Interview Kay Layton Sisk

by

Tricia Jones

Hello, Kay. I'm honored to be interviewing such a prolific Wings author.

1) You have written mainly contemporary romance and romantic suspense. What inspired you to write this book of short stories?

The wedding of my oldest son was the inspiration for this. While in Wedding Belle Blues, the families are old friends, in real life, we were meeting an English family. What, I wondered, would happen to the visiting family if each member had an adventure? Of course, as so often happens, that's not at all what the book turned out to be.

2) Which of the short stories in Wedding Belle Blues is your favorite?

They are all interconnected and move the story of the wedding forward. But picking a favorite, probably the bad daughter meeting her match in The Rehearsal Dinner.

3) Which short story was the hardest to write?

The Engagement Party. It's the first and so I had to get all the family dynamics taken care of and introduce all 10 main characters.

4) Are you planning another book of short stories? If so, can you give us any pointers as to what the book will be about, and whether the stories will be interwoven as they are in Wedding Belle Blues?

No such book is on the horizon, although I loved the format and would do it again.

5) What do you love best about being a writer?

The euphoria which follows a day of particularly good writing, whether it be a simple scene or 10 pages of dialogue. Just knowing I've nailed it makes me happy.

6) What are you working on right now?

I'm not. (Don't tell my editor.) But just as soon as Christmas is over, I have my research all lined up for the next one.

7) Do you ever work on more than one book at a time?

No.

8) I note you are a seat-of-the-pants writer. Have you ever gotten into real difficulties with a story, so much that you've had to sit and plot it out after all?

Yes and I didn't like it.

9) How has your writing schedule changed since you published your first book? Do you find you write faster these days?

Yes. I used to take one step back for every two forward, revising as I went. I still revise, but studying my craft has--hopefully--taught me enough to keep some of the problems to a minimum. Maybe, now, it's one back for every three forward.

10) Do you still get the same thrill when a book is released?

Yes.

11) Do you have any advice for "newbies" just starting out in the publishing world?

Join an organization which deals with what you're writing and learn from everyone else.

12) Have you made any New Year Resolutions? If so, will you share them with us?

I'm not a resolutions type person. It involves plotting, you know. <VBG>