Hello,
In response to inquiries from students, friends and fellow writers, I’ve selected several of the most common questions to answer. Please use the contact page on this site or my email (ksymmons@comcast.net) to ask about my writing, teaching, or activities (conferences, presentations, appearances).
I love to hear from you and promise to respond in a timely manner,
Thanks,
Kevin
Thanks for the great questions. We will continue to update and add to this portion of the site on a regular basis.
Question: I read you like to do a lot of face to face events… how is the continuing Covid crisis affecting that?
Answer: First, you’re correct. I enjoy talking to readers and potential readers about both my writing and what I call the writers journey—the path from rough draft to finding a traditional publisher. So, it’s been difficult during the pandemic so we’ve (the two people who do my social media and my publicist) done our best to adjust our efforts into more and better posting on Facebook, Instagram and to some extent Twitter (though I’m not a fan). But since summer’s end I have been getting back into doing live events at a variety of venues and it’s been great!
Question: I can see looking at your site and posts that you’ve written and published five novels but only two are related. Isn’t the thing in commercial fiction to do trilogies or book series
Question— I saw someone asked you earlier; you don’t write series. You answered that you write stand alone works but I see that you now written a sequel or follow-up to the 2013 Out of the Storm. Any special reason why now?
A—Yes, Out of the Storm was the best-selling novel of my entire writing career. Though interestingly it was not my favorite I was a #1 Amazon best-seller several times when it was an Amazon Encore selection, so I decided to try it. And though reviews are slow in coming the few readers and professional reviews liked it very much. Glad I made that decision!
Question - Earlier in your career you wrote a novel every year for four years… 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. You didn’t publish another till 2020. What happened. Did you get writer’s block or have serious issues?
A—Hmmm… serious issues? Kind of personal but no, ha ha, nothing like that. And if you read some of the earlier questions, you’ll see that I do not believe in writer’s block. The modest success of the first four novels meant doing a lot to promote them which consumed far more time than I’d expected. Especially the social media stuff. I also did have a very serious back operation which kept me seriously laid up for several months and a knee replacement which did the same. But quite honestly, I worked on several projects—La Rochelle, Pilgrimage, a sequel to Rite of Passage, and something called Chelsea which I spent months playing with. I finally gave up and wrote a novel that was near and dear to my heart and was set on Cape Cod again!
Question—How has the pandemic effected your writing?
A—Well, the most obvious thing is it has made having live events—at libraries, bookstores, or meeting with groups impossible. My last live event was in September 2019. And I miss them very much. No… I stan corrected. We were able to have a very small book launch with several friends, my publisher, and even my old pastor, in September. That was great! The energy and interest readers give an author helps to drive him or her. I know for me it does. So now we must add a few new tools like Zoom, virtual presentations, Facetime, etc. We’re learning but it takes time.
Question– What’s the best thing about being published?
A – Seeing the cover art for the first time. It was like watching a child being born. Each new one is a genuine adrenaline rush. Seeing the galleys (the final edited copy before it goes to press) of a new book is great, too.
Question- What’s the worst thing about being published?
A – Disciplining myself. I don’t sit down every morning and write for hours. Never have. 2) Patience! Traditional publishing is a lengthy process. It will take many months from signing to publication.
Question – Now that you’ve been doing this for a while what were your favorite experiences in talking to groups about your work.
Question -Your book, Out of the Storm has a lot of marine and nautical information in it. Do you have any experience with boats and sailing?
Answer: Yes, Rite of Passage came indirectly from my mother’s interest in the occult, Out of the Storm shows my dad’s influence. From the time I was an infant (yep… in a blanket in the cockpit) I have been around boats and the sea. I have been boating on Nantucket Sound since the late 80’s. As a teenager I had a boat before I had a car… and I’m ashamed to say my first speeding ticket was on the water! I have Coast Guard certifications in basic seamanship, piloting, and navigation.
Question – Many romance writers are female. How did you go from being a successful business executive to becoming a romance writer?
A – Great question. One I hear often. And you’re right — most romance novels are written by women (in the high 90s percentage wise). When my first book (one that never got published by the way) took a detour into intimacy I discovered I enjoyed evoking my reader’s emotion. It was fun and exciting—a real adrenaline rush. I was hooked and never looked back! But it has not been easy. If you doubt that check the news/events page or the monthly NEC RWA magazine for my humorous (but accurate) description of the reality of being a male romance author. And my recent works (Out of the Storm and Solo) are more mainstream than romances.
Question - I see from your website you’ve written several novels. Where do you get your ideas?
A – The most common of all “writer” question. I’m never at a loss for ideas — just the reverse: too many ideas, too little time. Our surroundings are replete with stories begging to be told. An author’s imagination is his/her stock and trade. If story ideas continually evade you, perhaps you’ve chosen the wrong profession.
Question - When you were being offered a contract for one of your novels how did you feel?
A – My editor told me she wanted to contract Rite of Passage (ROP). How did I feel: Like a kid who’d just been called up to the major leagues.
Question- Did you ever doubt that your work would sell?
A – I always believed a publisher would buy one of my novels. But I had some doubtful moments. Any author who denies that is really selling fiction. Remember, when it comes to selling your work, talent is important, tenacity and drive are essential.
Question – Have you ever had to re-work a novel to sell it?
A – Yes, The Wild Rose Press (TWRP) told me that my first, Rite of Passage, was not a true romance and could not contract ROP as written. They promised to give the revision a thorough read but offered no guarantees. I re-submitted it in early June and was offered my contract in late September. They now publish a wide range of fiction, including mysteries and thrillers (Out of the Storm), women’s fiction (Solo) and young/new adult (Chrysalis—my latest project).
Question - What helped you the most in achieving publication?
Question - If you had one piece of advice to fledgling authors, what would it be?
Question – Now that you’re published what’s the most rewarding thing?
Question– I see you on Facebook and Twitter. Do you enjoy them?
A – The constant attention authors must pay to social media is very time-consuming. I enjoy Facebook.. I’ve reconnected with some old friends and found many new ones and believe that both FB and Twitter have generated sales. How many? Who can say? I find the 140 character limit on Twitter limiting but it’s a learning experience.”