Join Kim McMahill as she talka about being a Panster or a Plotter #MFRWAuthor #Plotter #Panster #Plot #Characters

 

1. Are you a panster or a plotter or perhaps a bit of both? I’m definitely a bit of both. If the plot is exceptionally complex, I will plot. For example, in Shrouded in Secrets, I outlined most of the chapters, had a cork board with character profiles and other pertinent information, and used a map with pushpins and yarn to find geographic intersections. For the Risky Research Series as a whole, I predetermined how many books in the series, the title of each book, and which piece of the diet and nutrition industry would be highlighted in each novel. But the scenes and stories that I have the most fun writing are those where I can just sit down at the keyboard and let the characters and action inspire me to write off the cuff.

 

2. Which comes first - characters or plot for you? It varies. In Big Horn Storm, I had to have a cowboy named Deuce, and I wrote the story for him. In the Risky Research Series and several other novels, I had an idea for the stories and created the characters to pull off the action, adventure, and suspense.

 

3. What are you working on now? Is this a book in a current series or something totally new? I just released the fourth novel in the Risky Research Series, A Measure of Madness, and I’m currently working on the fifth and final installment, A Recipe for Revenge.

 

4. Do you have some kind of object or place that figures in most of your books? I use gems a lot, hospitals and caves. The Risky Research Series is all about the diet product, nutrition, and fitness industries and the science supporting those. However, most of my novels are more action/adventure based and I love remote unforgiving natural environments which adds an additional obstacle that the characters must overcome for success and a happily-ever-after ending.

 

5. Do you write everyday or just when the spirit hits? I can’t force creative writing. I just have to feel it. I do generally spend time everyday on various marketing projects like writing and programming blogs, and putting content on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, but novel writing comes more in spurts.

 

6. Where can we find you?

Blog: https://www.kimmcmahill.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimmcmahill

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KimMcMahillAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmcmahill/

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/849945.Kim_McMahill

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kim-McMahill/e/B007IK0EJW/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kim-mcmahill

 

7. Who are your favorite authors? What about a book you’ve enjoyed? I have read every book in Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt series. I don’t know if his son will continue with that series or not since Mr. Cussler’s passing, so I’ve started reading his other work. I also love James Rollins and Dan Brown. The element all these authors have in common is great adventures, amazing locations, and a gift for creating suspense.