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Nikki Knight (AKA Kathleen Marple Kalb) describes herself as an Author\/Anchor\/Mom\u2026not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New York City\u2019s 1010 WINS Radio, she writes short stories and novels including the upcoming Grace the Hit Mom Mystery WRONG POISON (July 2023, Charade Media). Her stories appear in magazines including Alfred Hitchcock\u2019s Mystery Magazine, online, and in anthologies, and have been short-listed for Black Orchid Novella and Derringer Awards. She, her husband, and son live in a Connecticut house owned by their cat.<\/p>\n
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Three Ella Shane Mysteries<\/a> and (as Nikki Knight) one Vermont radio mystery<\/a> in print. Nikki’s upcoming book is WRONG POISON<\/a>, the first Grace the Hit Mom Mystery. I also have two other three-book series on the way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anywhere when I have five minutes and a flat space for the laptop.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With my characters. What kind of situation would they be in, what would happen to them — and how would they solve a particular mystery.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I read everything, from cozy mysteries to biographies to social history.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Absolutely! I wrote my first full-length novel at age sixteen — though thankfully it didn’t sell!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I’m a journalist by trade — I’m not ALLOWED to have writer’s block! If I get a little stuck, I have a cup of coffee or go for a walk and come back to a different part of the project, or a different piece.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the original version of WRONG POISON, Grace the Hit Mom and her mentors have Sunday brunch. So, these three very nice ladies who poison creepy men are happily discussing ordinary things over eggs and mimosas. It was a blast — but wouldn’t fit the final book. Maybe if there’s another Grace book…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I do — I love many of the modern and diverse cozies that are out there now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yep — Nikki Knight was actually chosen by my husband. I was thinking about something that sounded like a DJ name to go with the Vermont radio theme, and kicked around a bunch of awful ideas, like Crystal Starr. Then the Professor walks past and just announces: “Nikki Knight.” It was the winner!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WRONG POISON is a riff on my favorite Dorothy Sayers book, STRONG POISON. Cozies often have wordplay titles, and this one perfectly fits the plot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Worry about the writing first. Write a really good book. But don’t lose track of the idea that you’re going to sell that thing. Think about your pitch as you write and research the market so you’re ready. And polish it until it’s as perfect as it can be before you submit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Curl up in a corner and cry for a while. Then figure out what to take from it, if anything. As Johnny Carson said, there’s always somebody who’s not going to like your act. But honest criticism is a real gift, and it’s important to take it gracefully and learn from it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WRONG POISON follows Grace Adair, suburban mom, former prosecutor, and occasional assassin, as she works to solve a murder at the town book fair — done with the same poison her ancient order uses to remove evil men. With the unwitting help of her colorful friends, giant dog Scotchie, and clueless defense-lawyer husband Michael, Grace finds herself sifting through all kinds of secrets in suburbia to protect her sisterhood — and herself.<\/p>\n Grace MacInnes Adair is a very nice suburban Connecticut mother with a very big secret. A former prosecutor, who left work to stay home with her son Daniel, she’s also a member of an ancient order of lady poisoners, consecrated to the Archangel Gabriel, who remove evil men…for a fee.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sure! It would be fun!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where to find Kathleen and Nikki<\/b><\/p>\nWhere\u2019s your favourite place to write?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How do you approach starting a new book?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s your favourite genre to read?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Have you always wanted to write?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What do you do when you have writer\u2019s block?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Tell us about a scene that you loved but had to edit out of your book<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Do you like reading the same books you write?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Do write under a pen name? If so, tell us about how you chose it<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How do you choose your book\u2019s title(s)?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How do you handle criticism?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Tell me about your current work<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Tell me about your main character<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Would you want your book made into a film?<\/strong><\/h3>\n