Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she's not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as "The Pleather Bomber", she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. She is thrilled to have collaborated on a Christmas anthology with Donna Kauffman and Kate Angell, titled THE SUGAR COOKIE SWEETHEART SWAP, to kick off her Pine Mountain foodie series with Kensington this October. Her first full-length novel, TURN UP THE HEAT, will follow in February 2014. Kimberly resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters. Visit her any time at her website, or come check her out on Facebook and Twitter. She's got some fab recipes, including a yummy one at the end of LOVE ON THE LINE.
Kimberly
has been kind enough to share with us where she gets her inspiration. After hearing hers, mine don't seem so odd. I'll share mine in a comment. I
hope you will give Kimberly Kincaid a warm, Unwrapping Romance, welcome. Stick
around after, because I’ve got a giveaway at the end of this post. It is Wacky
Wednesday, after all.
Kimberly, it’s all yours.Greetings, my friends,
THE MUSE: WHERE DO THOSE IDEAS COME FROM, ANYWAY?
When
I tell people I write romantic fiction, many of them picture me sitting in my
neat and cozy office, a cup of tea at the ready as I eagerly type out page
after page of my latest work-in-progress. I hate to break the illusion, but
writing is a far messier, far more chaotic prospect than all that! And when
writer’s block hits? It’s like going from zero to crazy in about four seconds
flat. But when The Block hits (and it hits every. single. writer out there),
the backup plan can be nearly as much fun as the writing itself.
First, I Step Away From the Keyboard. Yes, I know this sounds
counter-intuitive. I’m supposed to be writing! But that blank screen can give a
writer’s mind the same idea sometimes (think monkey see, monkey do!) I am
incredibly inspired by things found off the page, especially TV shows and
real-life interactions. Sometimes I’ll go to Starbucks and gently eavesdrop on
conversations (I don’t go all superspy though! That wouldn’t be polite!), or maybe
I’ll watch an episode or two of my favorite show on the DVR. Taking a walk will
even kickstart my brain sometimes. After all, minds at rest stay at rest. Minds
in motion write novels!
I Read. Then I Read Some More. Books by others aren’t just a source
of oh-yes in the down-time department for me. They can be an incredibly
valuable resource in getting my creative juices going. When I was brainstorming
ideas for my latest novella, I was really
writer’s blocked. Know what got me writing? A fashion layout in Cosmopolitan
magazine! A mere month after I flipped that glossy page, Love On The Line was done. And all it took was a brain-break to
read.
I Talk it Out. Some of my most inspired ideas have
come from conversations that started with the phrase, “I need an idea for a
book!” I’m fortunate enough to have five incredible critique partners, all of
whom have said this, and heard me say it, at some point or another. Noodling
things out with another person can flesh out ideas, and often offers up
surprises as well as sparks. Sometimes I have no idea my hero had a dark past
or my heroine wanted to open up her own cooking school until I hash out threads
of ideas with my CPs. And once I figure it out, I’m off to the races.
Let’s Get Visual, Visual! Like many people out there, I am a
very visual creature. I write foodie romance, and so the grocery store is a hotbed
of inspiration for me (I’m reminded of the time I wrote half a scene in the
middle of Costco because the banana bunches sparked a whopper of a story idea.
Always keep a pen and notebook in your bag, people!) But visual inspiration can
come from anywhere. Magazine pictures, people in their cars at stoplights,
stories on the news, all of these things have the potential to get a writer’s
brain un-blocked.
So
tell me, friends! If you’re a fellow writer, what methods do you employ to
banish The Block? What works best for your style? And how do you keep those
ideas flowing? If you’re a reader, what fresh ideas can you give to those of us
in the chair? How do you get motivated in your jobs? In your lives? And what do
you want to see in our stories to send us in the right direction?
***Kimberly,
thank you so very much for a wonderful post and such fabulous ideas on how to
inspire ourselves. Who would ever think that bananas would be inspiring? Then
again, there is something about the shape. Well, my dear readers, Kimberly has
provided the means, and asked you the questions.
