Interview: Josi Kilpack

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Welcome to Beck’s Book Picks. I am very excited to have Josi Kilpack here today.

Tell us a little about yourself?

Well, I’m a mother of four, I’ve written 14 books, I live in the country, I run and can fruit and work in my church and my husband’s business and vacuum when I have to. All those things contribute to make me completely neurotic but when I’m not overwhelmed I don’t know what to do so I stay sufficiently overwhelmed to remain comfortable.

Tell us a little about your latest release and how you came up with the idea?

Pumpkin Roll is the 6^th  book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series. As the series gets longer I get more and more worried about keeping the books fresh and not repeating the plotlines, which led me to this story which is set in Boston at Halloween and has Sadie asking herself if ghost stories are really stories at all. It’s a little creepier than my other books but presents Sadie with new challenges that were really fun to throw at her. And although the book is #6 in the series, each of the books stand alone and don’t give away other books so they can be read in any order.

Do  you only write this one genre or have you branched out?

My first 8 books were faith based women’s fiction. This series was the first series I’d ever done and the first full on mystery I’d ever done either. It’s been a learning experience, but a fun one.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve just sent book 7 into my publisher, it will be out in February, and so I’m getting started on Book 8 which is as of yet untitled.

Do you have any writing quirks?

Not really. I’m a big ol’ mess when I write. I jump from scene to scene, edit while I write, cut out chunks of words and change direction a hundred times. Sometimes I need background noise, sometimes I need silence. It’s kind of ridiculous.

What gets you into the mood to write?

I have gotten over my moods. With two books coming out each year, I write because it’s my job and I have to find room for it just like anyone else that clocks in at their job. There are times when I want to write more than others, but most of the time it’s getting my rear in the chair and just putting the words down.

Favorite snack or drink while you write?

I’m so boring. My favorite thing to have is water. I also like trail mix, with M & M’s and skittles, I eat it with a spoon so that I get a perfect bite and don’t get my fingers salty.

Any words of advice to aspiring authors?

Be open to the growth necessary to become really good at what you do. It won’t happen overnight, and there will be failures along the way the failures will make you better if you can be humble enough to learn from them. Go to Writing conferences, read books, and don’t ever think you’re so good that you don’t have something else to learn. I truly believe that God does not waste the desire to write on people he doesn’t expect to take that seed and grow it into something amazing. I encourage you to believe that too, and see your desire as a starting point, not a destination.

What are you currently reading?

A bunch of novels set in New Mexico as part of my research for Book 8, which will be set in New Mexico. Currently I’m reading The Wilder Sisters by Jo-Ann Mapson, she’s an excellent writer and I’m enjoying it very much.

And finally, is there anything you would like to share?

My publisher is sponsoring a contest for an iPad2. Anyone who comments on this post will be entered. For additional ways to enter, go to my website www.josiskilpack.com--multiple entries are encouraged.