Today's guest is fellow Wild Rose Press author, K.M. Daughters, or rather the writing team of of sisters Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare. Their penname is dedicated to their parents: Kay and Mickey Lynch. I thought you might like a glimpse into what it's like to write as a team, so in addition to a little bit about their latest release, Capturing Karma, Book 3 in their Sullivan boys series, I've culled these questions from their beautiful website, which I urge everyone to check out, as they have several more titles available as well.
Also, in addition to an autographed copy of AGAINST DOCTOR'S ORDERS for a randomly drawn commentator, they will be giving away charms to other randomly drawn commenters--two sterling Chamilia “Sisters” charms and a Claddagh charm (fitting for a Sullivan Boy) that fit Pandora style bracelets. So please, comment away :) The more comments you make, the more chances you have to win. And if you don't know what to say, I've added a question at the bottom of the interview.
That said, welcome, Pat and Kathie, and thank you for being here today.
1. How do you write together and keep from killing each other?
Good question! When we first decided to become team writers we weren't at all sure we could blend our very different writing styles without skirmishes or outright warfare. We knew we loved the plotting process. When we're together we walk. And we talk. Repeat those last two sentences several times and it describes our favorite sister times. We talked our way into a plot outline for REUNION FOR THE FIRST TIME and then ran for some paper and a pen when we finished our walk. We created a scene map and divided the scenes equally between us. Then we hunkered down in our respective home offices - Kathie in New Jersey and Pat in Illinois. Ah there's the key! Only kidding. We really loved every minute and never exchanged a single cross word. Really.
2. Where do you get your story ideas?
That's definitely a question for Kathie. She is so imaginative. Might be because she had an imaginary friend when she was little - Charlie. She either cast blame on Charlie for little naughty things she was suspected of doing by our Mom OR she blamed Pat. Kathie wants to interject here…It was Pat.
3. Who writes the male POV in your books?
We both do. It depends on the scene we're assigned. For us it makes the writing experience richer to have all the characters talking in our heads. And we think it makes a much better book. We blend our two distinctive literary voices into one unique voice.
4. Your heroines or heroes all have to deal with the death of loved ones. Do either of you write from experience?
Yes, we both do. Our father died when Pat was 19 and Kathie was 15. He was a seemingly healthy, strong housepainter one day and eleven days later he had succumbed to acute leukemia. The shock of that loss was devastating to us. He was a loving, lyrical Irishman who adored us and spoiled us rotten. Our mother was utterly devastated by the loss of her husband. Witnessing her grief, and trying to comfort her through it, had a profound effect on us, also.
5. Your books have comforting, healing themes, though.
Yes they do. Love heals. We know this from experience, also.
6. Your second book, AGAINST DOCTORS ORDERS, begins a series featuring the Sullivan brothers and they're all involved in law enforcement. How do you know so much about policemen?
We have Lieutenant Frank Cargola, a brave law enforcement officer in suburban Chicago, to thank for all of it. He patiently answers any question and analyzes any goofy scenario we dream up to make sure we're at least in the world of possibility.
7. The emergency room scenes with Dr. Molly Jordan are very realistic. Do you have medical backgrounds?
Nope. Pat worked for a pharmaceutical company and has a pretty good handle on some medical terminology and we both hated the shots that Dr. Cole, our real life pediatrician, gave us. But we owe the accuracy of medical scenes to Drs. Brandon Kramer and Michael Maugeri. They are wonderful physicians and kind, generous friends.
8. Are any of your characters based on real people?
Not a one. Except we name a female character and a male character after our parents in each book. They always play secondary roles but we think they have a lot of fun getting into our action.
That said, here's a little bit about their fascinating book, Capturing Karma, available NOW from The Wild Rose Press. To read an excerpt, go here.
