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 ~

Saddle up for a ride on the range with Oklahoma author Callie Hutton!

Hi Callie, and welcome. Please tell us your latest news!

I recently signed a contract with Soul Mate Publishing for my third book in the Oklahoma Lovers series (Michael’s Story).

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

I develop my characters as I write. I know (vaguely) what I want the story to be about, but as for how each character is, that comes to me while I’m writing. Sometimes they surprise me.

How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

When I’m writing historical, a little bit more research is involved because a lot of readers are history buffs—and know their facts. But I still do research when I’m writing contemporary. Right now in a short story I’m writing, a woman is giving birth in a bar, so I had to do research on emergency births.

What main genre do you write in?

Historical Romance – mostly western, but I also delve into contemporary romance.

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

My family is very supportive. Some of them have read a couple of my books, but others are waiting for them to come out in print. A niece is waiting for my contemporaries to come out because she doesn’t like historical. I don’t think there’s any one person in my family who has read them all, lol.

If you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?

Hillary Clinton. I think she’s an amazing woman. I hope to see her as POTUS one day.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Yes. When I was a little girl, I started making up stories in my head to entertain myself before I fell asleep at night. This habit continued on well into adulthood. One day I decided in order to get the voices out of my head, I needed to write them down.

Do you write full time?

I write full time hours because I work as a substitute teacher in the high school. At that level, the teacher will generally leave work for the students to do, which they do on their own. I bring my laptop and write.  

What did you do before you became a writer?

I’ve had many jobs, but sales was the one I had for the longest time. 

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

I am a combination writer. I pretty much know what I want my story to be about, but I get about half way through before I actually do any kind of an outline. And that gets changed as I go along, depending on what my characters have to say about it. They don’t always agree with me, and have been known to gang up on me, as well.

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

I would be Sylvia, Angel’s step-mother. She starts out unlikeable, but later on in the story her full personality is revealed, as well as her motivation for what she did to Angel. She’s a hoot.

Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?

The book I just sold, A Prescription for Love, is the story of the oldest nephew in A Run for Love. Michael was one of my most popular characters. I’m also working on a short contemporary story about a bar in Amarillo, and when I finish that, I intend to get back to a regency I’m writing, The Elusive Wife.

Who is your favorite cover model?  And why?

I don’t have a favorite cover model. I like Jimmy Thomas—another nice guy. But I have a policy of ‘no bare chests’ on my book covers. There are a few Jimmy does, and if I self-pub, I would use one of his pre-made covers (where he’s dressed, lol).

Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?

Yes. There is definitely a Highlander book in my future, as well as a strict mystery/suspense. I would also like to write a time travel one day.

What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website?

My website is: www.calliehutton.com, where my blog also lives. I love to get e-mails from my readers, at calliehutton11@gmail.com.

How can readers find out more about you and your books?

By visiting my website, where I have excerpts from all my books, as well as coming attractions.

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

Best advice: Write, write, write, read, read, read.

Worst advice: Write the book that editors want to buy.

Do you belong to a critique group?

Yes, I do, and I also have other critique partners who are not in my group. If so, how does this help or hinder you? Definitely a help. I don’t always take suggestions that my CPs make, but many times they pick up things that I hadn’t noticed or thought about.

What's your favorite genre to read?

Romantic comedy.

What type of book have you always wanted to write?

A ‘Sandra Brown’ type story, with intrigue, many sub-plots, and a well written, well thought out story.

When did you first decide to submit your work?

After I finished my first manuscript. Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step. I didn’t need a whole lot of encouragement. To my way of thinking, if you write a book, you send it out. You get rejected. You re-write it. You send it out again, and again, and again. It’s part of the process. If you’re going to be a writer, you have to write. If you want to be a published writer, you have to send it to someone.

Do deadlines help or hinder your muse?

Definitely help. I’m pretty disciplined as far as writing every day, but if I know someone is waiting for it, I pull the all-nighters like I did in college, and get the job done.

What was your first published work and when was it published?

A Run For Love was contracted by Soul Mate Publishing in August of 2011, and released in November of that year. It was the third book I wrote.

Is there anyone who really mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?

Not really. I’m pretty good at motivating myself. I’m sure my sales background has something to do with that.

A small wooden table in the corner drew her. She placed the glass on the table and eased her sore and tired body onto the chair. One leg shorter than the other three, the chair rocked as she settled. A woman the size of the counterman came through a curtain separating the area from whatever was in the back. With a brisk nod in Angel’s direction, she headed her way.

Excerpt/Soul MatePublishing / Amazon

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