Writers and Readers, how
do you get unblocked? How do get motivated in your jobs, and in your lives? What fresh ideas would you like to see in your favorite authors' stories?
GIVEAWAY:
One Lucky commenter will win a Kindle copy of LOVE ON THE LINE by Kimberly
Kincaid, so if you’ve got a Kindle or Kindle app, please leave a comment and
valid email address for a chance to read this fabulous, sizzling contemporary
romance.
GIVEAWAY
PRIZE: LOVE ON THE LINE by Kimberly Kincaid
Blurb
for LOVE ON THE LINE:
Violet
Morgan puts the personal in personal
chef, catering to clients who want the full cooking experience rather than a
culinary drop-and-dash. But when her brother’s police detective partner is
injured in the line of duty and needs help during recovery, she makes an
exception. Violet lost her father to the job seven years ago, and worries for
her brother’s safety every day. The last thing she wants is to get up-close
with her brother’s career-cop partner…again.
For
Noah Blackwell, being a detective isn’t just a lifestyle, it’s a legacy. So
when he’s forced to take mandatory leave and
deal with the trauma amnesia keeping him from identifying his shooter, it’s a
literal case of adding insult to injury— and now he’s got to deal with an
unwanted culinary caregiver on top of it. Never mind that he and Violet shared
a steamy, secret kiss last New Year’s Eve. She rejects everything related to
the job, and Noah’s not about to be distracted from recovering his memory and
getting back to what he does best. No matter how pretty Violet is.
Despite
their differences, Violet and Noah share a surprising bond in the kitchen that
grows into something neither of them expect. But as Noah heals and their
feelings for each other extend from the kitchen to the bedroom, Violet knows
she must make an impossible choice. She may wear her heart on her sleeve when
it comes to food, but can she risk it all to put love on the line?
EXCERPT FROM LOVE ON THE LINE by Kimberly Kincaid:
As soon as Noah got behind her, the smell of coconuts and warm sand filled his senses, delivering a crystal clear image to his brain. His heart slammed in his ribcage, and without thinking, he cupped Violet’s elbow and swung her around, so tight to his body that he felt her gasp as much as heard it.
“You were in my hospital room yesterday. Before I woke up.”
“I…I—”
But he barreled on, the memory as bright and vivid as if it had just happened a minute ago. “Your hair was braided, on your shoulders, and you were wearing a…a bracelet that sounded like wind chimes. You said the doctor was coming. It was you.”
The fan of her gold-tipped lashes fluttered wide, and the warm puff of her breath heated his cheek as she nodded. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was looking for Jason, but I didn’t think you’d wake up.”
Noah shook his head to quell her apology. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, his resolve locking into place, and Violet went utterly still against him.
“It doesn’t?”
“No. You’re the first thing I’ve been able to remember since I got shot in the first place. In fact, you’re the only thing I can remember since I got shot.”
EXCERPT FROM LOVE ON THE LINE by Kimberly Kincaid:
As soon as Noah got behind her, the smell of coconuts and warm sand filled his senses, delivering a crystal clear image to his brain. His heart slammed in his ribcage, and without thinking, he cupped Violet’s elbow and swung her around, so tight to his body that he felt her gasp as much as heard it.
“You were in my hospital room yesterday. Before I woke up.”
“I…I—”
But he barreled on, the memory as bright and vivid as if it had just happened a minute ago. “Your hair was braided, on your shoulders, and you were wearing a…a bracelet that sounded like wind chimes. You said the doctor was coming. It was you.”
The fan of her gold-tipped lashes fluttered wide, and the warm puff of her breath heated his cheek as she nodded. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was looking for Jason, but I didn’t think you’d wake up.”
Noah shook his head to quell her apology. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, his resolve locking into place, and Violet went utterly still against him.
“It doesn’t?”
“No. You’re the first thing I’ve been able to remember since I got shot in the first place. In fact, you’re the only thing I can remember since I got shot.”
