20 Questions with Kitka Buchanan
1. What made you decide to become an author?
I generally write for fun for myself. It’s a way for me to escape to my own fantasy world and be whomever I want to be…I can be fierce and strong. I finally decided that if I was writing so much, I might as well put it out there for the world to see.
2. What is the hardest thing about writing for you?
Finding the time to do it. There always seems to be something that needs to be done first.
3. Do you have any routines or superstitions that you go through whenever you write a book – Such as a specific room to write in, certain drink, same pen/pencil every time, specific music or noise? Release a book?
I usually put Supernatural on TV. Mostly because I’ve seen all of the episodes so often that I can listen to it without feeling the need to watch it and it makes great background noise.
4. Who is the one person in the writing profession who has inspired you the most?
Jim Butcher. I want to write characters like his. They are snarky and funny. They are true to themselves and their emotions bleed onto the page. You don’t just read his books, you immerse yourself into his world.
5. Which character is your favorite? Which character was the hardest to write? Why?
I love all my characters, but I think Natasha from Spellcasters was my favorite. She is such a cute little pixie on the outside, but could literally rip you apart if you cross her. I haven’t come across a character that is difficult to write yet. Some of them have been obstinate and didn’t want to cooperate when I wanted a story to go in a certain direction. But we always seem to work it out.
6. Would you consider collaborating on a book with anyone else? If so…who? Who would be your unicorn author to collaborate with?
I have. My first book was written with my best friend, Kat Ries. We also wrote a sequel to that book and have a novella coming out for Christmas. She is my favorite author to collaborate with. However, my unicorn would probably be to write a suspense or horror novel with Jay Bonansinga. He’s amazing.
7. Who is your favorite author…someone that you will buy their book even without thinking?
Jim Butcher. I buy everything he writes the minute it comes out.
8. What is your best piece of advice for someone who wants to write or publish?
Always keep writing. Even during those times of writer’s block. You may think what you put on paper is meaningless, but it may turn into something exquisite. And it keeps your mind active and moving in the right direction.
9. If you could ask your readers 1 question and have them all answer…what would it be?
I’d like to know what they’d like to see more or less of in my books. I write for myself. My books flow as I’d like to read them. So I sometimes feel like I may miss something that someone else would like to read.
10. What is your writing kryptonite?
Description. I am terrible with it. I want to get right into the action…he did this, she did that. But describing a room or them walking down a hallway bores me to death. So it is very difficult for me to write, even though I realize the importance of it.
11. Do you plot out your book or do you write as you go?
I’m trying to get better about plotting them out, but I generally just write as I go. I usually start with a plan in my head, but seldom end up on course. The characters take me off track and lead me down paths I didn’t expect.
12. Do you want each book or series to stand on its own or are you building a universe where all the books/series connect with each other?
Yes. Right now, I have two series started. Spellcasters and Obeying the Rules. I have other books in mind for the Spellcasters series, including individual books about various characters. I have two other books due out for the Obeying the Rules series. They are their own separate worlds. But I also have a couple standalone books coming out as well.
13. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice related to writing what would it be?
Always listen to your intuition.
14. What is the biggest lesson you learned after you published your first book?
I’m stronger than I thought I was and I learned to have some faith in myself.
15. What is a guilty pleasure?
Shhhhh….I love John Denver! I even have a box set of his music. I also love the Spice Girls movie. It’s hysterical! I wouldn’t buy one of their albums, but the movie is a riot!
16. Do you have a favorite vacation spot?
I don’t vacation a lot, but I would go to Los Angeles in a heartbeat. I used to live there and miss it. And I desperately want to visit Morocco one day.
17. What’s an Item on your bucket list?
Seeing Morocco…the food, the beautiful scenery, the music. Everything about that country calls to me.
18. Do you have a spirit animal? If so, what is it?
I love animals so much that it could be just about anything. However, I do know that rabbits seem to show up all the time around me. They represent creativity and fertility…not just of the body, but of the mind as well. So maybe it’s rabbits. But my cat Cleo is my Reiki kitty. She’s always at my side and will sit on me and purr to give me Reiki energy.
19. What is your favorite holiday & why?
All of the holidays at the end of October…Halloween, Samhain, Day of the Dead. I love them all. Halloween is just fun. Samhain and Day of the Dead are beautifully spiritual days to spend time honoring our departed loved ones.
20. What’s your favorite Halloween candy?
Sixlets and those little mini Twix bars. Oh, and Whoppers.
Author Links
Kitka’s Playground (FB Group): https://bit.ly/2jgEdEq
Facebook Page: https://bit.ly/2Km88ap
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KitkaBuchanan
Amazon Page: https://amzn.to/2H3aKHQ
Website: https://bit.ly/2tf8N94
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2rblI7U
Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2tIOf6J
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