Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Purple Girl is my debut book. This is a story about a purple-skinned girl whose purple spreads to everything she touches. As a writer, and also a designer of tapestries with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, it’s only natural for me to weave visual stories. Between carpools and design work, I am plotting, scheming, writing, and revising. I live in North Carolina with my husband, our three children, and my unruly dog, Rascals.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Purple Girl was born from a writers block exercise. A fellow writer suggested I try an exercise that would force me to take off my editing hat. My job was to write for twenty-five minutes without stopping. And there were rules. I wasn’t allowed to erase a word, revise a sentence, or pause to collect my thoughts. The Purple Girl came to me . . . and I fell in love with her story.
Want me to dig deeper? The Purple Girl took root from a thousand pieces of life. As a child, I always had a book in hand; I loved fantastical escapes and stepping into new and different worlds. My art background definitely inspired me. Somehow, color or art always seems to wriggle its way into my writing. Children and adults that overcome obstacles inspire me daily. And always lingering in the back of my mind are amazing kids that feel lonely or different.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My favorite time to write is in the early morning while my family sleeps. It’s the only time my household is quiet! But that may or may not be so unusual.
What may be more unusual? Sometimes a word wakes me up in the middle of the night. A sentence I’ve been seeking suddenly pulls me out of a dream. Other times, dialogue or random ideas come to me when I’m in the middle of a luncheon or meeting—even driving the car. The best thoughts always come to me at the most inopportune times. My family finds little scraps of paper with words, odd notes, and descriptions written on them.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a young child, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Secret Garden kept me up late at night. They gave me a deep passion for reading. Other books? There are far too many for me to name, and I get overwhelmed when I try to narrow the list.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a fiction book for eight to twelve year olds. I can’t tell you more than that! The cat will get out of the bag soon . . . but not yet.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a rookie at this, so I’m still learning the ropes of the author world. So far, I’m experimenting with Amazon, Facebook, and blog-tours. Goodreads is also on my list. And did I mention the Awesome Gang—where awesome readers meet awesome writers? I’m happy to be here.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep rowing! Enjoy the journey and the people you meet along the way. Readers, editors, bloggers, book designers, illustrators, fellow writers . . . they are an incredibly generous group of talented people.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself. If you don’t, who will?
What are you reading now?
I picked up Pocahontas by Gunn Allen. “A fascinating study of the life and times of one of the famous and at the same time least-known American women,” according to Robert J. Conley. Now, I just have to find the time to curl up in a cozy chair and open it up! A crackling fire and a cup of hot chocolate would complete the experience.
To further complicate things, I just received two books as birthday gifts: Princesses Behaving Badly and Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker. They both look fabulous. Now, I have a real dilemma on my hands.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m still learning so much. Who knows what is really next?
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My nose would be in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I would definitely need an absurd and whimsical escape. I would pair it with some very thick novels; hopefully one entitled something like: How to Escape from a Desert Island.
Author Websites and Profiles
Audrey Kane Website
Audrey Kane Amazon Profile
Audrey Kane’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile