Joining LitPick today for Six Minutes with an Author is Julie Kimbrell! Julie is the author of over 15 books including Linked by Ink, Stranger Danger, and Camp Crazy. She has also written S’nat Wars and Double Vision with Linda Palmer Varner who she talks about in this interview.

How did you get started writing? 

I’ve never liked to write, honestly. My mom has always written, for as long as I can remember. It was pretty funny because Mom and I were talking one day about me needing a hobby. She suggested I try writing. So, I did. I sat on my bed with a notebook and pen and started with the first thing that came to my mind. From there, I created characters, plot, conversations, scenery, etc. and turned it into my first Young Adult Suspense Romance, Stranger Danger.  Then, after I had a few under my belt, Mom and I collaborated on a couple. They are for sale on Amazon.com as well. It was a lot of fun!         

Who influenced you?

My mom, Linda Varner Palmer, is my biggest influence. She’s such an amazing woman. I can only pray I’m as strong and talented as she is by the time I leave this earth. When I was pregnant with my first child, born in 1999, Mom chose to stop writing because my grandmother had cancer and I had high blood pressure and she was juggling the both of us. At the time, she had 21 Romance novels mass market published with Harlequin/Silhouette. She was living her dream of being a writer. I am so thankful for her sacrifice, and I’m very thankful she picked up the writing again. Though she never published mass market again, she is a THRIVING author today! Her favorite genre to write these days is Paranormal Romance and she has lots and lots of e-books currently available with various e-publishers. AND…I must not forget that she creates ALL my covers and her own covers as well. Yes, she is pretty much my HERO.

Do you have a favorite book/subject/character/setting?

I truly love Young Adult Romance. There’s just something about young innocent love that pulls me in and keeps me reading. Experiencing those cherished feelings for the first time is something I love to read about. The stomach flutters, goose bumps, blushing, smiling, kissing, it all draws me in. It’s funny because my favorite books are actually not what I like to write. I love the Twilight Series (Who doesn’t?),

Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire Series (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood), Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Series, Fifty Shades of Gray Trilogy.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author?

Start slow. It’s easy to rush into it. Do your research. Talk to other authors or get in a support group. They are easy to find and all over social media.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My bed. Laptop on my lap, soda with lots of ice and the television running in the background. Yes, I know…way too much distraction!

What else would you like to tell us?

I also have written Erotica under the name Laney Stryker. It was a short but sweet run of writing. It didn’t hold my interest very long, but I did have fun with it. You can find the Erotica and all my other publications on Amazon.com by typing in either name.

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Julie, thank you for joining LitPick for six minutes! We enjoyed reading about you and your mom. We look forward to seeing more books from the two of you!