Kathy L Wheeler

Kathy L Wheeler Whispers Lies That Bind

 

Kathy L Wheeler (a.k.a. Kae Elle Wheeler for her historical) has a BA degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in Management Information Systems that includes over forty credit hours of vocal music.  As a computer programmer the past fifteen years, she utilizes karaoke for her vocal music talents.  Other passions include fantasy football, NBA, musical theatre, and jazzercise.  Because to quote Nora Roberts to a one time question, if she worked out?  Her reply, “You have to get off your ass.”

Kathy has been a member of Oklahoma Romance Writers of America and RWA since March of 2007.  She grew up in the Dallas area and definitely considers herself a city girl.  She does not limit her travels to Writer Conferences in San Francisco, Washington DC, Seattle, Dallas, New Jersey, New York City and Atlanta because Jazzercise has fun conferences too (Denver, Palm Springs and Orlando). You can’t keep her home!

She is a member of several other RWA Chapters, including DARA, The Beau Monde and Passionate Ink.  She has served several positions in the OKRWA Chapter.  As an avid reader of romance and patron of theatre, her main sources of inspiration come from mostly an over-active imagination.  She currently resides in Edmond, Oklahoma with her musically talented husband, Al, and their bossy cat, Carly.

Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?

I love to travel. This summer I went to Nationals in Atlanta. Then my friend Amanda and I drove to Pensacola for three days, stayed in a fabulous bed & breakfast that was so historic, we put on our dresses from The Beau Monde Ball and took pictures.

Please tell us a little about your new release without giving too much of a spoiler away.

Here, I’ll just give you the pitch. Would a modern day woman marry for convenience to protect the identity of her daughter?  Yes! But, Kelly Mancer doesn’t want a man. Any man. But danger has a way of changing a woman’s mind.

Alex Gentry needs Kelly Mancer, but convincing her to help him in his pursuit of a dangerous enemy who’s enamored his younger sister would not be easy.  Soon the tables turn and Kelly becomes the prey. Alex may save his sister, but at what cost?

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

This book I ran into a snag when I got to about Chapter 7.  I was just at a loss. So my critique partner at the time said, “You have to address the villain!” Well, duh! After that it was smooth sailing.

What comes first: the plot or the characters?

For me, it’s usually the characters. My strong points are emotion and dialogue. My critique partners are great at plot.

Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

No. I usually see the character in my head and they develop through dialogue and how they feel

Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place. 

Not really, just my handy laptop with my neoprene board on top of my lapboard . hahahaha. I guess I do have a teeny ritual, after all.

Do your books have a common theme or are they all different?

Well, I write historical and contemporary. I wouldn’t say the theme is the same, but I do see a common thread throughout my stories. And that is the hero is going to make sure he loves his girl no matter how difficult she is.  We do write fiction!

How long does it take you to write and then edit a story?

It can be as short as four months or as long as seven months. I do try to set them aside once I’ve completed it for a little bit. Editing can take forever. Lies That Bind took me about six months. I edited it as I went along. Then I put it aside for three years before going back to it. Boy! Had I learned a lot! In the meantime, I was picked up by two different publishers for four different books.  And, completed another two in those three years. I was not idle by any means.

How do you go about naming characters?

The name has to feel right to me.

What do you see for the future of publishing and e-books?

Ebooks are here to stay for sure. But I don’t see physical books going away for a very long time. Too many people love the feel and smell of them. I think the big publishers have to adjust more than us little people. Too many options.

What are your current books out right now, and what are the books coming up for release?

©              The historical under Kae Elle Wheeler include:

©    My Cinderella Series ~~ the collection.

©    The Wronged Princess – book I (this book is free everywhere)

©    The Unlikely Heroine – book ii

©    The Surprising Enchantress – book iii

©    The English Lily (A Tale of the Scrimshaw Doll & the 4^th book from the Cinderella Series)

©              Contemporary Romance

©    The Color of Betrayal (A Tale of the Scrimshaw Doll)

©    Quotable (Bloomington Series, Book 1)

©    Maybe It’s You (Bloomington Series, Book 2)

©    Lies That Bind (Bloomington Series, Book 3)

 

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Goodness, so many things. I hold season tickets to both Thunder NBA Basketball and the Broadway Series in Oklahoma City. I play fantasy football (but I’ve limited myself to only two teams this year). I love to socialize so I’m really never home. Not to mention traveling.

Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Um, I think we’ve covered just about everything. . . Thank you so much for having me.

Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?

©              http://kathylwheeler.com

©              http://facebook.com/kathylwheeler

©              http://twitter.com/kathylwheeler

 CONTEST ALERT:  One commenter, chosen by Ms. Wheeler, will win a copy of Lies That Bind. 

 

Would a modern day woman marry for convenience to protect the identity of her daughter?  Hell yes! But, Kelly Mancer didn’t want a man.  Any man.  Danger has a way of changing a woman’s mind.

