January Interview with Kimberly Kaye Terry

I’m so excited to have someone who’s writing I adore and who makes me laugh on a regular as my guest this month on the blog. Kimberly Kaye Terry is taking the erotic romance world by storm with her off the chart HOT novels and novellas. Everything I’ve read by her so far has had me fanning my self and breaking my neck to turn the pages. Welcome to Gwyneth’s blog, Kimberly and thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to do an interview. My first question is the question I ask everyone. You’re a mom, a wife and a prolific author. How do you maintain balance and continue to be so productive?

KKT: Thank you so much, Gwyn, and thank you for inviting me to chat with you, girlfriend!! How do I maintain balance and continue to be productive? Hmmm, sometimes, I don’t even know the answer to that question. I do know that like everything in life, it’s a balancing act. I always prioritize, and for me that means Mommy duties always comes first. Sometimes my wifely duties…ahem…have to take a backseat to the writing to meet my deadlines, lol! Seriously, I have an incredibly supportive husband that I’ve been married to for thirteen years, and I’m blessed that we can afford for me to write full time. Before writing I was a full time Social Worker, than after grad school I was a mental health therapist, and I loved my career. Once we were blessed with our daughter seven years ago, I didn’t work outside the home, but to maintain my license, I did volunteer. I’m able to still juggle family, volunteer and writing, in large part due to my husband.

GB: Now, I have to say I’ve read just about all of your work. The only things I haven’t read yet are “Pull My Hair” and your novella in Wicked Delights . But I think I’ve read enough to safely say that you know how to bring the heat! You have written some pretty steamy scenes, girlfriend. Tell me, what is your inspiration? Joke. Okay, my real question is about your first novel, Love’s Redemption . This novel had it all. It had suspense, a touch of paranormal, erotica and interracial romance. What made you come up with the plotline for Love’s Redemption ? And can we expect more paranormal tales or romantic suspense from you in the future?



KKT: Thank you, Gwyn! Love’s Redemption was my baby, and it will always be special because it was the first book I ever wrote, two years ago! Actually I am writing an erotic thriller for Kensington, and my agent and I have been discussing me focusing on writing more thrillers! I love the genre, and I also love paranormal romance. I have a paranormal suspense, Knight Visions that is currently being considered. If it doesn’t sell at the house that requested it, I plan to sell it to Ellora’s Cave. I’ve already been offered a contract for it with them *smile.* The heroine of Knight Visions is an Amazon from the rainforest in Africa. My girl is also an FBI agent, so you know she kicks serious butt!!

GB: An Amazon from a rainforest in Africa! That sounds like my kind of heroine. I can’t wait for that to be picked up. Okay, you’re doing your thing writing for a wide variety of publishers. Kudos for working it and getting those contracts! How do you find writing for different publishers? Will readers get a different vibe from your books depending on the publishing house? Do you think you write differently for Spice than you would for Ellora’s Cave or Aphrodesia or Parker Publishing? Do you have a different tone depending on the press? We know the books are always going to be HOT. But do you switch anything up depending on the publisher?

KKT: My style pretty much remains the same for all of my publishers. Although, I must say, that with Ellora’s Cave, Aphrodisia and Spice, I didn’t have any restrictions on what I could or couldn’t have my characters do, uh, sexually. *grin* I will be writing some mainstream fiction, that although will have some romantic elements (including great, hot sex) will not be categorized as romance.

GB: After just finishing, Just Like Candy and loving it, I just wanna say, thank goodness for no restrictions. That book had some hot scenes! Lawd. Have. Mercy! And, can I just say, I loved Big Spankable Asses . I liked the way the three novellas connected with each of you writing a story about three friends. So how did this idea come about? And can we expect more spanking tales (wink, wink) in the future?



KKT: I’m to blame for that! I came up with the idea, and two friends, Angie Daniels and Lisa Riley asked to be a part of it! Kensington loved the naughty title, and my AWESOME editor, Hilary Sares, really liked the concept, and the rest is history as they say! As for more BSA titles…can the world really handle another big spankable ass, girl? Hmmm….one big ass JUST might be enough. Teehee…

GB: I for one believe that there can never be to many big spankable asses… LOL. I also really enjoyed your Spice Brief, “Come Back To Me.” It was a nice short read, a delightful quickie. Will we see more from Harlequin’s Spice Brief line from you?

KKT: Actually, I don’t have time in my writing schedule to write any more Spice Briefs for a while, but maybe in the future! I am focusing on my Kensington contracts, along with a special project I have been offered a contract for, with another publisher. (can’t share the project or details just yet (smile) ). My plate is truly full at this time, and I am in deadline heat writing back-to-back from now until July 1st. I’m nearing the end of my current, WIP, Nice and Wet and will do final edits after the Holidays to turn in, and from January until July 1st, I have another single title, as well as two novellas due. After that…I’m taking a LONG nap!

