Welcome to the next stop on the SIMMER blog tour. We're talking with the author of SIMMER, Kaitlyn Davis.
Welcome, Kaitlyn! Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up right outside of New York City and have always dreamed of being an author! I blame my obsession with the paranormal almost completely on Buffy the Vampire Slayer – my all time favorite TV show – and have always wanted to write really creative, fantasy-driven young adult novels. I hope my Midnight Fire Series is just the beginning!
How long have you been writing?
Forever! When I was younger, my mom helped me duct tape construction paper together so I could write novels – my first ever was about a girl who spent the summer working at Disney World only to discovered a fantasy world where all of the characters came to life. In high school, I moved onto romantic novellas. And in college I startedIgnite, the first book in the Midnight Fire Series. Everyday I learn something new about my writing style, and I hope each book I write just keeps getting better and better!
Tell us about SIMMER. What's the story about?
Simmer is the sequel to Ignite and it continues the story of Kira, Tristan and Luke. I always give so much away when I try to describe the plot – so here’s the back of the book description!
“Kira may have survived the eclipse, but her troubles are far from over. She's headed to Sonnyville with one goal in mind: to learn more about her parents. But with Luke and Tristan competing for her heart and Diana gunning for her head, time is running out on the search for her mother. And the closer Kira gets to answers, the more terrified she becomes. The conduits fear her, the vampires fear her, and Kira is starting to wonder if maybe they're right...”
Sounds great! Did you find writing a sequel challenging?
Not at all! I loved it! So far, the hardest part for me to write was the beginning of Ignite. I love that with a sequel you can sort of skip the introductions and jump right into the fast-paced action scenes. With Blaze, the third book in the series, it is getting even easier. The biggest challenge now is hoping I don’t disappoint readers – but I don’t think I will!
Are you a planner or a pantser?
Definitely a planner! I make so many outlines it is sort of ridiculous. But, once the story takes off, I often ditch aspects of the plan and go with my in-the-moment, gut instincts!
What’s the hardest part of writing for you?
So far, the most difficult part for me was the beginning of Ignite. I knew there would be a few similarities to Twilight in the first 4-5 chapters, but once the story really took off and the action began, everything got easier. Once I knew the story was in its own unique realm, I stopped worrying about making sure it was different enough to engage readers and became more confident in my work.
What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?
Coffee! I’m a total junkie! I don’t know what I would do without my Keurig :)
Who are your top three book characters from other authors?
Oo, tough call! The first has got to be Hermione from Harry Potter – I love her! Sometimes being the hero doesn’t mean being the strongest or the biggest, sometimes intelligence is the greatest power of all. Second, I have to go with some man-candy and say Will from Clockwork Prince – I seriously wish he could leap from the pages and into my life! Third and final…gah, so tough…Alanna from The Song of the Lioness. In my opinion, she is the original kick-butt heroine and Tamora Pierce definitely taught me a thing or two about strong female characters.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Flying! This is sort of strange, but I have a huge fear of flying on airplanes because if they fall, there is really nothing you can do. If I could just fly myself around, I’d have no problem!
What's the weirdest thing you've googled?
Hm…probably the best techniques for beheading people! If you read Simmer you might understand! I was writing a certain scene, and clearly have no experience beheading people, and wanted to look up some medieval methods.
Wow, that probably got you pinned on the FBI watch list, lol. Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: survivor, sprinkler, and llama.
Across the dangerous terrain two warriors stood in the ultimate test of strength – a sprinkler ready to spray and a llama ready to spit – but in the scorching afternoon heat there would only be one survivor.
(Haha, silly I know! If I ever published anything called The Zoo Chronicles, this will be the opening sentence.)
Hehehe, sounds intense. Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.
Gosh, my family is definitely number one! My parents have always been so incredibly supportive and my sisters are seriously my number one fans. My best friend Maria, unofficial editor of my books since we were 12, and my roommate Leah, unofficial publicity director since she brags about my books when I won’t. Every single blogger who has let me take up precious space on their front page, and every person who has read my books and spread the word. And, of course, Tribute Books for putting this amazing tour together.
One thing that has amazed me since starting my journey in self-publishing is that there are so many people who are willing to help. So, for anyone else who I haven’t specifically mentioned, thank you – truly and sincerely, thank you.
And finally, where can people find you and your books online?
Here are a few links! I love interacting with readers and talking to people, so please connect with me!
Ignite links –
Simmer Links –
Barnes & Noble: TK
