Today we’d like to welcome author Kaki Warner to the site. Kaki’s debut novel, Pieces of Sky, is a Western and was reviewed by Kati back in January. Kati recently had an opportunity to interview Kaki. I hope you’ll take a minute to say hello and welcome her to the site. Make sure you check the bottom of the post, because we’re going to give a copy of Pieces of Sky away!
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First of all, Kati, thanks for inviting me to visit at Book Binge today. And an even bigger thank you for your wonderful review of Pieces of Sky, posted on 1/15. I appreciate that you did such an in-depth read, and am delighted that PoS passed muster.
- What drew you to writing a Western romance? There are very few being published right now. Is there something that attracted you to the Western genre?
I have to laugh, Kati. You’re assuming I had an actual plan when I started PoS many years ago. I didn’t. I had just read an awful book, and thinking surely I could do better, I decided to write one of my own. So, grabbing a Big Chief Tablet and a Number 2 pencil, and remembering that my college creative writing professor had said to “write about something you know” I sat down to write about the southwest, where I grew up and where my heart still dwells, even though my husband and I now live in the mountains of Washington state. I didn’t think in terms of what market I was targeting—western, romance or whatever. I just wanted to write a fun story with believable characters set in an interesting place. Simple, right?
Well, that was twenty-five years, a stack of tablets and several generations of computers ago, so maybe it wasn’t so simple after all. Granted, actual writing only took up about five of those years, but the idea, and the story, and the characters never strayed far from my mind. So, to answer the first part of your question—I didn’t know I had written a Western romance. My editor put that label on it, discerning woman that she is.
As to the second part of your question—what attracted me to the Western genre (again, assuming back then I knew there was such a thing, which I didn’t) is the cowboy myth, where men lived by codes of honor and life was tough and only the bravest and most stalwart survived. Corny, I know. But there you have it. Besides, there aren’t many things sexier than a guy in jeans and a Stetson working a fine-looking horse.
- Pieces of Sky has a very epic feel to it. And your characters definitely suffer losses. Was it important to you to write a romance that goes against the grain of more “traditional” romances?
It was important to me to write a semi-plausible story with mostly-believable characters dealing with some of the hardships and tragedies that plague regular people even now. Loss, guilt, regret, redemption—these are things people face every day, and getting through it, and still having hope and love in your heart—that’s the real challenge, whether it’s 1868 or 2010. I didn’t want to trivialize that struggle, or sugarcoat the hard choices people have to make sometimes, which is why I opened the book with a somewhat brutal scene, to forewarn the reader that this wasn’t going to be a tiptoe through the cactus type of book. But I also tried to soften that stark reality with a bit of humor and an interesting love story, because those elements are just as necessary to a good book as believability. That said, even though PoS might not be a “traditional” romance, I think it depicts a very traditional love story.
- Did you dream cast your characters? Because when I picture Brady, I picture Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Or, maybe I just picture JDM for all my heroes.
Lucky you for having such great dreams. JDM does have a grand smile, doesn’t he? And those dimples aren’t bad either. But, no, I didn’t have anyone in particular in mind when I wrote PoS. And even though I can easily picture the individual features of each character, I don‘t have completed images in my head. That way I’m not limited by pre-conceived perceptions of how a character wearing a real person’s face, like say, JDM’s, might behave (does that make sense?). However, all my character’s individual personalities are absolutely real to me, quirks and all.
- Who is the next book in the series about?
Book 2, Open Country, is about the middle brother, Hank. He’s the quiet one, the smartest, the tinkerer, and when necessary, the family peacemaker and enforcer. And while the book primarily deals with Hank’s struggle to come to terms with his own issues as well as his troubled relationship with a woman on the run who claims to be his wife, although he doesn’t remember marrying, Brady and Jessica are still very much a part of the story. In fact, I had a hard time shutting Brady up, probably because he still had some things to learn. In many ways, this trilogy is more of a three-part family saga where each novel stands alone but the ongoing stories of all the brothers weave in and out of each book. In book 3, which tells Jack’s story, all those elements come together and the remaining family issues are finally resolved. Mostly.
- Which romance authors are you reading right now? What are some of your favorites?
In addition to the great standbys—Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, Jodi Thomas, Sara Donati, I’ve got a stack of TBRs, including books from two new authors, Kimberly Fisk (Lake Magic) and Courtney Milan (Proof of Seduction), and Monica Burns (Kismet). I don’t know when I’ll get to them, though. In addition to promoting PoS, and doing final edits on Open Country, and awaiting copy edits on Book 3, I’m also working on a new historical series about four women who meet on a train in Colorado and get stranded in a dying mining town where they…well, you’ll see.
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Thanks for the excellent interview ladies! That series about four women in Colorado has me very intrigued…
If you’d like a chance to read Pieces of Sky, leave a comment on this post telling us what you love about Westerns, or with a question for Ms. Warner, and you’ll be entered to win a copy.
Contest ends Sunday February 14, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.
I haven’t read many Western romances. Your books sound very interesting. Thanks for visiting.
