Today I welcome Kes McDaniel to my blog with an author interview. I want to thank you for joining me today.
About the Author
Kes McDaniel writes action-packed crime thrillers and jumps at any excuse to find adventure: by land (traveling to 46 states and 17 countries), sea (scuba diving in 2 oceans and 1 sea), or air (zip-lining in 3 different countries).
She’s an Army veteran, where she learned to operate heavy equipment, which was helpful when she and her husband built a four-story geodesic dome as owner/builders; started in 1995 with an expected finished date of 2030.
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Interview
If you could write another genre of book what would it be and why?
Other than Thriller, I would write Science Fiction stories—adventures in space; adventures on another planet; adventures with aliens… Everything I write turns into an action mystery.
What is your favourite novel you have read?
“How the Light Gets In” by Louise Penny. I admire her mastery of showing human strengths and frailties through her complex and vivid prose. She describes her characters so vividly I feel I know them too.
If you could write a fan-fiction on anyone else’s work what would it be?
I’ve never been tempted to write fan fiction, I don’t think I could do it justice. I like making my own worlds.
Where do you generally write your novels?
Laptop plugged into large monitor and keyboard, big window looking out to my orchard, faithful dog snoring behind me (or under the desk).
Who is generally the target audiences for your books?
Adults, both men and women, who enjoy adventure, complex characters, and the search for justice.
How do you handle a bad review?
Reviews reflect a reader’s perception of the story. When possible, I use the reader’s comments to improve my stories.
How do you handle a very good review?
Good reviews tell me what readers like about my stories. They help me keep my stories relevant to the readers.
Tell us about your writing process
I obsessively outline. When I get an idea for a situation, I brainstorm possible scenarios until I feel I have something interesting and plausible. Then I research, also obsessively. I have been known to spend two days verifying a detail that matters to a single paragraph.
Tell us about your latest release
“The Cascade Effect” came out in January, and is my best work to date. It is the middle of a trilogy, set in Eugene, Oregon and the nearby Cascade Mountains and features non-stop action and suspense.
“Random violence roils through Eugene. Are the attacks targeted or random terrorist acts? Federal Agent Jake Daely’s boss is blocking his efforts to stop the violence. Can Jake figure out the puzzle before more innocent people die?”
What is it that drew you into writing
I love entertaining people. I was once offered a gig as a stand-up comic. Writing lets me explore complex issues in an entertaining manner while also letting people participate vicariously in wild adventures.
Novels are my escape from reality which of course we all need. What is your escape from everyday stresses
I read. A lot. Okay, constantly. Sometimes I have an audio book playing when I work outside. I like to vary between reading and listening. Listening lets me ‘feel’ the rhythms, while reading lets me devour a plot—different forms of escape.
Pre-pandemic, I travelled. There was always something new to experience and opportunities abounded. I very much looking forward to doing that again, and using the settings in additional stories.
Kes McDaniel
KesMcDaniel.com
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