Matty Conners, our heroine in CAPTURING KARMA, possesses reputed, infallible psychic abilities. THE Matty Conners, famous for using her gift to assist police in San Francisco, her former home, earned her reputation by accurately identifying murderers. Then, retaliation by a vicious, serial killer resulted in the brutal murder of her fiancé.
Years later back in her Chicago suburban hometown, Matty remains determined to exclusively use her gifts anonymously. Haunted by nightmares involving her fiancé, Matty still risks exposure to work with Brian Sullivan in solving a homicide. Why does she allow herself to be vulnerable again? What is the source of her courage?
Ahhh – love.
With love as inspiration, is anything impossible? Matty’s feelings for Brian result in simple faith – that he’ll honor her truths, respect her wishes, and understand the reasons for her reluctance to explore the visions she receives about his homicide case. She trusts Brian and that fuels her courage.
Pity poor Brian. He has no problem respecting, and appreciating sultry Matty, but her otherworldly abilities confound him. Contemporary psychics who possess similar abilities invariably profess that we’re all born with the ability to perceive the spiritual world – some cultivate that ability more than others, for unknown reasons, and by inexplicable means. Perhaps Brian’s brush with his own psychic abilities is his saving grace to make him aware of the extent of Matty’s courage.
That said, welcome, Pat and Kathie, and thank you for being here today.
1. How do you write together and keep from killing each other?
Good question! When we first decided to become team writers we weren't at all sure we could blend our very different writing styles without skirmishes or outright warfare. We knew we loved the plotting process. When we're together we walk. And we talk. Repeat those last two sentences several times and it describes our favorite sister times. We talked our way into a plot outline for REUNION FOR THE FIRST TIME and then ran for some paper and a pen when we finished our walk. We created a scene map and divided the scenes equally between us. Then we hunkered down in our respective home offices - Kathie in New Jersey and Pat in Illinois. Ah there's the key! Only kidding. We really loved every minute and never exchanged a single cross word. Really.
2. Where do you get your story ideas?
That's definitely a question for Kathie. She is so imaginative. Might be because she had an imaginary friend when she was little - Charlie. She either cast blame on Charlie for little naughty things she was suspected of doing by our Mom OR she blamed Pat. Kathie wants to interject here…It was Pat.
3. Who writes the male POV in your books?
We both do. It depends on the scene we're assigned. For us it makes the writing experience richer to have all the characters talking in our heads. And we think it makes a much better book. We blend our two distinctive literary voices into one unique voice.
4. Your heroines or heroes all have to deal with the death of loved ones. Do either of you write from experience?
Yes, we both do. Our father died when Pat was 19 and Kathie was 15. He was a seemingly healthy, strong housepainter one day and eleven days later he had succumbed to acute leukemia. The shock of that loss was devastating to us. He was a loving, lyrical Irishman who adored us and spoiled us rotten. Our mother was utterly devastated by the loss of her husband. Witnessing her grief, and trying to comfort her through it, had a profound effect on us, also.
5. Your books have comforting, healing themes, though.
Yes they do. Love heals. We know this from experience, also.
6. Your second book, AGAINST DOCTORS ORDERS, begins a series featuring the Sullivan brothers and they're all involved in law enforcement. How do you know so much about policemen?
We have Lieutenant Frank Cargola, a brave law enforcement officer in suburban Chicago, to thank for all of it. He patiently answers any question and analyzes any goofy scenario we dream up to make sure we're at least in the world of possibility.
7. The emergency room scenes with Dr. Molly Jordan are very realistic. Do you have medical backgrounds?
Nope. Pat worked for a pharmaceutical company and has a pretty good handle on some medical terminology and we both hated the shots that Dr. Cole, our real life pediatrician, gave us. But we owe the accuracy of medical scenes to Drs. Brandon Kramer and Michael Maugeri. They are wonderful physicians and kind, generous friends.
8. Are any of your characters based on real people?
Not a one. Except we name a female character and a male character after our parents in each book. They always play secondary roles but we think they have a lot of fun getting into our action.
