Nine Questions for Kinsey

Okay, so now it’s my turn....

Hi! I’m Kinsey Holley, author (so far) of Kiss and Kin from Samhain Publishing. I’m excited about being a part of N3 and I’m looking forward to hanging out here a lot (my own poor blog suffers from neglect, I’m afraid).

Without further ado, my answers to our nine questions:

1. If you had to choose only one form of chocolate for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Milk chocolate. If we’re talking specific brands, Nestle’s Crunch.

2. What author got you started reading or writing romance?

I honestly don’t know. I’m 45. I started reading romance in junior high, in the 1970s, so whatever the first romance I read, it was definitely Old Skool. I’m pretty sure it would’ve been by Kathleen Woodiwiss or Johanna Lindsey, and it probably involved a pirate. I loved the pirate books. And Vikings.

As for writing romance – it’s one of those things I’ve been saying I’d do for the past twenty years. When I hit my mid-40s I thought “Right. That’s it. Time to put up or shut up.” I was very, very fortunate in that I got published relatively quickly. Mind you, I’ve only sold one novella so far. I haven’t finished my second book and there’s no guarantee anyone will buy it…

3. What's the naughtiest thing you've ever done?

I’m with Kelly Jamieson on this one – I can’t answer that on the Internet. Even under my pen name, I’d be too embarrassed.

4. What do you like best about the heroine in your latest book?

If we’re talking about my latest (and so far only) published book, I like that she’s tall, with very long legs. I’m 5’2, and I’ve always wished fervently that I had long legs. On a less superficial level, I like that when she realizes she’s behaved badly, she owns up to it and apologizes. She doesn’t make excuses.

5. What is a must have in your writing routine?

Again, I’m echoing Kelly – oh, how I wish I had a routine. Maybe then I’d be finished with the book I’ve been working on for over a year. I write when I get the chance but, because I’m a huge procrastinator and a Twitter addict, I frequently waste those chances playing on the Internet when I should be writing. I’ve committed myself to writing 500 new words a day. Whether I can do it remains to be seen.

6. What was the most interesting thing you learned in reasearching your most recent release?

I didn’t really do a lot of research for Kiss and Kin. For Rocky Mountain Howl, my still unfinished WIP set in the same world as Kiss and Kin, I had to research several different subjects – Icelandic ponies, Norse mythology, the bloodline of Somerled, King of the Isles, and how well cats see in the dark (the answer: very well. In fact, better than dogs). I’m a law librarian in real life, so research is my thing anyway. I love it.

7. You're marooned on a tropical island (yay!!!), what sexy celebrity and comfort reads would you want with you?

Clive Owen and the complete works of both Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. In fact, if I had Clive and the books, I’d probably refuse all offers of rescue.

Actually, on second thought – I’d like Clive Owen, Dave Navarro and Nathan Fillion. And the books. And I’d definitely refuse rescue.

8. Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what's your favourite, or does it change from book to book?

I love music but I can’t listen to it while writing – way too distracting (Kelly Jamieson and I are not the same person, I swear). I can’t take any sounds but white noise when I’m writing. If I’m in my room, I turn on my noise maker.

9. What's your favourite writing procrastionation trick?

Hands down, the Internet and all its many temptations, especially Twitter, email and a few gossip blogs which I must check every day without fail.


That’s it. Like I said, my latest – and so far only – published work is the novella Kiss and Kin, available here. I’m almost (I swear) finished with Rocky Mountain Howl and I’ve started outlining Nick and TJ’s story. Nick and TJ are secondary characters in Kiss and Kin, and several readers have emailed to ask me when and if I’d do a book for them.

One last thing – I LOVE it when readers email to tell me they liked the book. It rocks my world. To everyone who’s contacted me, thank you thank you thank you.