tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post6538523185732577618..comments2024-03-28T17:39:34.611-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Kristan Higgins on Romantic Angst, Breaking In, and more!Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79024933880010656642009-09-15T23:14:35.787-04:002009-09-15T23:14:35.787-04:00Great interview, Kristan! And your wip sounds awes...Great interview, Kristan! And your wip sounds awesome. I'll definitely be on the look out for it:)Maria Geracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02296473703226019932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34782297821085111542009-09-15T17:18:26.881-04:002009-09-15T17:18:26.881-04:00Thanks, everyone! Sorry for the wait on the next b...Thanks, everyone! Sorry for the wait on the next book, which is ironically called THE NEXT BEST THING. My publisher pushed the release date back for promotional reasons. I assure you, I wrote it as quickly as I could!Kristannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37045684978022923912009-09-15T16:47:52.070-04:002009-09-15T16:47:52.070-04:00Even though we've worked together for over a y...Even though we've worked together for over a year now, I feel like I know you much better after reading that, Kristan. What a great interview! I'm a plotter too, it just seems far more practical to me - like you said, better to change a few sentences than have to rip out a chapter. <br /><br />And I have Too Good To Be True on my TBR shelf - as soon as these revisions are done....Robyn DeHarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13460904312501116319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57823388057928273132009-09-15T16:26:34.411-04:002009-09-15T16:26:34.411-04:00Have read all of Kristan's and each one is bet...Have read all of Kristan's and each one is better than the last...truly painful, however, is the wait in between! :) Major props to you, Kristan. <br /><br />Also have read Silent in the Grave and all its sequels. Top-notch mysteries. You can physically feel the darkness in them.<br /><br />CarlaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23974114151715931602009-09-15T16:26:10.029-04:002009-09-15T16:26:10.029-04:00Have read all of Kristan's and each one is bet...Have read all of Kristan's and each one is better than the last...truly painful, however, is the wait in between! :) Major props to you, Kristan. <br /><br />Also have read Silent in the Grave and all its sequels. Top-notch mysteries. You can physically feel the darkness in them.<br /><br />CarlaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87117355080993578202009-09-15T16:23:20.762-04:002009-09-15T16:23:20.762-04:00Lovely interview. I really enjoyed meeting you in ...Lovely interview. I really enjoyed meeting you in this Q&A. I think I'd like your books.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87401482759188220332009-09-15T16:06:17.136-04:002009-09-15T16:06:17.136-04:00Hi Kristan,
Welcome to Jungle Red. Great interview...Hi Kristan,<br />Welcome to Jungle Red. Great interview! It's always interesting to hear everyone's process -- I'm totally with you on outlining!!Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65476498832645925862009-09-15T15:19:22.236-04:002009-09-15T15:19:22.236-04:00Loved the glimpse into your process, Kristan. Can&...Loved the glimpse into your process, Kristan. Can't wait to get my hands on a copy of THE NEXT BEST THING -- is it February yet??Nancy Robards Thompsonhttp://nancyrobardsthompson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30168818474641985842009-09-15T14:45:35.113-04:002009-09-15T14:45:35.113-04:00Hi, Kathryn! I think there's nothing better th...Hi, Kathryn! I think there's nothing better than when a character comes out with something that completely surprises the author. I don't generally believe in muses, but I do believe that characters take on a life of their own after a while.<br /><br />Thanks, Rhys! Funny to think that you mystery writers turn to romance for a break, and we romance writers turn to mystery...<br /><br />Thanks to you too, Bob! The dogs are a natural part of a story for me, simply because I've always owned a dog. Growing up it was Irish Setters and Golden Retrievers...we now own a lovely black Lab mutt and a yellow lab/border collie (not nearly as smart as she sounds). <br /><br />My next heroine owns a cat for the simple reason that it fit her life and personality better than a dog. His name is Fat Mikey, and I stole the name from my down-the-street neighbor. But for Book #6, it's back to man's best friend.Kristannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22608965610683895362009-09-15T13:33:34.093-04:002009-09-15T13:33:34.093-04:00If you haven'r read Kristan you're missing...If you haven'r read Kristan you're missing the boat. Or is it the dog? Kristan, you use that puppy theme in the books I've read.Do you have a pup in all of them?Bobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14217818683026954792009-09-15T12:02:19.289-04:002009-09-15T12:02:19.289-04:00Welcome Kristan!
