Welcome to Day 8 of #NJ12DaysOfAuthors (May) Series! @KathleenHarrym1 #WhenDarknessFalls

GIVEAWAY:

At the end of this series, 1 lucky visitor will win a (12) Kindle e-book pack which will include a copy of each book featured in this series + a $10 Amazon gift card!  Simply leave a comment below to be entered into the drawing!

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On the 8th day of the May “12 Days of Authors” Series… Nonnie’s gift to you…

AUTHOR, KATHLEEN HARRYMAN!

Author bio:

Kathleen Harryman is an award-winning storyteller and poet living in the historically rich city of York, North Yorkshire, England, with her husband, children, pet dog. 

Kathleen was first published in 2015, a suspenseful thriller The Other Side of the Looking Glass. Since then, Kathleen has gone one to win a New Apple Award in Excellence for her psychological thriller When Darkness Falls.

Kathleen has developed a unique writing style which readers have enjoyed. With the release of her poetry and historical romance based during World War II Kathleen has now become a multi-genre author of suspense, psychological thrillers, poetry, and historical romance.

NJ:  Is your author name a pen name or your birth name?

Kathleen:  Yes, my author name and birth name are the same.  I remember reading an article on an author you wrote under different pen names and they spoke about the confusion of who they were that day. So, I thought let’s keep things simple and kept to my actual name.

NJ:  How long have you been writing?

Kathleen:  My first book was published in 2015, however I have been writing in one form or another since I can first remember.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS

NJ:  Please give us just a little background on WHEN DARKNESS FALLS. What is it about?

Kathleen:  When Darkness Falls was developed from one question “What’s wrong with being a psychopath?” The story is told from the killer’s point of view and asks the question Are serial killers made or evil?

Tracy Bennett is your average, middle of the road woman working at a make-counter in a York department store. However, Tracy carries a secret that not even she is aware of, or wants anyone to discover…

Assumptions will be made, and conclusions reached, until the reader finds their theories debunked as the story unfolds.

NJ:  I got on Twitter many years ago because my social media manager at the time, told me that I needed to be on Twitter. He did not give me an actual reason as to why (I had to learn my “why” on my own), just that I needed to be there.  What was your main reason for getting on Twitter?  For support? For fun?

Kathleen:  I joined Twitter in 2015. This was due to the release of my first book. I was told to embrace social media, something I had never done. Saying that I have met some pretty amazing people snince joining Twitter.

NJ:  What other social media platforms do you use to market your book(s), and have you found them to be beneficial?

Kathleen:  I am on quite a few social media platforms. The main social media for me is Twitter, which I have found to be a beneficial marketing tool.

NJ:  Supporting others is a huge part of my identity. I believe that when you invest your time and support in others, you find that your circle grows by leaps and bounds of others giving the same to you. When I first got involved heavily on Twitter, I was pushing others more than I was pushing myself – I continue to do so. Do you support others on social media?  If so, how?

Kathleen:  Supporting my fellow authors is really important to me, and I will always do so. I also support other medias as well.  My Twitter account features many of these on a daily basis, with banners and links to their website or books.

NJ:  Do you actually take the time to read tweets from others before you retweet them, or do you just hit “retweet” without ever engaging in the tweet?

Kathleen:  That is an interesting question. Someone sent out a tweet recently where they asked the same thing. It did make me wonder how many people hit the RT button without reading what it was they were RTing.   When it comes to Tweets, the first thing that grabs my attention is the image, or MP4 file. Then I’m drawn to the message. Translating the Tweet if required.   Supporting via RTs is important, but you need to make sure you agree with the content.

NJ:  If you could map out the perfect way that you would want others to support you on social media, how would you ask your followers to support you? Just imagine that everyone who reads this interview will run out and follow you.  How could they best support you?  What would you have them do?

Kathleen:  I think that’s quite a tough question. I actually asked a few of my friends this to gain their response. They all said to buy and review a book. For me it’s different. Support is immensely important and can be something as simple as someone saying I love you book cover, or your book sounds amazing. A smiley face or thumbs up is fabulous to see too.  I think visibility is one of the key elements in promoting and selling any book.  An RT does this nicely as it spreads the word. Positive comments towards my books gives me a happy boost.   I am always grateful when a fellow Twitter follower reaches out in a positive way.

NJ:  We all learn something new almost every day while on social media and I like sharing what I have learned with other authors, in hopes that it will benefit them in some way. Have you come across any writing resources that might benefit other authors?  If so, share 2 or 3 of them with us, please.

Kathleen:  I always use Pro-Writing Aid when editing my books. From a quick glance this software will highlight any issues, including passive voice. You can also set the software in line with which ever genre you are writing. Here’s the link:  https://prowritingaid.com/Premium

My next must is providing a universal link when promoting your books. Making it easy for a reader to access your book is essential and a universal link provides this. I use Book Linker to do this. Here’s the link: https://www.booklinker

NJ:  What is the one bit of writing advice you would give to any author, experienced or newbie?

