Ask the Author: Kellyn Roth
Answered Questions (68)
Kellyn Roth
It depends a little on what you're looking for!
If you want to start at the very beginning, I recommend The Dressmaker's Secret. It's an earlier work of mine, but I think it still holds up even if I would write it a little differently these days (the published version was rewritten and edited 5 years ago).
If you want to dive into a romance story, I recommend either Like a Ship on the Sea (first in series, adult themes, a realistic/practical approach to romance) or At Her Fingertips (third in series but can be read as a standalone, albeit if you're okay with a few small elements having less impact, a kind of wild ride of a romance, lots of Christian themes).
If you want something shorter, I would honestly go with one of the anthologies I'm featured in! I especially recommend Springtime in Surrey, the first anthology published with Wild Blue Wonder Press. There are some great stories in there in addition to one of mine, at the very end!
If you want to start at the very beginning, I recommend The Dressmaker's Secret. It's an earlier work of mine, but I think it still holds up even if I would write it a little differently these days (the published version was rewritten and edited 5 years ago).
If you want to dive into a romance story, I recommend either Like a Ship on the Sea (first in series, adult themes, a realistic/practical approach to romance) or At Her Fingertips (third in series but can be read as a standalone, albeit if you're okay with a few small elements having less impact, a kind of wild ride of a romance, lots of Christian themes).
If you want something shorter, I would honestly go with one of the anthologies I'm featured in! I especially recommend Springtime in Surrey, the first anthology published with Wild Blue Wonder Press. There are some great stories in there in addition to one of mine, at the very end!
Kellyn Roth
I've written a few short stories set around Christmas, but I've never actually written a full-length Christmas novel!
Kellyn Roth
Of course! To put it simply (and not go on for forever), I start out with the barest idea for either a premise or a character, and then I brainstorm for a long time until I have a passable outline that lists the events of the story in order. Then I write the first draft, usually pretty quickly, and start in on edits (usually very, very slowly!).
The biggest element of my process that works for me but probably wouldn't work for everyone is drafting fast ... and not drafting all the time! I've found I can't always be writing, or a get burnt out and don't enjoy it. But writing a novel in a month means I can simply do it a few times a year, with the rest of the time being just for fun writing or writing when I have a set deadline.
But I find when I'm on a deadline, whether self-imposed or not, I can write just about anywhere - including in a crowded room!
The biggest element of my process that works for me but probably wouldn't work for everyone is drafting fast ... and not drafting all the time! I've found I can't always be writing, or a get burnt out and don't enjoy it. But writing a novel in a month means I can simply do it a few times a year, with the rest of the time being just for fun writing or writing when I have a set deadline.
But I find when I'm on a deadline, whether self-imposed or not, I can write just about anywhere - including in a crowded room!
Kellyn Roth
I didn't learn that much that I didn't already know, and what I did learn was rather boring (how long it takes ships to cross seas), but I admit I had fun researching a certain Swiss hotel that, yes, is a real place!
Kellyn Roth
Well, from a purely emotional standpoint, I don't want to write any book but my own books, so I'll approach it from a more practical standpoint: something that will earn me lots of money so I can continue funding the books I really want to be working on. So just pick a random bestselling novel that is earning tons of money, and that's the one I wish I'd written. ;)
Kellyn Roth
Lorelei, oddly enough! I know she's a minor character, but she was a lot of fun. I love her subtle sarcasm and her mix of spunk and introversion!
If I were to pick a more major character, it would be Cassie, who surprised me with her spunk. I had envisioned her differently than she turned out once I wrote from her point of view.
If I were to pick a more major character, it would be Cassie, who surprised me with her spunk. I had envisioned her differently than she turned out once I wrote from her point of view.
Kellyn Roth
Oh, editing. Full stop. I love outlining, I love drafting, I don't mind marketing, and I definitely enjoy receiving feedback from early readers and editors, but doing the editing myself? Nope. I just dislike it. It's a necessary evil, but I find it so boring unless there's someone else involved in the process!
