K. A. Cross presents...
Kelsey Jensen
About Kelsey
Kelsey is an amateur baker, a non-lethal cook, a wine lover, a Bob Seger groupie and a die-hard fan of all things leather, fringe, silver, classy, and sparkly. She has an addiction to silver rings, Diet Pepsi, and adding so many books to her TBR that she’ll never finish, even if she keeps reading beyond the grave. She’s always held a love for reading and creating stories. When she was little, Barbie’s were the characters who lived out her stories, but as she got older The Sims took over. That was until Anna Pierce entered her life and demanded that Kelsey put her story down.
Want to know more?
1. When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?
I can’t really say that I decided to become a writer.
I’ve always loved reading. I had these grand ideas running through my head when I was little but absolutely no patience to put them down.
My Barbie’s, then Sims, lived the stories in my head.
At least until the MC from Pierce My Heart, Anna Pierce, introduced herself and started telling her story that I really thought about actually writing something. It was when I started putting her story down (watching and experiencing it all unfold) that I started to actually think about putting it out there for others to enjoy.
2. In what kind of environment do you work best in?
Quiet.
While I write I can handle music, but it’s usually so low I can barely hear it. But, when I edit, I need silence. T.V. completely off (not just muted), no music, and completely closed off in my room. Otherwise, I’m distracted.
Then again, I look a different direction and I get distracted.
My attention span sucks.
3. How did you come up with the idea for your latest book?
I was mowing fairways (of all things) one day, listening to my go-to playlist for chilly, gray days when Anna introduced herself and started talking, and what she told me ended up being the Prologue.
As she went on, she introduced me to all the people in her life, but it was always just her talking to me. The only person who butted in was her love interest, and that was when I tried suggesting things.
Neither was a fan.
I learned after the 3rd boycott to just let them tell me their story.
4. Do you ever base your characters on people you know?
None of my characters are reincarnations of people I know, but certain characters have certain aspects of people in my life.
For example: Anna’s style choices. Her hairstyle, her love of silver, rings, fringe, and deep, dusky colors is all me. But she’s definitely more upfront and independent than I am.
Her family itself pulls bits and pieces from my own family, but none of the characters are exactly like someone I know.
A lot of who they are is just that.
Who they are.
5. Do you ever wish that some of your characters were real?
They’re very real in my head.
But, yeah. A lot of them, actually.
I’d get a kick out of being around Joanna, and Gail. Joanna is hilarious on her own, but they’re two peas in a pod and hoot together.
Evan is best friends dream. Maddy is a sweetheart. Mia is a firecracker. Victoria is crazy. Lucy is da bomb. And all the boys are funny, yummy, and swoonworthy!
I haven’t gotten to know Grace, Jolene, and Payton well enough, but if what I do know is any indication, they’d be rad.
6. Do you plan out your books or do you just go with the flow?
I’m go with the flow.
I write down all sorts of details. Bits and pieces that I need to come back to and make sure they’re resolved, but I don’t plan.
I just listen.
7. Who is your favourite author?
Well that’s an impossible question. How about I give a small list?
Kristen Ashley, R.L. Mathewson, Aurora Rose Reynolds, Jovee Winters, Marie Hall, Alexa Riley, Tara Sivec, L.L. Collins, L.A. Casey, Reese Madison, Shelly Crane, Ruby Dixon, Noelle Adams, Brynne Asher, Chelsea M. Cameron, Linda Kage, Natasha Anders, Sugar Jamison, Stacey Marie Brown, Marie Force, and Andria Large.
Just to name a few. :P
8. What’s your favourite genre?
ROMANCE.
I’m all about the HEA’s.
Throw in humor, mystery, suspense, sci-fi, even horror, as long as romance is the lead and I’m game.
9. What’s next for you?
Well, Pierce My Heart is the first standalone in my Women of Willbrook series, so I’ll be moving on the another couple after. I just haven’t decided, or rather, they haven’t decided who yet.
In the meantime, I’m steadily working on a sci-fi alien romance that I’m kind of excited about.
I don’t even have my MC’s name, but her best girls name is Minnie and I totally adore her!
10. What’s your favourite movie?
That’s just as impossible as a favorite author!
Killin’ me here!
Um, okay.
I’m just gonna throw names out there, cool? Cool.
