Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.
My name is Kate Hawthorne and I write steamy and angsty gay romance. I also write spicy sapphic romance as Nikki Markham. I’m southern California born and raised, but I’ve been living in Kentucky for the past three years. I have a doting husband, a wild six year old, and a lazy senior Jack Russell. I love coffee, wine, funyuns, and dark chocolate, though not at the same time.
When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?
All my series really standalone, so it’s not like I’m trying to carry one specific couple through more than one book…but that said, the latter books are ALWAYS harder because it’s more people and more events to keep track of!
When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I like to twist tropes, but not subvert them. Even if I’m recycling tropes sometimes (which, there’s only. so many) I try to come at them from different backstories and new angles so the stories don’t read similar to anything I’ve done before. I think that each character and couple are different from the ones who’ve come before them, so their stories will be different too.
Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?
It’s all about finding a balance. You can’t write all the time. You can’t be on social media all the time. You can’t outline all the time. It’s a lot of trial and error to find out what works best for you and your schedule. Some people have 4 hours a day to write, some people have 30 minutes. The best advice I can give is don’t compare YOUR process or progress to anyone else. Make sure it serves you and go from there.
On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?
At least 2 hours, sometimes more. I try to get at least a chapter down before lunch but it doesn’t always work out.
Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.
Rhys St. George from my Two Truths and a Lie series is my favorite. He has the most amazing redemption arc across the three books in that series. Rhys goes from being the villainous ex-boyfriend to the controlling older brother to FINALLY the man who deserves some of his own happiness. He’s based on my very best friend who was very much flawed and perfect all at once, and I’ve infused Rhys with all of that energy too. Rhys is calculating and manipulative, but he doesn’t do anything that won’t benefit the people he loves, even if they don’t see it at first. He is the most selfless character I’ve ever written.
If any of your books were to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it? What book and who?
I COULD NEVER CHOOSE. This is so horribly unfair. I plead the fifth.
What is your definition of success?
Honestly, as long as I out earn what it cost me to produce a book, I’m happy. My definition of success is based much more around the impact I have on other people’s lives. When readers reach out to thank me for the topics I cover in my stories or the kind of representation I put on the page, that means just as much to me as meeting my bottom line.
Do you have anything you want to share that didn’t fit on one of these questions?
I have novellas available for free on my website:
http://www.katehawthornebooks.com/freebies
They all tie into existing books, but can also be fun standalone reads.
What are your social links?
Newsletter – http://www.katehawthornebooks.com/extra
Facebook – http://facebook.com/katehawthornebooks
Facebook Group – http://facebook.com/groups/hawthornesharem
Twitter – http://twitter.com/katewriteswords
Insta – http://instagram.com/kate.hawthorne
Tiktok – http://tiktok.com/@katehawthornebooks
Amazon – http://author.to/katehawthorne
What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)
Website – http://www.katehawthornebooks.com
Amazon – http://author.to/katehawthorne
Want tickets to Writers on the River #2023?
They are available starting November 4th at Writersontheriver.com
$45 VIP sell out quickly – 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included.
$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party.
$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.
$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.