18Q Allison Knight

Allison Knight

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?

Writing chose me. I had to write, and the more I read, the more I knew I had to write.

2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)

I’m a college graduate & taught school for years. Nope, not English - Home Economics.

3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer?

I knew I could write - something - when I won a writing scholarship in eight grade. (A long time ago)

4. How would you describe your style of writing?

My style of writing is casual, contemporary fiction. (New name?)

5. What is your writing process?

First comes a scene, or a character. Then I ask ‘what if?’ I’m also a plotter.

I have to have the characters, names, plot, (at least the basics) even a title then

I’m ready to begin. Oh, and lots of research.

6. What was your path to publication?

I read a book I didn’t like, knew I could do better, and wrote my first book.

I made all the classic mistakes. Sent the whole 450 page manuscript to a publishing company president. Bless him. I got a very nice letter back saying thank you, but no thank you and keep writing. So, I did.

7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?

My Web Page & Blog. I work at both of them often. Yes, I do my own web page. I like the control.

8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer?

Just because you publish a couple of books doesn’t make you a good writer.

Writing takes practice. Writing well takes study, practice, more practice, editing, reading, and more practice.

9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity?

I have a wonderful husband. He encourages me. He inspires me. And creativity? Anything can set me off. Another book, a piece of music, a scene from an opera, a TV program. (I’m very lucky - my head is Always full of strange people who are shouting to have their stories told.) 10. What is your proudest writer moment? When I was teaching, one of my students stopped me to tell me he had read my first historical romance. I Figured he was going to criticize the book, (after all it was a historical romance and he was a senior in high school)

Instead he admitted it was the first book he’d completely read. He admitted he liked it. I met him a couple of years later in a local bookstore, his arms full of books. I introduced him to the joy of reading. That had to be my proudest moment.

11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing?

If you don’t understand point of view, write in first person. It was like a flashing light bulb for me.

12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?

A book signing where none of my family showed. And I was in their town.

13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?

Trying to provide good promotion on a limited budget.

14. What is your writer life philosophy?

Write every day. It won’t always be good, but your mind is busy, your fingers flowing over The keyboard, the thought processes continuing.

15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun?

I love to read. I read 12 - 15 books a month. I also like to visit local Casinos. Penny slots are lots of fun and don’t cost much money.

16. Who do you like to read?

I honestly can’t name a favorite. I have so many.

17. What’s your advice for new writers?

Keep writing, and study, study, read, read, and read.

18. What are you currently working on?

Which one??? I have a historical I need to edit, I have another historical I need to finish, I have a partial on which I must work, And, of course, I have a new gothic romance that insists on being told. (That’s what I mean about the characters in my head. Bunches waiting for their moment.)

Allison’s 18Q