Steel Magnolias. Rock of Ages. Miss Congeniality 1 & 2. Leap Year. Strange Magic. Marvel Movies. Percy Jackson movies. The Other Woman. Dirty Dancing. ALL Disney Princess movies. The rest of the good Disney movies. Overboard. Joyful Noise. Safe Haven. Mamma Mia. My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Bridesmaids. Silver Linings Playbook. Alice. Malice in Wonderland. She’s The Man. Twister (I liked the movie before I moved to Kansas). MiB 1, 2, & 3. Expendables 1, 2, & 3. Red 1 & 2, One for the Money. Olympus Has Fallen.
Yeah...That ended up being longer than I thought.
Most of those are favorites and the rest are movies I can, and do, watch over and over again.
11. If you were stranded on an island which three items could you not live with out?
Hoping my family was with me, I’d go with my Kindle (which would make no sense since there’s no electricity, so how about a box set of KA’s Rock Chicks?), feminine hygiene products (no one ever thinks of those, but I don’t want to use bamboo/palm leaves), and a knife? Or maybe some tennis shoes (ouch, rocks)?
I don’t put myself at risk to get stranded.
Not unless you count losing power during a storm as stranded.
Ha.
12. If you wrote an autobiography about yourself what would you call it?
Why are you reading this? Don’t you have anything better to do?
No?
Mouthful?
I’d probably go with something witty and corny.
Seems to fit.
13. What’s your favourite season and why?
Definitely Fall.
I love all the colors, the smells, the styles, the activities.
Just everything about it.
14. Do you have a nickname?
When I was little my parents called me thunder thighs because I was always hurrying to get somewhere.
But, if you even think of calling me that now, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.
I answer to Kelsey, Kels, Kel, Marie, and on “special” occasions, my full name. Though, those are the times I really don’t want to answer.
15. How do you handle writers block?
Sometimes I can write my way through it, other times I’ll jump to my sci-fi romance to switch things up, but most of the time I just back away. I’ll read a book, play a game, bake/cook, watch a season in a day on Netflix.
Something that gets my mind off of it.
Fortunately, most of the stuff I do has the potential to inspire and usually does.
16. What’s your favourite writing snack/ drink?
I don’t have a snack, but Diet Pepsi is my go to drink for everything.
17. If you weren’t a writer what would your dream job be?
Hmm.
Owning a bakery? Interior designing? Wife and mother? Teaching? Rich woman who travels the world on a whim and spares no expense?
18. Sweet or sour?
How about a little of both?
If not, I guess I’ll pick sour.
19. Would you prefer a quiet night in or a night on the town?
It all depends on my mood and who I’m with, but usually a night in. Though, it doesn’t have to be quiet.
20. If you could go back in time what one piece of advice would you give yourself?
LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS!
21. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
If I told you, I might have to kill you…
Just kidding!
I’d just make sure you weren’t able to tell anyone, ever.
But, you’d be alive!
(Too threatening?)
22. Do you believe in fate?
Wholeheartedly.
23. What was the last thing that made you cry?
Steel Magnolias.
Gut-wrenching and beautiful.
24. For many of us writing is not our full time job, what is yours?
I work at a golf course.
I bartend, prep cook, help set up rooms, work the golf shop, answer phones, cook food in the grill, and mow fairways.
Everything but lifeguarding and the accounting.
Anna Pierce had, by all accounts, a blessed life. She grew up in a home full of laughter, love, and support. Where the biggest problem she faced (other than how to deal with her family's crazy antics) was deciding her plans for college. Little did she know the ugly path her choice would drag her down.
A choice that left her free-falling...
Fast forward five years. Her life still held that same laughter, love and support, but it was no longer full. A shadow hung overhead, waiting. Always threatening.
Until he caught her...
Jake Taylor stormed into her life and turned her world upside down. He made her feel things she'd hidden away from; made her face life again. But, most importantly, he helped her find the light.
And gave her happily ever after...
Website: http://kelseyjensenauthor.weebly.com/
Blog: http://kelseyjensenauthor.weebly.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KelseyJensenAuthorPage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KelseyJAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KelseyJAuthor
Pinterest: < https://www.pinterest.com/KelseyJAuthor/>
Book Links: < https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26822046-pierce-my-heart >
Forums: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/17510170-kelsey-s-happily-ever-after?page=1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyjauthor/