Alex Gentry needs Kelly Mancer, but convincing her to help in his pursuit of a dangerous enemy who’s enamored his younger sister would not be easy.  Soon the tables turn and Kelly becomes the prey. Alex may save his sister, but at what cost?

~~ Coming this Fall ~~

Please welcome Oklahoma author, Kathy Wheeler.

Kathy was born in Presque Isle, Maine.  How she ended up in Texas, Colorado, then Oklahoma is as much a mystery to her as anyone.  She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a BA in Management Information Systems and a minor in Vocal Music.

In the big picture, she has not been writing near as long as some of her writing cohorts, but has already completed a number manuscripts.  An avid traveler, she’s been to Europe, Mexico, Canada and roams from one RWA conference to another, nationwide.  She’s served several positions in the Oklahoma Outlaws RWA Chapter.

Kathy lives with her musically talented husband in Edmond, Oklahoma, has one grown daughter and one bossy cat!

Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?

I am an avid pro football and basketball fan. As an eight year member of jazzercise, I’m lucky that on occasion, two of my favorite interests interconnect where jazzercise is privileged to perform at the OKC Thunder Halftime show once per year. My degree is a Bachelors in Management Information Systems with a minor in vocal music. So…yes, I love karaoke and musical theater as well.

Please tell us your latest news!

I have nine completed manuscripts that includes a Cinderella series in which the glass slipper fits one of Cinderella’s evil stepsisters. Book I – The Wronged Princess was released March 31^st, and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. Three other books, contemporaries, are under contract. For more information, see http://klwheeler.com

Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

My characters plan themselves, I’m afraid. Usually nothing I plan for them comes out as I’d envisioned. They just sort of take over. Yes, I believe I am certifiable.

How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?

It ranges in variation. My husband is very supportive but does not read my stories. However, if one were to read the Epilogue in Amanda Quick’s, With This Ring, they would see exactly my husband.  My sisters, sister-in-law, mother and daughter, all read and critique my stories.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I was looking through the Google prompts and saw “What if Cinderella’s slipper fit one of the evil stepsister’s?” I was hooked.

What main genre do you write in?

I love reading historical (mostly Regency, some Medieval), but the historical never came to me, except in the Book I of my Cinderella Series, but then I started on a second, then a third and finally a fourth.  My other five stories are contemporary with an element of suspense. One of which is scheduled for a June 13^th release through Wild Rose Press, called The Color of Betrayal. Two others through Soul Mate Publishing, Quotable and Maybe It’s You.

What is your writing process?

Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both? My process is simple. I have an idea and start writing. Usually, I begin with dialogue. As my fingers fly across the keyboard, things may come to me so I’ll list questions or comments at the end of the document prefaced by: don’t forget blah blah blah.

If you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?

Several of my character are, uh, very direct, in your face, women, who demand attention. I don’t really think it’s a matter of being one of the characters as much as it is, they are a part of me. Two come to mind: Pricilla, of The Unlikely Heroine – Book II; and Lorianne in Maybe It’s You. Scary.

Who is your perfect hero? And why?

I recently read Tessa Dare’s new release A Week To Be Wicked. The hero, Colin Sandhurst, was adorable. His sense of adventure and humor, masked to cover his fears and insecurities left me panting.

What is the best and worst advice you have ever received?

The best advice comes from my husband. Advice I’ve used and forwarded. The first time he relayed it to me was when I was in college (I was a late bloomer). He said, “The time is going to come and go anyway.”  Meaning, if you keep plugging away, it’s going to happen. And sure enough — I have nine completed manuscripts, and three are under contract.

The WrongedPrincess - Book I

Even when Cinderella loses her glass slipper, she feels quite smug when Prince Charming announces to his kingdom, he'll try the shoe on every maiden until he finds his mysterious princess. Unfortunately, it slides just as easily on her sister, Esmeralda's dainty foot.

             

 Quotable
GENNA LYNDSEY is not a people person. A short, too-skinny, wild haired waif, with crazy hair and sturdy nerdy glasses lives through books. So it’s lucky she and her best friend own their own bookstore. Her college days taught her that dating was too unreliable to depend on others. It was then that she started resorting to obscure quotes to shield herself from others who ventured too close.
RICK JOHNSON, Fraud Insurance Claims Investigator, is assigned to look into an unusual number of claims filed by Genna Lyndsey. He suspects Genna of sabotaging her own property for insurance money. His investigation uncovers an adorable introvert determined to keep everyone at bay, while someone else resolves to put her out of business—no matter how great the risk.

Maybe It's You

How can a girl who’s been rejected by Once Upon A Time ever believe that happily-ever-after even exists? Co-bookstore owner Lorianne Gentry is branded by deep-seeded insecurities. Abandonment issues surface when she finds herself falling in love—totally pissing her off.
Ashton Turner III is nobody’s Knight-In-Shining-Armor. He’d jumped off that horse a long time ago­—the sex, however, was damn good. And when Lorianne’s grandmother delivers Ash life-altering news, his past explodes into the present.

~ Coming Soon ~