CHAT WITH ANGELICA KATE

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-4-42-56-pmAngelica Kate (pen name) writes contemporary and inspirational romances primarily, but occasionally likes to dabble in other genres. She is a lifetime scribbler who has always enjoyed writing as a release from the reality of life. In 2014 in keeping a promise to a friend that has since passed she published her first book Loving Abby through Amazon’s self-publishing tool and was bit by the bug. The feedback both positive and negative continues to propel her to hone her writing chops, and she still reads every review (even those that require a glass of wine to stomach). 

What is your latest book?

My most recent release is Out of Solitude, which is a story of two people that overcome horrifically tragic circumstances. Rather than make their stories highlight just the positive, this book was about a woman who blocked out the world after losing her children and a little girl who quit talking in response to losing her mother. Their meeting was the healing salve the other needed, and is a story of the triumph of the human spirit and victims who earn their happy ending.

outofsolitude

Do you write under a pen name? If so, can you tell us why?

I do write under a pen name of Angelica Kate, which was a name that I thought lent itself well to romance writing and featured prominently my grandmother’s name of Kate whom I am actually named after, Angela Katherine.

How did you choose the genre you write in? Or did it choose you?

I am an addict of good romance stories, with well-developed strong heroines, so this was a no-brainer when I started writing. I love a story of a woman rising above her circumstances and a man never overwhelms her story, but enhances it.

Are your characters ever based on people you know?

Yes, many of my characters and story lines are based on my own personal interactions. My friends and family members actually joke to each other how certain situations we are going through will end up in a book someday. I think the best writing has to have some baseline in real life for it to feel authentic, so many circumstances, people and event current events end up central to my books.

What do you think some of the greatest misconceptions about indie authors are?

That they cannot get published and thus their work is sub par. I never tried the traditional route and now that I’m an indie author have no desire to do so in the future. Indie writers aren’t below average writers, but rather many times strong, determined writers in charge of their own destiny. They have conquered their goals and dreams every day to see their dreams of being published happen.

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-4-36-50-pmHow often do your characters surprise you by doing or saying something totally unexpected?

Often! I allow my stories to develop organically as a journey through each book’s inception to publish date. My most surprising character development saw one of my main heroine’s actually die in a scene, and I remember stopping and out loud exclaiming how I couldn’t believe she died. My daughter looked at me and said, “Mom, you write the story and can change it.” I could not change the scene it would have not been true to the story, but I still can remember the shock of not seeing the happily ever after I came to expect of my main characters

discord5-01Some writers edit excessively as they write; others wait until a novel is finished to do the bulk of the editing. How about you?

I write the book and then worry about editing. I need to get the story on paper and see where it is going, many times how I edit or the extent will be determined by the tone and texture of the story’s development.

Have you ever written characters that you truly despise?

Absolutely! Often my stories have been about domestic violence, murder and other current event themes. I have chosen not to focus on the monsters of these stories but rather give voices to the victims. Unfortunately, to provide a full canvas for these fabulous characters you need to pen the opposing forces and characters that made them the people they are in the story. I dislike have to channel the hate, despair and intent of these characters and find them the hardest to pen.

Where do you live now? If you had to move to another city/state/country, where might that be?

I live in Sarasota, Florida which is where I would live if I could be anywhere. After living in some big cities around the country for my career, and also in the Midwest to take care of family this was a decision we made last year for the beaches, weather and culture. I absolute adore this area, and cannot imagine every relocating anywhere else.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

When I was 30 my daughter who was six at the time, approached my sister about wanting to get me an awesome gift. Together they bought me this delicate sapphire necklace, that I treasure. The pure joy on her face when she gave it to me has always stayed with me every time I put it on.

Care to brag about your family?

I have two fabulous polar opposite children that I adore. My creative artist child has made me look at life with different lenses from the moment she came into the world. My youngest child is a math genius who challenges me every day and has made me an advocate for education and more equality for subjects I never knew I would come to care about. Without both of them balancing out my world, I’m not certain who I would be today. My husband the gentle force that allows me to be me along with a bevy of family that make up a unique list of characters in my own life, has definitely been both a blessing and curse in my world.

What makes you angry?

People who talk before they think. I try my hardest to know when I should say something, and when I need to walk away and give a subject more thought before vocalizing an opinion. We live in a world were too many people have become intolerant, and believe that freedom of speech is a right they own to hurt others around them. I would love to see a heap more tolerance in our society and people who find constructive solutions, rather than just boisterous opinion making.

What music soothes your soul?

 Country – especially the old crooning kind that tells a story. Sometimes just getting into the car and turning that style music on can dissolve an entire rough day in the span of a few minutes.

If you are a TV watcher, would you share the names of your favorite shows with us?

Big Bang Theory and Scorpion.

What are three things you think we can all do to make the world a better place?

 Give your time to just one cause you believe in.

Find one person to be kind to, even if just saying good morning, each day.

Find a person who represents a cause you disagree with, and have a discussion with them on the topic. Really listen. Not to change your mind, but just to maybe understand more than you did before.

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