Interview - Kathryn Meyer Griffith

The Heart of the Rose, a Paranormal Romance
Kathryn Meyer Griffith (Author’s Revised Edition…originally published by Leisure Paperbacks in 1985)
Buy at Eternal Press $8.95
Buy at Amazon $8.95

Thank you for joining us today. Before we begin, why don't you tell everyone a bit about your book?

Kathryn: THE HEART OF THE ROSE is really the very first book I ever wrote…begun 39 years ago when I was only 21 years old. I set it aside for years as I went through a divorce, remarriage and getting a real job in the real world and then rewrote and finally sold it as my second published novel to Leisure paperbacks 25 years ago in 1985. This is the new revised author’s edition out now from Eternal Press www.eternalpress.biz. Whew, it took a lot of rewriting because I was so young and green when I originally wrote it and had it published. It was before I found my voice and started writing what I was supposed to be writing…horror. This revised version is 2000% better! The book is about a 15th century peasant woman who’s a healer (and thus believed to be a witch by some) who is loved by Edward the Fourth of England as well as his powerful but cruel cousin, Richard, the Earl of Warwick (known as the Kingmaker). The main characters and events are historically correct but Bronwyn is a fictional woman inserted into that time period. In 1985 it was passed off as a bodice ripper (racy generic cover)…now rewritten (with a beautiful new cover by Dawne Dominique that’s more representative of the story) it’s more a romantic paranormal.

Where did the concept for the book come about?

Kathryn: When I was 21, just having had a baby and home bored, not working, I read a really bad historical romance novel and thought: I could do better than this! So I started writing on my letter-sticking old electric typewriter. I’d always loved the time of Edward the Fourth and the story of him and his ambitious cousin Warwick, and decided to set my book during that time…throw in a touch of the supernatural with an alleged fictional witch/healer and ta-da! Now only 39 years later…ta-da!

How long did it take you to finish, from concept to final product?

Kathryn: Ha, ha….39 years! Though the actual writing time and rewriting can’t be more than three to four years condensed.

Are there any authors that have influenced your own writing?

Kathryn: For my horror novels I’d say touches of Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz Anne Rice and Stephen King. Lots more because I’ve written murder mysteries and suspense as well. I love any fiction novel (any genre) if well written.

Do you have any favorite place where you feel your Muse is more apt to come and play while you write? Or perhaps you listen to music? If so, what do you listen to?

Kathryn: I can’t listen to music at all when I write…but I like the TV on low to keep me company. I write on my recliner couch in my comfy living room with my laptop on my lap.

As a writer, what is your greatest fear?

Kathryn: Now that’s a hard one because I’ve been writing so long, have had 14 books and 7 short stories published, and have actually seen all my worst fears come true one time or another and in one way or another. I’ve had publishers go bankrupt (my first publisher Tower who was later bought out by Leisure Books…who then did publish my first three novels) in the middle of my book editing, had a book pulled (after the final proofing, cover done) six weeks away from going to the bookshelves, agent dumping me, long stretches – 9 years once – when I couldn’t get anything published anywhere and a hundred other fears. Awful covers, awful editors. Cruel reviews. On and on. Too many to list here. Never writer’s block, though. So now nothing scares me….much.

What normally occupies your desk while writing? Pencils? Coffee mugs? Breakfast crumbs?

Kathryn: On the end table by my recliner couch there’s always a cup of my homemade chocolate coffee, maybe a chocolate snack or cookies. The thesaurus combination dictionary. A pad of paper to jot down notes….though I always keep a sort of running list of characters and stuff on each book on my laptop (my Rap Sheets I call them) and keep track of everything that way.

Do you have any new projects that you are working on? If so, what are they?

Kathryn: Yep, still in the process (on book # 5 now…4 have come out already, 2 new novels and 2 old) of bringing out 9 books between June 2010 and July 2012…. 7 of them being my old Leisure and Zebra paperbacks rewritten for the revised author editions for Damnation Books and Eternal Press. They go back 26 years and will all be in new paperbacks, rewritten, new covers and in e-books for the first time ever.

What tip would you offer to a new writer who is just beginning their submission journey?

Kathryn: First, make sure you’ve written your book or short story the best you can. Make sure there’s no misspellings or typos. Rewrite. Rewrite. Rewrite! Then be ready for rejections if they come, the natural ups and downs of the writing world…but don’t be discouraged. Most importantly think of your writing career as a marathon, not an easy sprint. A lifelong journey. A writer writes, lives the life of patience with a thick skin and never gives up. Mingle with other writers if you can. It helps. Get an agent if you can (they’re hard critters to capture, though). Otherwise, be prepared for a wild trip. Love the writing itself and not the promise of fame and fortune (yeah, not many of us get that). And don’t forget to live your life between the pages…don’t just write, but do, experience life everyday. It makes you a better writer in the long run.

Please tell our readers where they can find you.

Kathryn:  www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith
See all my new covers and self-made book trailers; some with my singer/songwriter brother Jim Meyer’s original songs!

http://kathrynmeyergriffith.intuitwebsites.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=1019954486
http://www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyerG
http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith
http://www.jacketflap.com/K.Griffith
http://www.shoutlife.com/kathrynmeyergriffith
http://www.goodreads.com/profile/kathrynmeyergriffith
http://www.previewthebook.com/search.php?keyword=Kathryn+Meyer+Griffith&x=23&y=12

My e-mail: rdgriff@htc.net

If you want to add anything please feel free to do so.

Kathryn: Not much. I’m still on the journey…even after 39 years. Some days I hate being a writer and other days I love it. It’s just…my life. I do have four new releases out: BEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons and THE LAST VAMPIRE (Author Revised Edition, originally a 1992 Zebra Paperback) from Damnation Books www.damnationbooks.com and THE WOMAN IN CRIMSON and THE HEART OF THE ROSE (Author Revised Edition) from Eternal Press http://www.eternalpress.biz/

Marva, Thank you for having me!