You write the sort of books that ...Welcome Kristan!<br />You write the sort of books that are my secret pleasures. Funny and tender--that's exactly what I like to read when I'm overstressed and overworked (as pretty much always)Rhys Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663634889908752121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61600689311558307102009-09-15T10:29:24.019-04:002009-09-15T10:29:24.019-04:00Kristan, I'm a plotter too. Like you I leave e...Kristan, I'm a plotter too. Like you I leave enough breathing room for the characters surprise me, and they always seem to -- at least once a book. <br /><br />I have to admit that I haven't read you yet, even though I adore you as a person. I'm going to fix that asap, especially after reading these posts!Kathryn Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17751917886740739456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30470834651901496662009-09-15T10:15:24.037-04:002009-09-15T10:15:24.037-04:00Thanks, Margo, Shana and Catherine! I'm trying...Thanks, Margo, Shana and Catherine! I'm trying to write faster, I assure you. Just have to raise a couple of kids and remember to shower once in a while...<br /><br /> <br />Hank, right back at you in terms of fangirl! As for the seamless/effortless bit...snort! As I'm sure you well know, writing has its days when the effort is so great you may as well be back in Labor and Delivery, pushing out a nine-pounder, sans epidural. <br /><br />But yes, there are days when the words flow and the story takes over. Getting to that point, though...it takes a lot of work. For me, anyway. Other writers might be blessed with better muses (in which case I simply must buy one), but from what I've heard, we all work tremendously hard.Kristannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56013920955246596962009-09-15T10:09:08.239-04:002009-09-15T10:09:08.239-04:00Kristan! Welcome..
(Listen, you all, I am SUCH a ...Kristan! Welcome..<br /><br />(Listen, you all, I am SUCH a fangirl of Kristan! She;s absolutely charming, hilarious and tender writer..I laugh out loud with delight at her books.)<br /><br />So, Kristan--your books seem so natural and effortless. (I know you're laughing now..) Do you do a tremendous amount of revision to get them to be so seamless?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10685179202755839492009-09-15T10:01:39.979-04:002009-09-15T10:01:39.979-04:00Great interview, Kristan! I love your sense of hu...Great interview, Kristan! I love your sense of humor and can't wait to read THE NEXT BEST THING.CatherineKeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08199528515003734239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59908801612098546362009-09-15T10:00:55.786-04:002009-09-15T10:00:55.786-04:00I'm reading TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE right now, and...I'm reading TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE right now, and I know I'm going to have to go out and buy all your others, Kristan. Love reading about your process!Shana Galenhttp://www.shanagalen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81919670881095749752009-09-15T09:53:21.183-04:002009-09-15T09:53:21.183-04:00Thanks, Cindy! :-)
As for the settings, Rhonda......Thanks, Cindy! :-)<br /><br />As for the settings, Rhonda...I do try to choose a place that reflects something in the plot. For example, in Just One of the Guys, Chastity, our strapping lass, came from the Adirondacks, where she hiked and rowed and biked. The strong setting reflected her personal strength, emotional and physical. The Next Best Thing is set on a small island off the Rhode Island coast, a Jamestown-type place. Lucy, my heroine, feels a bit isolated and trapped by her own situation, so that worked, too. Sometimes, though, I admit to being shallow and just picking a place because it's beautiful. <br /><br />Darlene, thank your dentist for me! As for humor, I'm sure my copywriting experience helps, in terms of keeping the writing sharp and brief (one hopes, anyway). But humor is often a viewpoint...I think maybe mine comes from seeing little things that we all see, or admitting to those odd little things we all do but might not admit publicly.Kristanhttp://www.kristanhiggins.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-24123375471026120502009-09-15T09:51:08.205-04:002009-09-15T09:51:08.205-04:00Kristan - all that outlining really pays off - you...Kristan - all that outlining really pays off - your writing sparkles! Can hardly wait for the next one (you couldn't speed it up a little, could you?)Margo Maguirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16506586540653254686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88916640126201495742009-09-15T09:30:34.188-04:002009-09-15T09:30:34.188-04:00I discovered Just One of the Guys at the dentist&#...I discovered Just One of the Guys at the dentist's office, of all places. I was my usual panicked, deranged self and the book was a wonderful distraction. I didn't expect to enjoy it so much that I had to (ahem) borrow it so I could finish the story. (I'll return it next visit, I swear.) <br /><br />I love the way you used humour in the story. Does that come from your days as a copywriter?Sofie Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830230500527705589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-44880329076436444082009-09-15T09:30:32.563-04:002009-09-15T09:30:32.563-04:00Nice to see another familiar face on Jungle Red!
...Nice to see another familiar face on Jungle Red! <br /><br />I have a question about your process. Your settings seem to be a big part of it. So, which comes to you first? Your idea for the characters? Or does the setting inspire the characters? <br /><br />Anyway, thank you for dropping by Jungle Red.RhondaLhttp://www.thehorseyset.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17606581590220520492009-09-15T08:48:45.343-04:002009-09-15T08:48:45.343-04:00Kristan,
I find it so interesting how you can pic...Kristan,<br /><br />I find it so interesting how you can pick up a writer's style by just reading her answers to a Q&A.<br /><br />But your humor and way of looking at the world definitely comes shining through...no wonder your books are so good!!Cindy Kirkhttp://www.cindykirk.comnoreply@blogger.com