Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m K.A. Cummins, a writer, homeschooler, math lover, techie, and consumer of mass amounts information. I enjoy new adventures and somehow managed to tandem skydive and climb the Mayan Ruins of Lamanai in Belize, despite a fear of heights. When it comes to writing, I delve into the mysteries of the universe to connect possibilities, people, and the peculiar.
I have three published short stories, including the indie published short read, “The Warehouse Tour”. I am currently working towards getting a middle-grade science fiction novel published.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I just release a revised edition of The Warehouse Tour.
What inspired it? Have you ever had some crazy, random thought pop into your head and it makes you laugh because it was so absurd? That’s where this story started. Some crazy, random thought that I wrote down and set aside and then came back to a year later.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.
However, ironically, I avoided lengthy writing growing up. The only writing I did back then was poetry or a rare journal entry. I didn’t come into my own as a writer until I was an adult.
I also tend to be a slow writer. The whole story needs to be plotted before I can really dig into drafting.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many great writers. My all-time favorite author is Edgar Allen Poe. I love his short stories and poems. Aside from him, I would say my approach to writing has been influenced by writers like R.L. Stine, C.S. Lewis, H.G. Wells, and James Patterson. I actually took James Patterson’s Master Class online a couple of years ago.
What are you working on now?
Right now, my main focus is preparing the first book in my middle-grade science fiction series for the submission process. The story is an adventurous blend of science, whimsy, and depth with a dash of strange humor. I’m really excited to see it entering the final stages.
Here’s the one-line premise: Transported into another world, twelve-year-old Sarah Ann Reisende must face a genetically-engineered warrior with an army of vicious hybrids.
You can read more about it, including a couple of excerpts, on my blog here: https://authorkacummins.com/2018/05/17/excerpts-and-updates-for-sgt-book-1/
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
While I do promote my books through social media, my website, and my newsletter, I try to focus more on building connections with readers through those channels. To me, that’s what writing is really about – connecting with others. In keeping with that, I often seek out other opportunities for promoting.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot. Study the craft of writing. Develop a thick skin. Even if you don’t agree with some’s opinion of your work, be gracious. Covers, titles, blurbs, and editors impact the success of a book more than ads or promotions.
At some point, you will get frustrated and discouraged. You may even want to quit. Just remember, success is the result of persistence in spite of failure.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t submit or publish a story before it’s ready, and don’t pitch a story that isn’t polished and ready.
What are you reading now?
These days, I read a lot of middle-grade and young adult stories. My reading pile is taller than I am and includes, Ending Fear by Deana Fugett, All That We See or Seem by Kristina Mahr, and Spin the Golden Light Bulb by Jackie Yeager.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing. More connecting.
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?
Edgar Allen Poe’s complete volume of works, Robert Frost’s complete collection of poetry, the Bible, and my copy of A Treasury of Peter Rabbit and Other Stories by Beatrix Potter. Can I cheat and throw-in my copy of The Night Before Christmas? The last two books hold a lot of sentimental value.
Author Websites and Profiles
K.A. Cummins Website
K.A. Cummins Amazon Profile
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Goodreads Profile
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