Kimberly’s Comments (group member since May 15, 2012)

Kimberly’s comments from the Q&A with Kimberly Brock group.

Jessica wrote: "Did you revise as you wrote the book? Or did you just blaze through to complete a first draft and then go back to rework the entire piece?"

I work both ways. I write pieces/scenes and then patch them together as I go along. At some point, I have something like a first draft. Then I play with that in a much more organized manner. For this novel, I worked on about four complete drafts that were often wildly different in places. In the end, I settled on a draft of the book that felt the most solid, that gave each of the voices in the story a full ARC and plenty to say without drowning out another character. I cut an entire POV and a very large thread from the final draft because I felt it was overshadowing the story between Roslyn and Damascus. So, to answer your question, I rework and rework. Call me Ms. Revision.

Cathleen wrote: "I've noticed that I seem to be most productive in the wee hours. Whether it's after everyone in the house have gone to bed or early in the morning before they wake up. Do you have a time when you'r..."

I am NOT a morning person (unless I'm in Hawaii with the time change working for me and then I WISH I was always a morning person). I am a complete night owl. I do write very late and often get up in the middle of the night and sneak down to my laptop for a few minutes. But the truth is, I work almost constantly. In any given moment, I am working on story. Whether it's while I'm mothering my three children, driving to carpool or sports practices, or hiding in the bath, my mind is working on story. The time I spend writing does not come in long stretches, but in the moments I can steal. I'm a time thief. Some days I think I CREATE time. lol

Cathleen wrote: "I'm so relieved to know that I'm not the only one whose work has gone through several incarnations before finally getting to the root of the story. :)"

I doubt you could say otherwise about any published work...at least I hope so! lol

C. wrote: "I love the title, too. Looking forward to the read. It's an intriguing, enticing title."

I could probably reveal here, too, that the title was inspired by a work of art that I referred to often during the final draft of the manuscript. I'll post the image under photos for the group, but I won't say more yet. I'd like to hear the group's reaction first. It would be interesting to know how it strikes you all. Credit for this photograph goes to an artist named Jolene Monheim. The woman in the photograph is my friend, Angelie Melzer.

C. wrote: "I love the title, too. Looking forward to the read. It's an intriguing, enticing title."

Thanks!

Ann wrote: "Understanding always comes after I have some distance. I love the title. It is what drew me to the book. ;)"

Well, I'm glad, Ann. I was on the fence for a little while because I worried it would be misleading in a market that is currently flooded with so many witches and vampires. Southern Gothic is a little different than readers of the latest craze might expect. But...part of me really wanted to use this title for that very reason. To make a statement. I guess the same statement that the book really makes about women embracing the things that empower them and how those things can sometimes make others uncomfortable.

River Witch had multiple titles for each draft. It was not until I submitted it to my current publisher that I chose the title The River Witch. It actually came to me long after the manuscript was complete and I began to think about the theme of women whose voices have been marginalized, or who have been held under suspicion for being different or powerful in their cultures. These ideas, along with fictionalized superstition on Manny's Island, and also some mermaid mythology that I stumbled across during the last revisions of the manuscript, inspired the final choice of title.

I started the first draft of River Witch almost exactly three years to the day of completing it. Two more years of submissions and revisions followed before I sold the manuscript for publication. It was a very long process and not all of it was spent writing - it also involved research and the evolution of the idea. There were several incarnations of the manuscript before it took the shape of the novel it is today.

In this thread, I'm happy to talk about my debut novel, The River Witch.

In this thread, I'm happy to discuss my writing process and answer any questions you may have about all things involved in creating a novel.

Thanks very much for joining my group. I'll be checking in to chat, get to know you and answer questions. In the meantime, please feel free to introduce yourself!