Interview With Author Mindy Killgrove
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Mindy Killgrove is the author of the KATE KELLNER TRILOGY, the MISSY LAWRENCE TRILOGY, the novel ROYALLY ENGAGED, and is the creator of the RILEY ROUNDTREE SOCIAL STORY LEARNING ADVENTURE SERIES.
In 2013, shortly after its publication, MEET ME AT THE POND, the first book in the Missy Lawrence trilogy, was selected as the Reader’s Choice Award winner for “Chick Lit./ Romance” by the Blogger Book Fair group.
Most notably, Killgrove is a professional ghostwriter. She has penned one play, forty-one short stories, and thirty-six novels all while working as a freelance author.
In addition to crafting romance stories, Killgrove has devoted decades to creating classroom resources that can be used in grades K-12. More than 250 educational resources are available through her TeachersPayTeachers Store. Her work with the RILEY ROUNDTREE SOCIAL STORY LEARNING ADVENTURE SERIES is currently featured on her popular YouTube channel under the heading: THAT’S ALL SHE WROTE PRODUCTIONS.
Her past writing credits include working for the New London Record as a sports reporter and the Heidelberg University newspaper, the Kilikilik. Her work was also published in Heidelberg University’s Morpheus Literary Magazine.
She passed on her love of literature and athletics to her students for more than fifteen years as a teacher. In that time, she served as the advisor for a high school newsmagazine, the drama director, and the coach of various sports teams, including softball, girls basketball, dance, and cross country.
She has a bachelor’s degree from Heidelberg University and a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Killgrove is a member of the Autism Society of Greater Orlando (ASGO), the Philalethean Society, and the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). She lives in Orlando, Florida with her adoring husband and three rambunctious, but beautiful children. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s exploring local theme parks, lounging on the beach, or aiming to bake the very best chocolate chip cookies in the world.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’m set to publish another book this week. It is entitled Meet Me at Blessed Creek and is the third book in the Missy Lawrence Trilogy. I began writing Missy’s story almost twenty years ago and have done a lot of work in the interim. When I moved away from ghostwriting and stepped back into my life as an indie author, I knew I needed to give Missy the ending she deserved. So, I hope readers will be pleased with the conclusion. I was inspired to write this series because I wanted to pay homage to the friendships that were so important to me when I was a new adult. It was during that time when I thought my pals were the most amazing group of people–and I still think they’re pretty fantastic. So, I wanted to create a character, Missy Lawrence, who is dedicated to her friends and loyal through thick and thin.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmmm. That’s such a good question. I suppose one thing I do that could be considered unusual is that I do my best writing early in the morning. I get up at four or five a.m. to begin my day. I like to spend time with my children and husband when they’re around, so I try to do my work in the morning, leaving the afternoons and evenings available for family time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors are Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, William Shakespeare, Lianne Moriarty, Sarah Henning, Julia Quinn, Gilbert Morris, and Jenny Hann.
What are you working on now?
Now that I’ve completed the Kate Kellner and Missy Lawrence Trilogies, I’m aiming to complete the Kanedy Production Trilogy. The first book, Royally Engaged, is currently available, but I’d like to have the follow-ups, Majestically Married and The Princely Prize, on the market before long. This new series is a contemporary romance that features the wealthy Kane family, who are a bit like American royalty. Each book features one of the siblings in the family, Finnegan, Jossalyn, and Jasen.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m mostly using BookFunnel right now, but I’m experimenting with BookBub. I’d love to find other outlets as well, but the testing process is slow-going.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’d encourage new authors to write what they know. And, if they wish to write about a topic they haven’t necessarily experienced for themselves, but find intriguing, try to do some research. When I was ghostwriting, I spent countless hours pouring over documents so I could write knowledgably about events and characters who lived hundreds of years ago. I won’t pretend that my writing was perfect, but I have a genuine respect for authors who do the research and try to match reality.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’m not sure where I got this advice, but I have accepted it as truth for as long as I can remember: Read your work aloud…to yourself. If you don’t like the way it sounds, change it.
What are you reading now?
I just finished reading Happiness Falls by Angie Kim so I’m going to turn my attention to the past and explore works by the Bronte sisters. I’m a follower of and guest blogger for the Jane Austen Summer Program. We actively support Jane Austen & Co. Coming soon–in March of 2024, those groups are going to focus on Jane Austen and the Bronte Sisters books, so I’d like to be ready to full engage with those conversations. I’m thinking I’ll start by re-reading Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, then I’ll turn to The Professor.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m bouncing around the idea of trying my hand at becoming a screenwriter. I’d love to see some of my books converted so they could be shown on the Hallmark Channel or Netflix. We’ll see what happens with that notion. 😉
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?
I’d probably snag the most enormous tomes in my collection: Jane Austen’s Six Novels (Plus her unfinished works), the Complete Works of William Shakespeare, and the Complete Works of Charles Dickens.
Author Websites and Profiles
Mindy Killgrove Amazon Profile
Mindy Killgrove’s Social Media Links
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