This week it is my pleasure to interview author Kristy McGinnis.

Me: Did you always know that you would write a book someday?     

Kristy: I kind of did. I was that kid who was always writing short stories and inventing friends. Life got in the way though, and the desire to write a book was pushed aside for a lot of years. I’m in a place now where I have the time and energy to really devote to writing.

Me: What inspired you to write this book?

Kristy: Well I don’t want to give away many spoilers, but I’m a mom of three and the kinds of situations described in this book are exactly the kind of things modern parents worry about. I had the basic idea sort of fomenting in my head for awhile, but then I read an interesting story in the news about a woman who received mysterious texts and how they affected her life and I knew that element would fit perfectly in this story.

Me: How did the cover of your book come to be? Is it exactly like you envisioned?

Kristy: I hired cover designer Cherie Fox based on her portfolio. Going into it, I had zero idea of what I wanted. I gave her a synopsis of the story and shared some of the symbolic items in the story and she immediately identified the blooming cereus flowers as both a key to my story and hauntingly beautiful enough to grace my cover. I was blown away by the end result, it’s the exact image I didn’t know I needed.

Me: Do you intend to keep writing?

Kristy: Absolutely, I’ve already “discovered” my next story, and am starting to work out the details on paper.

Me: What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Kristy: I like to write in complete silence at home. I also like to write in crowded, loud cafes. It’s as if the energy and noise from strangers doesn’t disturb me but instead inspires me… but that same noise level at home from my family would drive me bonkers.

Me: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite if more than one? If only 1 book then do you plan on writing more?

Kristy: Truthfully, two. This is the first I’ve decided to publish though. My “learner” book is a great story, but terribly organized and told. I may someday go back to it and rewrite, but for now I’ve moved on.

Me: Was there any interesting tidbits you edited out of this book?”

Kristy: Yes. I struggled over one of my characters and childhood abuse she had suffered. Ultimately I decided my story is pretty dark already in the middle section, and it felt gratuitous to leave the full horrors of her abuse in there. It’s a struggle because you don’t want to water down a character or story- but you also don’t want to overwhelm the reader with awfulness.

Kristy spent her childhood as a Navy “brat” and her adult years first as a service member and then as a Coast Guard wife. A lifelong wanderer and now empty nester, she’s set permanent anchor in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband and that most rascally of rascals- her cat Percy. When not plucking away at her keyboard or eagerly devouring every book she can get her hands on; she enjoys theater, beach combing, hiking, wine tasting, and obsessively planning the next journey.

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