Ask the Author: K.J. McPike
Answered Questions (9)
K.J. McPike
Hogwarts! (Does that count as a world? In my mind, it's a world.) I'd go there to learn magic, of course.
K.J. McPike
"Does that mean what I think it means?" she asked, her hand trembling as she pointed to the monitor.
Her friend's eyes went wide, and he nodded slowly as he whispered, "No WiFi."
Her friend's eyes went wide, and he nodded slowly as he whispered, "No WiFi."
K.J. McPike
Oh, it's tough to pick one, but I always thought Ron and Hermione were perfect for each other!
K.J. McPike
Good to know. Thanks for the brand recommendations. Despite the abundance of tractors in the town I grew up in, I admittedly know nothing about them. Now I can at least feel informed.hehe Thanks for the well wishes! Next up in my Astralis series is Tenuous, which features some time traveling and lots of mayhem. If all goes according to plan, it will be out this spring! :)
K.J. McPike
Hehe, I never actually drove a tractor to school, though in retrospect, I should have because the kids that did got early dismissal. Believe it or not, I have never driven a tractor at all. If the opportunity ever presents itself again, I'll see if I can get my hands on an old For 950. ;)
K.J. McPike
Interestingly enough, the idea came to me while I was trying to map out the plot for a different book.
For those of you who don't know, I have a tattoo on the back of my neck of a symbol I designed when I was in high school. The symbol combines the first initials of my four siblings with my own first initial.
As I was thinking about where to take the storyline for the other novel, I started rubbing the back of my neck. Then it hit me that it would be really fun to write a book about five siblings and a symbol they shared that had some kind of mystical power. The idea of astral projection has always fascinated me, so that came to me right away. Everything else I originally planned transformed quite a bit through the writing process, but it all began with a tattoo and a little bit of writer's block.
For those of you who don't know, I have a tattoo on the back of my neck of a symbol I designed when I was in high school. The symbol combines the first initials of my four siblings with my own first initial.
As I was thinking about where to take the storyline for the other novel, I started rubbing the back of my neck. Then it hit me that it would be really fun to write a book about five siblings and a symbol they shared that had some kind of mystical power. The idea of astral projection has always fascinated me, so that came to me right away. Everything else I originally planned transformed quite a bit through the writing process, but it all began with a tattoo and a little bit of writer's block.
K.J. McPike
I am currently working on XODUS Genesis (Book 2 in the Astralis Series) and a novella (or maybe a companion novel depending on where the word count ends up) that is written from Kai's perspective just before, during, and slightly after the events that take place in XODUS. There is so much going on in my head right now!
K.J. McPike
Make time to read and write every day. Both are equally important.
Also, try not to go back and edit until you get to the end of your project. I spent so much time editing and perfecting scenes as I wrote them, only to find I had to cut them once XODUS was completed. Cutting scenes always seems to be heartbreaking, but it eases the pain if you didn't spend countless hours working on one before you give it the axe.
Also, try not to go back and edit until you get to the end of your project. I spent so much time editing and perfecting scenes as I wrote them, only to find I had to cut them once XODUS was completed. Cutting scenes always seems to be heartbreaking, but it eases the pain if you didn't spend countless hours working on one before you give it the axe.
K.J. McPike
So far, the best remedy I've found for writer's block is to close my laptop and use good old-fashioned pen and paper. I usually just start writing words on the page, even if those words have nothing to do with my project. I've been known to begin with things like "I have no idea what to write" and go from there (shout out to my tenth-grade English teacher, Ms. Stanley, for teaching me that trick). Once the pen gets moving, there's no stopping it. Best case scenario: I get back on track with my project. Worst case: I get my frustrations out. I figure it's win-win.
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