Kathleen:  My advice for anyone is:  Whatever the genre research is a key ingredient. Make sure you understand you audience, subject and never stop asking questions, it keeps the story real.

NJ:  Is writing only a hobby for you or do you write full time?

Kathleen:  I would love to write full-time, however at present that isn’t possible. It would be lovely to face each day writing.

NJ:  Is your reputation as a writer important to you, OR might we look up one day and find that you are in a Twitter brawl with someone?

Kathleen:  Reputation is very important. I don’t believe in getting involved in a war of words. Everyone will read something that they agree or disagree with, this happens in our daily lives all the time. I believe in keeping things positive and appreciating everything I have and helping others whenever possible.

NJ:  In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between the writers you see today around social media, versus the writers of old?

Kathleen:  Writing has evolved over the centuries. The greats will always be great, there is no dispute about that. I have huge respect for the writers of old. Today’s reader wants to be plunged straight into the story. I once read an article from an editor who had worked for a prestigious publishing house, she said she knew from the first paragraph if the manuscript was going to be accepted. That is quite a scary fact.

Her advice was not to over flower your writing. Set the scene quickly, with efficiency keeping the reader engaged. The days of long scene setting was over.  I don’t know if this is true, but it did make a lot of sense.

NJ:  Do you value professionalism in the literary arena and worry that the lack thereof makes it harder for those of us who wish to be taken seriously in this business? Or, does the unprofessional behavior of some around social media not bother you at all?

Kathleen:  The world of social media is tough. It can be manipulated and used as a tool to gain attention. I’m not the most techno person when it comes to understanding social media, however I believe that professionalism in literary is required. Words affect us all and I would never wish to make anyone sad because of something I put on social media. That isn’t me. I prefer to keep things professional and positive.

NJ:  If you have ever received any, how do you handle not-so-flattering reviews of your book(s)?

Kathleen:   Everyone has different tastes, ideas and opinions. Yes, it is hard when someone writes a review that you don’t like or leaves you pondering over some of the criticism. Not everyone is going to like your book because we are all different. Remain positive, try and understand what the reviewer was saying. It could make your writing better, or at least make you consider other possibilities when writing or plotting your next book.

NJ:  Do you appreciate honesty regarding your writing because you know that only honest feedback allows you to grow as a writer, or are you one of those who would prefer that others lie to you and tell you only what they know you want to hear?

Kathleen:  Honesty is a hard master. I would always want someone to be honest with me about my writing. How else am I ever going to improve? Yes, I’ve been in a situation where honesty has brought me down, but I’ve dusted myself off, given myself a talking to and thought right come one, let’s make this better. I want to improve. To be the best writer I can be. To accomplish that I need honesty.

NJ:  {Sigh}  Kathleen, if only everyone would take your advice above.  Now, do you have a blog or website? If so, what is the URL so that we can visit and follow you, or sign up for your newsletter if you have one?

Kathleen:  I have a website, but I’m not a blogger. People can find me here: https://www.kathleenharryman.com

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OTHER QUICK FACTS ABOUT KATHLEEN…

• Indie
• Multi genre author – Psychological Thriller, Romantic Suspense, Historical Fiction, Paranormal Romance and Poetry
• 6 published books to date
• WHEN DARKNESS FALLS – Amazon $2.99 / FREE KINDLE UNLIMITED
•  Formats own books

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FOLLOW KATHLEEN ON…

Twitter:  @KathleenHarrym1

Facebook

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Guests, thank you so much for dropping by to support Kathleen on Day 8 of the May “12 DAYS OF AUTHORS” Series!  It would be awesome if you would pick up a copy of her book above, and after reading, share your review to Amazon.  Ensure that you leave her a comment below, and also LIKE her feature before you leave, for your chance to win the grand prize package listed above!  We’d both appreciate it if you would share her feature to Twitter and Facebook, as well.

To follow along with the rest of the features in this series, visit the “12 DAYS OF AUTHORS” home page!  There will be a new feature tomorrow!  I’d also love it if you would #follow my site, as well as following me on Twitter @NonnieJules, as my truest joy is in service to others.  I’d love to support you, too!

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN MY #NJ12DaysOfAuthors Series?  Click HERE to sign up!

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DISCLAIMER:  Any guest material appearing at WATCH NONNIE WRITE! is not edited, proofed or changed in any manner by the the owner of this blog. Material is posted as it is written and submitted.  It is not my place to make changes to someone else’s writing, as what I view as needing correcting, just might be the way the author intended the material to read.

• Posted in: Advice ♦ authors ♦ blog tour