GIVEAWAY
RULES:
***This Giveaway is OPEN TO
EVERYONE with access to Kindle reading, international included. (void where prohibited)
***For VALID
ENTRY, commenter must leave a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. Remember the Magic Formula
for Entry:
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
BUT CHECK MY WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR A SPECIAL SHOT AT GETTING YOUR OWN COPY
OF LOVE ON THE LINE BY KIMBERLY KINCAID.
BUT CHECK MY WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR A SPECIAL SHOT AT GETTING YOUR OWN COPY
OF LOVE ON THE LINE BY KIMBERLY KINCAID.
***This Giveaway will run until
11:30PM EST, Thursday, March 28, 2013 at which time one lucky valid entry will be
chosen by randomizer to win a Kindle digital copy of LOVE ON THE LINE by Kimberly Kincaid. The winner will be notified by email, and announced in a special Saturday post. Good Luck!
Happy Reading Everyone!
16 comments:
Hi Kimberly,
Thank you so much for an inspiring post. Bananas - I'm curious to know what they inspired. My dirty mind is all over the place. ; )
I find inspiration in strange places - the Discovery Channel, old movies, songs - but no fruit yet. I did wake up one morning with almost an entire plot in my head - current WIP - so I know my muse is busy! Thanks again and may I just say - Nathan is HOT, and I'd be happy to cook for Jason any time. xoxo
Awesome interview and giveaway! Thanks so much!!! Can't wait to read it. One more ka-thunk added to the TBR pile.
careysabala(at)cox(dot)net
I need to stop reading all these blogs, my TBR pile is taller than me right now! melissa.marion at gmail
Aw yes, but this is such a delicious read that you'll have it gobbled up in no time. Metaphorically speaking. ; )
I know-- my TBR pile looks the same way! Love On The Line is a novella, so it's about a third of the length of a "regular" novel. I've had people tell me they've read it in a day. Just do yourself a favor and don't read hungry :)
Hope you all enjoy it! I'm so happy to share it with the world.
What a great post. This book looks great, loved the blurb, and very sensual cover. Thanks for the chance to win.
christinebails at yahoo dot com
I agree Chrisbails ... the cover is sensuous. It makes me smile! : )
So glad to hear the feedback on the cover-- I thought it was perfect for Violet and Noah. It just fit them!
And funny timing, because I chose the cover image for Jason's book just today :)
Ooooh, Kimberly, when do we get a peek? I'm so looking forward to Jason's book. Is he going to be cooking with someone like Violet does? Or does he bring Violet in to make him look good?
WOW Kimberly! This sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing! Whenever I need to "recharge/re-motivate" myself... I find I do it best by taking a break. stepping back, take a day for myself and left it all flow over me like water. Whenever I find myself in a reading slump, I find that if I go back and reread old favorites or short novellas, it refreshes my reading palate enough that I pick a new book :)
Thanks for sharing about your inspiration
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Oh, no way would I leave Jason out of the kitchen :) His heroine is the feisty owner of Mac's Diner (where he and Violet eat lunch once a week). Lots of curve balls in that story so far. I'm really enjoying working on it :)
Happy reading, everyone!
My inspiration comes from dreams, most often. For example, I may fall asleep watching Bones and dream about Booth, but he's not quite Booth. He's someone different, and the dream goes off from there. The best dreams stick with me long after I awake, and nag until I write it down (I've begun writing them down a lot sooner!).
Read for comprehension, Kerrie
kerrie at twcny dot RR dot com
Sounds Wonderful
Amandavmartin@ bellsouth . Net
Kerrie, I totally dream of Booth too :) Actually, David Boreanaz is the actor-inspiration for the hero in the full-length novel I'm writing for Kensington right now! So I dream about him a *lot*
And I just found out that Love On The Line is going on Amazon for FREE for a very limited time. So for all of you who took a peek and liked what you saw, go grab it while you can! Everybody wins!
Happy reading-- thanks for stopping by to say hi!
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