That said, here's a little bit about their fascinating book, Capturing Karma, available NOW from The Wild Rose Press. To read an excerpt, go here.
Matty Conners, our heroine in CAPTURING KARMA, possesses reputed, infallible psychic abilities. THE Matty Conners, famous for using her gift to assist police in San Francisco, her former home, earned her reputation by accurately identifying murderers. Then, retaliation by a vicious, serial killer resulted in the brutal murder of her fiancé.
Years later back in her Chicago suburban hometown, Matty remains determined to exclusively use her gifts anonymously. Haunted by nightmares involving her fiancé, Matty still risks exposure to work with Brian Sullivan in solving a homicide. Why does she allow herself to be vulnerable again? What is the source of her courage?
Ahhh – love.
With love as inspiration, is anything impossible? Matty’s feelings for Brian result in simple faith – that he’ll honor her truths, respect her wishes, and understand the reasons for her reluctance to explore the visions she receives about his homicide case. She trusts Brian and that fuels her courage.
Pity poor Brian. He has no problem respecting, and appreciating sultry Matty, but her otherworldly abilities confound him. Contemporary psychics who possess similar abilities invariably profess that we’re all born with the ability to perceive the spiritual world – some cultivate that ability more than others, for unknown reasons, and by inexplicable means. Perhaps Brian’s brush with his own psychic abilities is his saving grace to make him aware of the extent of Matty’s courage.
Liana: So let us know where you stand on otherworldly abilities. This inquiring mind wants to know :)
Thanks, and have a great day!
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8 comments:
Good morning Liana! Thank you so much for inviting us to your "Place". We'd say you have otherworldly abilities in interviewing :-) and writing :-) For fellow authors visiting - doesn't it seem that your words sometimes arrive from an "otherworldly" place - straight to the page?
Great interview. I have always been curious to know how two people can write together. It's funny you series is called: Against Doctors' Orders. My series is called Doctor's Order. I will have to check your book.
Hi Mona - thanks for stopping by - we'd love it if you'd check out our books! And thank you for the kind words. Have a great day!
Hi Kathie and Pat, and Liana!
This sounds like an interesting read. Loved hearing your background and why you write about loss. I think it really defines a person how she deals with loss, maybe more than anything else.
I can't imagine writing as a team!
As far as otherworldly abilities, I do believe some of us are much more open to "other" things than the rest of us are, whether its intuition or even more psychic ability than that. Too bad for all the frauds out there, but it would be awfully arrogant to think it's not possible. And it's sad to denote someone as crazy because she's more receptive or more perceptive.
K.M. Daughters--I still don't knnow how you all write as a team. My sisters and I are always at each other's throats--and I'm not the one who does it. Gee, I don't understand. No matter your subject, you two must have a close relationship to do this. I'm impressed and I'm envious--I'd love to have a close relationship with my sisters. Congratulations! Celia
Great interview ladies.
Wonderful that the two of you can get along so well you can team up and write books.
Regards
Margaret
Hi Ladies - Thank you for stopping by. We had reservations about writing together at first. But we are very close as people and enjoy each other's company tremendously. Turns out we can draw upon that relationship when we write - alone, in separate states. :-) Writing together has actually improved our relationship - added a special place in our hearts that's only occupied by K.M. Daughters. There really is nothing like it for us. And just think - only half the work! Best of luck with your books! We recognize our Wild Rose sisters.
I'm thrilled to run into KM Daughters here. I like to think I had a hand (big ego here, LOL!)in steering them to The Wild Rose Press when I met them years ago as finalists in the Beacon contest. I was impressed (and still am!) that they work so closely together and don't kill each other. My sisters and I would have come to blows by now, I'm sure.
I am very excited about this book. Psychic ability is on my mind a lot these days, and the more I find out about it, the more convinced I am that everyone has a smattering of this. Like anything else, the more you use it, the better you become.
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