Vamps and Scamps Blog Interview with Kay Stockham:
V&S: OkayâŚstandard questions all us writers get asked. đ Which came firstâŚoh, wait. Wrong question. When did you first start writing?
Kay Stockham: LOL I’m one of those writers who began writing at birth–okay, maybe not that early. But I was in first grade when the teacher held up a book and told the class who illustrated the book, and then who wrote it. I truly remember sitting there thinking, âI’m gonna be a writer when I grow up.â Not long after that I had the chicken pox and while I was stuck at home, I copied the pictures out of a Charlie Brown book and rewrote the story because I didn’t like the plot. I’ve been writing ever since. J
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V&S: Could you tell us about your first sale?
Kay Stockham: My first sale came with a phone call February 12, 2005, at 12:30. You want the seconds, too? <G> I was on my way out the door to be room mom at my kids’ Valentine’s Day parties at school–and I couldn’t stay home after getting the call because I had the cupcakes. LOL Anyway, the editor (Johanna Raisanen) said she wanted to buy my book and I became her first crier. Yup, I cried. I was just so happy. It was a dream come true and I’d resigned myself to job hunting in the fall if I hadn’t sold by then.
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V&S: When you got the contract offer, did you squeal or just sit there and stammer like I did?
Kay Stockham: See above. *sigh* Nope, I cried. I made sure I explained that they were happy tears, and we agreed to talk terms later, which I learned was standard format for the eds since they give you a chance to catch your breath, call everyone on earth to give them the news and then call you back when your heart rate is normal again.
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V&S: What’s your favorite kind of story to write?
Kay Stockham: Oh, no question here. I LOVE an emotional, sexy, make-them-work-for-it romance. Sexy is a hero (and heroine) willing to fight for what they want and sacrifice their own desires to make their mate happy. I’m such a sap for a HEA.
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V&S: Is there a certain kind of story, genre-wise or sub-genre, that you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t done so?
Kay Stockham: Tough question! Actually, there are a couple of them. My first attempt at writing was a futuristic-based time travel. I still have that story in my head. I love paranormal but I don’t think that’s in the cards for me. And I also love historicals and longer contemporaries. Those are definitely pleasure reads for me. Maybe one of these days⌠J
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V&S: Is there a certain genre you have no interest in writing?
Kay Stockham: Back to the question above. If I write something, I want to write it well. Paranormal is definitely something I’ll probably never try. Love to read it, can’t see myself writing it, tho. Another is erotica. It’s just not for me. Great for those who can do it, but my writing tends to be sexy but tamer. <G>
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V&S: What is your favorite(s) genre to read?
Kay Stockham: Contemporary, paranormal and historical, in that order. <G>
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V&S: Now some fun questionsâŚwould you consider yourself a vamp or are you more of a scamp?
Kay Stockham: Oooh! The geek-girl in me needs definitions! LOL Can I be a mix of both? I think it depends on my mood. đ
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V&S: QuickâŚwithout thinking about itâŚname five authors.
Kay Stockham: Lori Foster, JR Ward, Debbie Macomber, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Lisa Kleypas.
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V&S: Name five movies.
Kay Stockham: The Illusionist (loved it!), Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Something’s Gotta Give, hmmmmmâŚ.. How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, and⌠Iron Man? LOL I have a lot of ‘comfort’ movies. I saw Iron Man recently and loved it–and basically rewrote it in my head to include a romance between the hero and his assistant–so much chemistry there and no romance!
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V&S: Name five books.
Kay Stockham: Gone With The Wind, Ain’t She Sweet?, Lover Awakened, Heiress for Hire (loved it! Erin should’ve won the RITA! J), and Say No To Joe.
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V&S: And since we always like to know what everybody is up to, want to tell us what you’re working on right now?
Kay Stockham: I’m currently finishing up revisions for the third book in my Tulanes of Tennessee series and getting ready to dig into the fourth book. Have to tell you, I love this family. When I pitched the series, I thought I knew them pretty well, but they’re proving me wrong in unique and surprising ways. I’m going to be sad when the series is finished. Luckily, I have two siblings left to write!
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Thanks, Kay!
Thank you!