Congrats Kaki on your release(s). I love those book covers, they definitely get you in the mood for a good western.
I love reading westerns mostly because of the cowboy myth. As you said, “there aren’t many things sexier than a guy in jeans and a Stetson working a fine-looking horse”… well that about sums it up for me 😉
There is also the fact that I’ve always been fascinated by the US and the “real” american culture and for me cowboys/westerns are a good part of it. I’m visiting Texas for the first time in april. I’m counting the days and hope to meet LOTS of men with Stetsons !
Thanks, ladies, for the kind welcome. LSUReader and Rowena, even if you don’t normally read western romances, they’ve come a long way from the “aw, shucks” phase. You might find them worth another look. And Emmanuelle, welcome! If you’re visiting the metropolitan areas, you’ll find Texas cities are like any other. But if you leave the beaten path and head west, you might see some REAL cowboys. Too bad you’ll be there too late to check out the Ft. Worth and Houston Stock Shows and Rodeos. They’re a hoot. Have fun wherever you visit!
Best wishes on your new book. Contemps are my fav read but I do read the occasional western historical.
Good Luck with your book. This looks good and I would like to try it.
Karen T.
I like westerns because I’d rather read about the rural outdoors than the city.
I love westerns because I love cowboys.
How many books are in this series?
Thanks, Karen. I hope you enjoy it.
Chey, I understand exactly what you mean. Sometimes all that city hustle and bustle can drain your energy, and it’s relaxing to step away from it into a simpler, less crowded time.
You’re a girl after my own heart, Estella. I think it’s the long legs in tight jeans. As to the series, there are three books, each focusing on a different brother. Cowboys a’plenty.
Kaki, I know !! I tried to buy some rodeo tickets just this afternoon and saw everything was over in march. My sons would have loved it !! (not exactly the kind of things we see here in France).
Hi Ms Warner! Your series looks really interesting and something I definitely would want to read. I love reading emotional, heart-wrenching romances.
Great interview!
There might be smaller rodeos in outlying areas, Emmanuelle. Or you could try the Cuero Turkey Trot, any of a dozen chili cookoffs, or maybe a rattlesnake roundup. I know. Weird.
Hello Ms. Warner,
I’ve read quite a buzz about your book Pieces of Sky. The hero sounds just like I like ’em! I won’t have any trouble picturing JDM in the role, that’s for sure.
My question is, how would you describe the heat/sensuality level of the book?
I’ve heard a lot about this book…it sounds great. I love a western…there’s something about the wide open spaces and a hot cowboy that puts a smile on my face.
Plus, I live in So Cal and drive through a canyon to get to work, so it’s easy for me to visualize a western scene while driving, which adds an extra layer of enjoyment.
Hi Kaki, congrats on your release!! I got my copy of POS last week and read it in one sitting!! I’m a western romance reader and I love a good series too. I LUVED POS and the cover is fab too. I really cared about the characters and couldn’t wait to see how it would end. I plan to put up reviews for you on different sites. I also just read The Perfect Country and Western Story by Christine Columbus. This was also a very good west rom, but contemp read. I like finding new authors. I look forward to reading the rest of your series. Thanks, Sue
Hey Kaki,
Welcome to Book Binge! Thanks for stopping by, I love some cowboys as well for the reasons you mentioned. I’m putting your books on my TBR list.
Hello Kaki, Congrats on the release !
-what’s your favorite scene(s) on this book ?
uniquas at ymail dot com
Kaetrin: Great question. PoS is a slow developing romance (the heroine is pregnant, after all), so it’s more romantic than graphic. But when they finally get to it, it’s fairly intense, yet also a bit humorous. However, I don’t think I used “throbbing” once, except in reference to a headache. Does that help?
Sue, WOW, thanks for your support in helping promote PoS. And I’m delighted you enjoyed it–it’s always wonderful to hear from satisfied readers. Thanks!
And thanks, too, Maered and Lorraine, for taking a chance on a sub genre you might not often read. I hope you aren’t disappointed.
Mariska–my favorite scenes? I have several. That whole section that starts with the incident in the barn (I’m trying not to give spoilers here) and ends with Brady telling Jessica about his little brother–that one always gets me. I also like Jessica’s confrontation with Crawford, and that final scene in the cave with Sancho.
I have so many great reviews!! Count me in!! Thanks!!
I enjoy westerns because, to me, it seems like life had to be simpler back then. The people settling the west had to work hard and be tough and life was not easy.
You’re in, Randi–thanks.
And I agree, Maureen. Life was harder, but less complicated back then. There were simple codes to live by with fewer gray areas, fewer choices. And when you’re struggling to put food on the table, it’s hard to get too worked up about which plate and fork to use, right?
I have read several reviews on this book–all of them were great. I have Pieces of Sky on my list to pick up and read the next time I head out to the bookstore.
Great interview and I am looking forward to reading this!
Westerns are great because of the strong, brave, sexy cowboys, the great outdoors, the horses, and the great adventures that are usually involved. I always love an interesting story set in the West.