Today’s interview is with Kristal McKerrington, who has been writing since she was eight years old and has traveled all over Scotland.
LQ: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
KM: I started writing when I was eight years old. I did it one night as a gift to my aunt who was visiting me while I was in the hospital and I had nothing to give her in return for visiting me.
I wrote song lyrics and poems until I was in my late teens where I came up with stories for dances. I went on to write novels shortly after. I grew up between Aberdeen and Shetland for most of my life being in then out of the hospital. I got arthritis really early in life and it taught me so much about what was inside my own head.
I won a writing contest at the age of eighteen years old ran by Debi Gloari who inspired me to enter publishing. There I have been publishing books since 2010. I’m thirty-one years old and never doubted a minute of being an author. I have had a love for books my whole life, I travelled all over Scotland, living in Glasgow for eleven years before returning to Shetland. I’m with my long term partner Ian and my two cats.
LQ: What does your writing process look like?
KM: I do a chapter breakdown and use it as a map that takes me through the whole story from the start to finish. I like to keep notes on the characters’ likes, looks, and tastes so that I don’t make mistakes. I like to make sure that no small detail is missed.
LQ: What was your favorite book to write so far?
KM: Oh, each book offers me something different and something to love. Marie’s World was the first one I truly fell in love with and now the series is a driving force for me.
LQ: Who is your favorite character to write about?
KM: For the female side I have to say Marie and for the males Harold.
LQ: Who are your favorite authors?
KM: For me Catherine Cookson was my first, Celia Rees, Debi Gloari was the next one I fell in love with and I went on to fall for Rachel Caine.
LQ: Have any of them influenced your work?
KM: I would say Rachel Caine has kept me going and Debi Gloari really got me going in the first place. I have been rewarded with Celia Rees who gave me a great deal of hope.
LQ: How are you doing during the current pandemic?
I will be writing continuously throughout the lockdown and it’s keeping my sanity. I am also painting with my father and my partner. I just do what I can to create good memories with the ones I love.
LQ: What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a dystopian novel and I’m also writing a magical romance fantasy story set in Redding, California.
Anything else you would like to share?
Just I hope that you will check out Being Amber which is my newest release and it’s pushing the Susan Family series forwards.