GB: And you will have earned that long nap! My goodness, I’m getting tired just thinking about your schedule. Congrats on all the contracts, girlfriend! So, you’ve written and published short stories, novellas, and novels. Which length is your favorite if you even have a favorite?

KKT: You know, I really don’t Gwyn. I like to write. Period. I love writing about a woman discovering who she really is as a person, taps into her power as a woman, and grows in all areas, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and of course, sexually! There are challenges in writing each length. For a full length, that probably is the least challenging, as I can fully dig into my characters. By full length, I mean 90K which is my word count for my single titles with Kensington. For a novella, which are 25-30K I can easily get into each character and give the reader a good glimpse into what makes them tick, the why’s and how’s of their behavior and show the emotional attachment between the main characters. For the really short ones, like the Spice brief, “Come Back to Me,” as well as the upcoming short story in Zane’s Purple Panties anthology, “At Last,” the challenge came in bringing both the heat and the emotion in such a short word count. But, after writing them, I absolutely LOVED the challenge!

GB: I loved Ridin’ the Rails . Girl you did your thing writing that book. I don’t even really have a question. I just wanted to say I loved the book. But I guess I should ask a question… Hmm… Okay, what made you come up with the idea of having them hook up on a cross-country train trip? And do you see yourself writing a sequel to this novel in the near future? There was a side love story in there that I’m sure some readers might like to hear a little more about…. No pressure though… Just, saying… you know…



KKT: Thank you, Gwyn!! Actually, Angelique Justin, Publisher and Executive Editor at the time at Parker Publishing, helped me with that concept! She said…”Ooooh, Kim! Can you write a romance set on a train??!!” I said, “Huh? A train? Girl, I’ve never been on a train!” Well, she sent me link upon link, and so much research information it was amazing! I even took a small train trip to get into the “flavor” of riding a train! I loved the book, and girl YES there is a sequel! The title is Ridin’ Dirty , however, it will not be coming out with Parker. It will more than likely be published with Kensington.

GB: Angelique Justine rocks! I puffy-heart-love Angelique! Okay, love fest over… You have a story coming up in Zane’s anthology of Purple Panties . Details… details… Tell us a little bit about your contribution to this anthology. Can we expect more lesbian erotica from you in the future? Will you be contributing to anymore of Zane’s anthologies?

KKT: Purple Panties …well, lol. Let’s see. I have a girlfriend who writes for Zane, the very talented and incredibly down to earth, Allison Hobbs. Ally and I were talking one night and somehow Zane’s anthology came up. In particular Purple Panties . I’ve never written a lesbian erotica/erotic romance, but I’ve always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to write a story featuring two women one day. Well, Allison and I were chatting about it, I told her I wanted to give it a whirl and she said she’d write one too, just to motivate me! I called up my writing partner, Delilah Devlin, and over the course of a weekend, we all wrote our stories It was so much fun, brainstorming and critiquing the HELL out of each other’s books, lol. I must say that I truly loved the story, it is very short, but I feel my characters came to life.

GB: I really enjoyed Just Like Candy also. What can you tell readers about Just Like Candy ? Any details you can give would be appreciated.



KKT: Sure can! Just Like Candy is my latest release from Kensington Aphrodisia. For those who’ve read my Ellora’s Cave book, “Pull My Hair” and “Design of a Lifetime” will see the return of a few characters in Just Like Candy . Hmmm. Why don’t I just write what’s on the back blurb?

THE SWEETEST TEMPTATION…

Davis Strong has no business lusting after the new director of the Youth Center his aunt has hired. But who can resist a woman named Candy? He wants to make love to her luscious lips, caress her smooth and creamy skin, and savor her mocha-colored body. Only then will he get the dessert he's been waiting for--a taste of her sweet, hot center...

SINFULLY DELICIOUS…

It isn't fair that one man should consume her thoughts the way Davis Strong does. But no man does it for her like this one. At night, alone in her bed, Candy dreams about her lover, lying beneath his rock hard body, naked and exposed, begging him to touch her, to taste her, to fill her. It's the ultimate sexual fantasy and Candy's ready for the real thing...

But what that blurb doesn’t tell you is that Just Like Candy is my HOTTEST release to date. *blush* it has humor, because I just can’t seem to get away from that! A small bit of drama, and as usual, over the top romance. Just the way I like it! Check out the excerpt by clicking here.

GB: You do a lot of panel planning and programming with Romantic Times. How did you become so involved with the conference? Is it something you’d recommend for other authors?

