FAR would like to welcome multi-published author, Kally Jo Surbeck. Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks very much for having me. FAR is so wonderful. I’ve always had a great time coming by and speaking with the reviewers and the readers either through an interview or the FAR CHATTER Loop. You guys provide a great service.

I'd like to start by asking you a few questions about yourself.

Shoot. I’ll do my best (grin)

What do you consider when buying a book for your library?

I actually have a pretty big collection of Keepers because when I find something I like, I stick with it. However, my tastes tend to run the gamut, so I have a variety. I have the classics, some Poe, Twain, Whitman, Lewis, Tolkien. Then I have all my non-fiction research stuff, reference material, cross-reference. My Non-fiction reading runs from romance, to mainstream, to fantasy. Clare, Martin, Gibson, Garwood, Cornwell, Patterson, Feehan, Moning are some on my shelf. I guess that’s more of a who and a what. I look for character driven stories. I think most authors can sell me any story, any plot if there are characters that I truly care about.

What makes a good book good?

Ha. Characterization, I believe, is the key element to a story. I have read and kept maybe three or four stories where I cared more about what was going on than the characters involved. However, generally speaking, I have to know and care about the characters. I think if it’s a well motivated character, I’ll buy into the story. I can name books (I won’t) where I absolutely hated the characters. As in despised them with every ounce of my being but I kept reading because of that very reason. Somehow I was connected and needed to know what happened. I think that is the mark of a great book, one where the reader, the writer even, cares and needs to know. That’s why I love romance so much. We, the readers, get a resolution and not just a regular one. We get to finish that book knowing that the characters we’ve come to love get that happily ever after. It makes it all worth it.

Do you go back and read your own books for pleasure?

You had to throw that “for your own pleasure” in there. I do go back and read them. I even have them on my keeper shelf to remind myself of what I’ve done, but I’m usually going back to look at technique or characters since I have series books. Sometimes it’s weird to read it and not remember writing some of it. To read it and think, wow, that’s kinda cool.

Can you tell us something about you that makes you unique?

I bet my friends can give you a list a mile long. Me, on the other hand…
We all like to think we’re unique, but we aren’t. We all work hard, love our family, drive a gazillion miles to play bingo at the VA…

Nah. You know. My nephew sent me a “tag” thing where it asked us to write 5 weird habits about ourselves. These were my answers.

My Five Weird Habits

I flick my thumb nail when annoyed

I can't stand the feel of wet socks, I would rather go barefoot, even if that means letting the little piggies freeze.

I don't eat red apples, only Granny Smith Greens

I'm not afraid to embrace dancing like a white boy and often do. It's more fun. If any of you have watched Hitch - you know what I'm talking about. Oh yeah. Some of you, even at this moment are whistling or out and out singing PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC WHITE BOY. Don't knock the dancing. One night I made some serious money dancing to OH CAROLINA...but that was back in the day. HEE HEE

I don't brush my teeth with the same toothpaste for more than a week. Then I switch. I have 4 brands I rotate.

I really enjoyed, She Blinded Me with Science Fiction and Friendly Fire, what inspired these two books?

Thank you! It’s great to hear that! The truth of the matter is more simple and scary than one would think, but a portion of the book is based on things, how can I say this, I know first hand. I am a Trekkie. I’m okay admitting that. Old School Trekkie as a matter of fact. I was informed the difference between a Trekkie and a Trekker is that a Trekkie is into the old ST and a bit into NG, but not into DS9 or Voyager. So, yeah. That’s what I am. My BIL, brother, and nephew are all fans, too. For awhile I even simmed with my nephew, so that was fun. The rest, well, it’s romance and I have a great imagination. Plus one of the best things about writing that book was really getting to use the humor I enjoy so much. I suppose you can see it a bit in everything I write, but other things tend to be a bit darker and this just let me cut loose. I loved it!

How do you choose to name your books and characters?

Names are very important to me. I believe that the name really embodies the character. I’ve got files and books on the topic. So that comes to me first. I’ve never written anything I didn’t have a title and names for the characters first. Naming books is one thing I love to do. I have friends that are great with blurbs – not my thing. Some are good with synopsis – really not my thing. But if you need a title, come to me…I’m your lady.

Do your characters talk to you? Do you hear their stories as you're writing?

The simple answer is yes. The harder answer is no. Ideally, they'd WRITE the story, but until that happens I tend to see it more as a movie. I watch what is happening and try to tell the story that way. However, FOR THE LOVE OF, book I Luck Of The Irish with the heroine Mackenzie…she talked and talked and talked. I had no idea I would end up writing her book. I was focused on some other projects, but that woman would not shut up. And I say that in the most loving way I possibly can. Did she go away? No. It’s a good thing it’s a part of a series. I’m currently working on book II SHADES OF DOUBT. Mac is still there, but this is Charlie’s book and Charlie is just as vocal but in a completely different fashion.

Right now you have books at three different publishers, does that make things difficult?

It makes things intriguing, but I like that. Each house has offered me something different, the ability to get different stories out there to different audiences and for that I am truly grateful.

www.loose-id.com
www.triskelionpublishing.com
www.vrpublishing.com

Why did you choose to use e-books as your medium?

The first book I had published was FOR THE LOVE OF, by Loose Id, LLC. www.loose-id.com Mac is an assassin and she has killed people. All part of being an assassin. The folks in print media liked Mac but they didn’t want her to kill. For me and for Mac that was essential to who she was, why she did things. Did I mention I’m really into the character? Yes, well. I Could not take her kills away. That would make her … not an assassin. So I went with a venue that would appreciate the story for what it was and let Mac shine. Loose Id saw that potential and made it happen.

I believe the e-market reaches an entirely different demographic. We are a global market now with people continuously on the move. Many people don’t have the extra space either where they live or when they travel to house traditional print books. Don’t get me wrong. I love print books and whenever possible I buy those. I have many books that I read first in e-format that I then purchased when they came out in paperback. However, that said. I believe that e-books are here to stay and it’s a great way to reach a lot of readers who may or may not have considered purchasing your books. Take FOR THE LOVE OF for example. It’s romance but with a lot of action/adventure. Or SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE FICTION, love at a Star Trek convention. Again, romance, but with the Trekkie info. You would not believe the male readers I gained because it was an e-book first. There was no being ashamed or embarrassed about purchasing online. People wouldn’t immediately know what they were reading, and that let them buy it. My writing kept them reading. I think that’s invaluable

And now I have have not only the e-books but three of my titles are in print available at Borders, Barnes and Noble, and Waldenbooks, or just go through www.amazon.com . (Little plug there)

Do you have anything else in the works?

As I mentioned before, I am working on SHADES OF DOUBT, book II Luck Of The Irish. I’ve just signed a contract on my second book with Vintage Romance www.vrpublishing.com for a book tentatively entitled BOUND BY DREAMS. It keeps with BOUND BY HOPE where you met Lucas and MaryBeth. This is their story.

I have several other stories I am hoping to contract, so keep your fingers crossed!

Would you like to add anything?

I love hearing from my readers, feel free to drop me a line anytime at ksurbeck@yahoo.com I do my best to answer all my mail promptly (i.e. within the weekish). Thank you so much for having me and letting me talk about my work and my releases. I’ve really enjoyed it!

Thanks again to Ms. Surbeck for taking the time to answer our questions. If you'd like to read more about her, visit her website at: http://www.kallyjosurbeck.com/

Interviewed by: Serena