Interview: Kathryn J. Bain, Romance Writer

Kathryn J. Bain was born in Spokane, Washington, then immediately shipped to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where she lived until she graduated from North Idaho Jr. College. After that, Bain packed her bags and moved to Boise, where she lived for two years beforethe warmth of Florida beckoned her away from the colder northern climates.

"Once my toes hit the sand in Florida, there was no turning back," she says. "I have lived in Jacksonville for over 26 years where I am a Florida Certified Registered Paralegal. I have worked in the legal field for over twenty years specializing in guardianship, probate and estate planning. I am also the mother of two grown daughters."

Bain's first book, Breathless, was released in January, 2012. Her second, a humorous novella titled Game of Hearts, came out two months later. Her next romantic suspense, Catch your Breath, is scheduled for release later in 2012.

SB: Tell us a bit about your "day job." Does your work as a paralegal shape your fiction writing?

KB: I work for an elder law attorney four days a week, six hours a day so you can see it doesn't interfere much with my writing. Yes, I am spoiled, but I'm old and deserve a break.

In the current humorous mystery I'm working on, my heroine uses some of the research on-line that I do at work. It's fun to be able to write about something without having to stop to do a lot of research.

SB: If you could travel back in time to any year, what would it be (and why)? Would you change your answer if you knew there'd be no way back to the present?

KB: You don't make this easy, do you? I'd travel back to the year Microsoft first came out and I'd buy a lot of stock. (LOL) Then I wouldn't have to work today and I could write full-time. It's also about the time my first daughter was born so I could use the knowledge I've learned over the years to be a better mother.

SB: You've written both for the Christian/inspirational market and for more mainstream publishers. Have you found any great differences between the two processes?

KB: There really isn't a lot of difference. You just have to put more "God" stuff in the inspirational. The process is fairly similar in that they both do edits, my covers for me, and things along those lines.

SB: Do you have a favorite charity or cause that you support? Does your interest in this cause show up in your writing?

KB: I love children's causes. I'm a big fan of the Shriners and support them throughout the year.

A new cause I've learned about recently is called DLC Nurse and Learn Center here in Jacksonville. It's an education center for developmentally disabled children. They don't just watch them like a daycare would, they actually teach them, do physical therapy and things like that. They take in the children other day care centers don't and prorate how much the parent pays so it's not as expensive as some places might be. This enables parents to work and know their children are being cared for in a good environment.

SB: A hundred fifty years ago, even works of serious literary fiction were generally what we would today call "preachy." That is rather frowned on it today's literary circles, though. Overall, do you think this change has led to a positive or negative impact on fiction?

KB: I think it's a positive impact because while writing today is not "preachy", there are subtle morals in most books. I think kids today roll their eyes and tune you out if you preach to them. By hiding the morals you can reach them. I can't imagine kids would have enjoyed the Harry Potter books as much if throughout Harry was giving lessons on friendship, strength, courage, etc. instead of subtley showing them how to do these things.

SB: Which of these is the closest to your style of writing: poetry, music, sculpting, dance, painting, theater, or television?

KB: Probably television. I used to watch a lot of TV years ago. Sometimes when I'm writing something, I see it in my mind as a made-for-tv movie. That's really sad, isn't it? I don't just see the movie, I actually choose the actors and actresses. I really need to get a life.

SB: Where do you do your best writing? and at what time of the day?

KB: I do my best writing first thing in the morning at my desk in the den. I'm usually up by 5:30 on workdays. On my days off, I am usually up by 6:00 or 6:30. By noon, it's nap time. Good thing I've got a recliner nearby. If I could, I'd crawl under my desk at work and have a little snooze. I'm just not sure my boss would appreciate that.

SB: If books were completely outlawed today, which would you miss more: reading or writing?

KB: Writing. I've got so many ideas floating around in my head that I'd go crazy if I couldn't get some of them out.

SB: Do you have any "star editors" you'd like to give a shout-out to here? What makes him/her/them so good at what he/she/they do?

KB: Nicola Martinez at White Rose Publisher is the one who did my book cover for Breathless. She did an awesome job. I've gotten so many compliments on it. And Lisa McCaskill with her editing is awesome!!!! Stephanie Taylor over at Astraea Press is also very impressive. But also everyone in my on-line critique group. They just keep me on track and catch all those commas I miss. I am so comma challenged, it's ridiculous.

SB: Was there you were hoping I'd ask that hasn't yet come up in our interview?

KB: No, you've done good. If you'd like I'll put you in for a raise.

SB: What can readers look for next from Kathryn J. Bain?

KB: The sequel to Breathless will be coming out later this year. I'm hoping for sometime in the summer. It's called Catch Your Breath. See a resemblance?

Near the end of the year or the beginning of next year will be another romantic suspense book titled Beautiful Imperfection. In it my heroine is dealing with the aftermath of breast cancer. I plan to donate 25% of my author's proceeds from the sale of the book to a local Jacksonville charity.

• President of Florida Sisters in Crime for 2010-2011
• The Public Relations Director for Ancient City Romance Authors, 2010-present
• Membership Director for Ancient City Romance Authors, 2012-present
• Co-author of the First Coast Romance Writer quarterly newsletter

She is also a member of

• American Christian Fiction Writers
• Florida Writers Association
• Southeast Writers Association
• Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of American