KKT: I became involved with the Romantic Times conference two years ago. I only had my first book out, my baby, Love’s Redemption (smile) and it was with a very small press, but I went to the convention, because I have always been a strong believer in getting out there and doing what you need to do, to be successful. I was on the African American Panel, and it was great! We only had a handful of people come, but, to me, that was irrelevant. I gave my all, spoke about my feelings as a brand new author, as a reader, as a woman of color trying to break into publishing, and it was great. Afterward, Carol Stacey, the publisher for Romantic Times, approached me and we had a wonderful conversation. Carol is an amazing woman herself, and truly I believe, RT is one of the few avenues that truly reaches out to the African American readers and authors, and work hard to try and have the conference truly diverse. She and I spoke about me having my own panel at the next convention (this previous convention in Houston, 2007) and I agreed. I emailed authors and editors and every one said they’d love to be on the panel! I had such talented authors as Leslie, aka L.A Banks, Angie Daniels, Mandy Roth, editors such as Hilary Sares and Kate Duffy, and agents such as Caren Johnson.

The room was packed full, we had editors in the audience, a regional manager from Borders, as well as other authors. One of the editors was from Harlequin Spice and she told me she enjoyed the panel, that she learned a lot, and felt it was one of the best she’d ever been to. That meant a lot to me. Many in the audience informed RT staff that they loved the panel as well. When Carol Stacey approached me about being the Genre Captain for RT, 2008, in Pittsburg, I enthusiastically agreed! She then asked me if I’d be the Genre Captain for the multicultural panel as well, and I agreed to do that as well. And BOY do we have a terrific line up! My panels run all day Thursday, from ten until three, and their chock full of bestselling and popular authors (like you, Ms. Gwyn!), top editors and agents.

Now girl…do you really need to ask me if I’d recommend it to other authors? Lol. Yeah, I know there are some that will say various romance conferences aren’t for us. Hmmm…just who is us, is always my question! As long as you bitch and moan, and complain that a certain sect of romance authors…aw hell girl, let me speak plain! As long as black authors feel they don’t want us at their conventions, and allow that to keep us in a box, we have no one to blame but ourselves. You get your butt out there, you network, you greet your readers, gain new readers, and do your thang!! Nuff said (smile)

GB: Sounds like some real and important advice. I’m looking forward to my first RT. Thanks for asking me to be on a panel. So, what’s next for Kimberly Kaye Terry?

KKT: Oh lord, girl what’s not up for Kimberly Kaye Terry, lol. I recently signed with a terrific agent, Ethan Ellenberg, and I feel blessed that I have recently signed a second two-book contract with Kensington, and was offered another contract, a few weeks later, to participate in the third installment of Satisfy Me , an anthology with Aphrodisia. My agent is currently working out the details of the novella contract. Also, I have really really COOL contracting news, that I can’t quite share yet, as it hasn’t been made public. I will say that it is an amazing project, and that I’m jumping in my chair doing the whop (yeah, I dated myself with that dance, huh Gwyn? LOL) over it! I will say that it is erotic fiction, and the project is a tad different than my normal erotic romance signature, but I think my readers, and hopefully new readers, will really enjoy the project, it’s simply awesome! *big grin*

GB: Yeah you kinda dated yourself with the whop comment, and I’m not gonna date my self by saying I know what that is… And I can’t wait to see your novella in the third Satisfy Me . I read the first two and really enjoyed them. Congrats on that! Can’t wait to here the new contract news. I might have to break out the Eric B and Rakim and do the whop with you when you break the news. That is if I was… err… old enough to know what the whop was… So, do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

KKT: I think an aspiring author should first write the story in their heart and don’t write what they think is selling, or try and write like someone else. If you do, your “voice” your style and vibe won’t come through and you’ll remain an aspiring author versus a published author! I think an aspiring author should always write something, anything , every day. I think all writers should. There are times when I just want to rest my poor brain and if I have to write one more throbbing sex scene I’ll end up bald headed, because I will snatch out every single one of my locs! But, no matter what, I write something. One sentence turns to a paragraph turns to a page, turns to a chapter, turns into a finished manuscript. One word at a time. And uh, all of this is just my own beliefs, but I will say, the internet can be a serious deterrent from writing. I have friends who blog ho every day, from blog to blog, and damn, they look up and hours have passed by. Now, don’t get me wrong, going to an occasional blog can be fun but please don’t allow it to eat up too much of your time, or the BIGGEST problem I see, is folks getting all nuts on line, cussing each other out, calling each other names…Lord have MERCY! Whew! I say, save all that drama for a book, lol!!

GB: As a recovering blog ho, I can totally agree with you on your advice. I’m struggling, but I’m resolved to do a little less blog hoing this year… But the blogs keep calling me and calling me… Okay, enough of that… How can readers best contact you?

KKT: Readers can contact me at kimberly@kimberlykayeterry.com. My website is http://www.kimberlykayeterry.com and you can catch me on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/kimberlykayeterry

GB: Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview, Kimberly! I appreciate it and I appreciate you, girlfriend! Keep on making it hot and I’ll keep on reading!

KKT: Thank you for inviting me, Gwyn, and I’ll see in Pittsburg at the Romantic Times Convention! Readers can check out and excerpt for Just Like Candy here:

Just Like Candy Excerpt