there for a while. I would read a thriller (Karin Slaughter or Patricia Cornwell) and then need to read a dozen romance novels. Now I read everything and love almost anything that contains a little romance. I’m a true sucker for romance.

What’s next for Kerri Williams, Author?

I dream of the day I can quit my day job in Target. I have just subbed a new ms to EP and am awaiting news (patiently checking my emails, lol) but thankfully I’ve been busy with the launch of this one. I’m also in the middle of a WIP which I love. It’s a romantic suspense.

But right now, I’m enjoying the ride of Taking Back His Widow.

The Blurb:

When Livinia Jacobs grudgingly ran from the love of her life with his child in her womb into the arms of another man, she never thought she’d see Dean Stone again.

Eleven years later, she finds herself widowed in a picturesque little coastal town of Queensland and her past has come back to haunt her.

Livinia was completely aware of her lack of control in Dean’s presence. Heck; that was half the attraction in the first place, but her secret kept her feet firmly on the ground and her heart guarded from the once youthful dream of a future with him.

Dean forgot the most important thing of all about Livinia, she was his addiction. Ten minutes with her and he was craving her touch again, wanting to hold her, to feel her soft naked skin against his, to kiss those supple, pink lips.  Hell, he wanted her period.

But can he forgive her and prove to her he’s no longer the scared boy he once was, but now the man she needed him to be- a man she could trust with her heart- no matter the sacrifice.

Where can we purchase Taking Back His Widow?

It will be available in digital format via www.eternalpress.biz.com , www.amazon.com ,  or my web www.kerri-williams.com ,itunes now have B&N on board for ibooks and there’s loads more for the first couple of weeks and then you can order the print via B&N, Borders, amazon- a further listing will be available on my web. The book is also available on Kindle. Keep an eye out on my website and blog for more information and giveaways.

Thank you for joining us on the RWA blog today, Kerri. We wish you all the best with your debut novel.

To find out more about Kerri, visit her website at www.kerri-williams.com or her blog  http://kerriwilliams-writerofromance.blogspot.com

Posted by Diane Curran on February 7, 2011

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