Author Q&A – Kathleen Marple Kalb
Kathleen Marple Kalb
Kathleen Marple Kalb grew up in front of a microphone and a keyboard. She’s currently a weekend morning anchor at 1010 WINS Radio in New York, capping a career shstarted as a teenage DJ in her Western Pennsylvania hometown. She’s the author of the Ella Shane Mystery historical mystery series: A FATAL FINALE is out now, A FATAL FIRST NIGHT next spring. And, she just began a darkly comic new series on Chanillo.com: ON THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS.
1.Tell us about your writing/published books:
I write the Ella Shane historical mystery series, published by Kensington. A FATAL FINALE (out now) and A FATAL FIRST NIGHT (4/27/21) feature the misadventures of a Gilded Age diva who’s a perfect lady and a crackerjack swordsman, her “confirmed bachelor” cousin – yes, that means what you think it does – and a colorful cast of old New York characters. Plus, there’s a slow-burn romance with a hot Duke. I also just started a new series on Chanillo.com. ON THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS is a wickedly funny piece featuring Grace Adair, a librarian, nice suburban mom…and consecrated assassin. New chapters every Monday.
2.What’s your favourite genre to read?
In fiction: cozy or lighter series mysteries. But I read an awful lot of non-fiction or very fact-based historical fiction when I’m writing. The last thing I want to do is accidentally steal someone else’s great plot ideas. So, when I’m in a project, I spend my off hours at the Tudor Courts – I’m a major Alison Weir fangirl.
3.Have you always wanted to write?
Always. I can’t even REMEMBER when I started writing fiction. When I was sixteen, I actually wrote and tried to sell an historical novel inspired by the mystery of what happened to the last Tsar and his family. A few editors read it…but thankfully no one bought it. After college, between building a career and then a family, I didn’t write fiction for a long time. But when my son started kindergarten, I decided to try again.
4.Tell us about a scene you love but had to edit out of your book.
In A FATAL FINALE, which is set in 1899, Ella and her friends go to a baseball game at the Polo Grounds. It was tremendously fun to write, and a lot of fun to read, if you know and like the characters. And it did precisely nothing to move the murder plot. So when I did the “revise and resubmit” that ended in my signing with my agent, it had to go. But, I saved it – and I send it out as bonus content for people who sign up to my website because if you like the books enough to subscribe, you’re going to enjoy the scene.
5.What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?
Sit down and get started. Don’t worry about what genre will sell, the perfect word count, the opening pages that will hook an agent. There’ll be plenty of time for that later. Right now, just start telling a story. YOUR story.
6.How do you handle criticism?
Criticism comes in different forms. From my agent, my editor, and thoughtful readers, it’s a gift. It’s advice on how to make the work better, and I’m always glad to hear that. I really enjoy the whole editorial process; one of my favorite things is getting advice from my agent or editor because they have a strong sense of what works, and they’re just far enough away from the story to see things I won’t. That said, like every other writer, I’m hurt and upset by the occasional low rating accompanied by a mean review. I think some people might do well to remember that actual humans write books. But you have to shake it off and keep going – there ARE people who love your work, and you eventually WILL hear from them.
WHERE TO FIND Kathleen:
Website: https://kathleenmarplekalb.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kathleen-Marple-Kalb-1082949845220373/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KalbMarple
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenmarplekalb/
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