Kellyn Roth
Obsession. It's due to obsession.
I spend forever researching meanings, etymology, considering the parents and other family ties for characters, etc. I can probably tell you the reasoning behind just about any character's name (though sometimes it's something like, "It was a family name!").
And sometimes I just do random stuff. Creling is an example of this. Sounds like an English village to me.
I spend forever researching meanings, etymology, considering the parents and other family ties for characters, etc. I can probably tell you the reasoning behind just about any character's name (though sometimes it's something like, "It was a family name!").
And sometimes I just do random stuff. Creling is an example of this. Sounds like an English village to me.
Kellyn Roth
I'm not completely sure! I've wanted to be an author for a long time, but I started writing just for fun when I was quite young, and I was making up stories for my brother even younger than that. I think it's just a part of me!
Kellyn Roth
Technically, 6 - but I'm also doing spin-off stories about most if not all of the major minor characters, so in the range of 20. :P
Kellyn Roth
I'm not really sure! Peter is my favorite character, and one I've put a lot into the development of, so that could be part of it.
But I also just applied the character development tricks to him that I applied to all my other characters! Searched for his faults, his triumphs, his pain points, dug into his past ... and so on!
But I also just applied the character development tricks to him that I applied to all my other characters! Searched for his faults, his triumphs, his pain points, dug into his past ... and so on!
Kellyn Roth
At least eight years ago! I only know for sure that I was working on an early draft when I was twelve, so perhaps even longer. However, I didn't write an official draft until November 2016.
Kellyn Roth
Right now I actually don't! So bios must be updated, but I'm kind of waiting these last few weeks before I get married so I can update them all at once ...
Anyways, I used to be a critique group leader and fellowship leader as well as working for the briefly-running YWL (Young Writers Lessons) for 2-3 years, which means I taught a bunch of one-on-one lessons with students. :)
Now I'm a part of their Author Conservatory, but I don't have an official title.
Anyways, I used to be a critique group leader and fellowship leader as well as working for the briefly-running YWL (Young Writers Lessons) for 2-3 years, which means I taught a bunch of one-on-one lessons with students. :)
Now I'm a part of their Author Conservatory, but I don't have an official title.
Kellyn Roth
A variety of places! In general, everywhere. But I find I'm more often inspired by TV shows and movies I watch.
Kellyn Roth
Hey, no fair! How could I possibly choose a favorite child? (Peter ... it's Peter.)
Kellyn Roth
A variety of things! In general, though, I just pray they'll have the best impact they can possibly have. I broke down and sobbed reading a children's book in my mid-teens because, though it was just a silly story, it had the right message for me right then. I kind of thing of my books the same way.
Kellyn Roth
Weaving in some of the more adult themes now that I'm older and more aware of all the various implications, etc., was challenging - but a fun challenge, nonetheless.
Kellyn Roth
I don't think they talk to me in the traditional sense, but sometimes I swear they give me ideas just through their behavior from one scene to another ... and then the story will go off on a different track! Recently, Nettie told me a story that meant I had to change my entire series ...
Kellyn Roth
"Honestly, I can't."
(What? It's three words!)
(What? It's three words!)
Kellyn Roth
I can certainly do something of the sort.
"Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Jimmy who very much enjoyed frogs, in the sense that he spent time with them not in the sense that he ate them, and he had a little frog friend named Joseph the Bullfrog who was really a clever fellow, and one day Joseph and Jimmy went swimming in a pool which turned out to be Loch Ness, and they discovered the Loch Ness Monster, and they sold the monster to an evil company but at least they were rich now and could afford to buy their own swimming pool."
Quite an adventure, eh?
"Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Jimmy who very much enjoyed frogs, in the sense that he spent time with them not in the sense that he ate them, and he had a little frog friend named Joseph the Bullfrog who was really a clever fellow, and one day Joseph and Jimmy went swimming in a pool which turned out to be Loch Ness, and they discovered the Loch Ness Monster, and they sold the monster to an evil company but at least they were rich now and could afford to buy their own swimming pool."
Quite an adventure, eh?
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