Blog Visit by P.K. Morris

P.K. Morris is visiting with me today to share some information about herself and her latest release, "A Single Man's Valentine"

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Welcome P.K.  Thanks for stopping by.  Tell us about yourself:

 I grew up in a small city in New Hampshire, raised by a single working mother. I still live in said small city and I don’t think I’ll ever leave. I’ve got two rescue animals, a dog and cat. I love going to concerts and mocha Frappuccino’s from Starbucks. My favorite color (at the moment) is a
peacock blue-green color.

What television sitcom is most like your family?
Why? Haha! I’ve always thought we were like the show “Roseanne” for some reason. I think it was mostly the kids. My older sister and I fought like cats and dogs when we were younger. But I’m sure it was only because we have a seven and a half year age difference. But after my sister moved out for college, my mom and I kind of became like the “Gilmore Girls.”

What’s your favorite thing to do to relax? Watch TV or listen to music. You can kind of escape your own life with those things. I also really like to knit, if it’s a simple project that is kind of a mindless procedure.

Do you prefer…
Public speaking or public singing? Neither!! I have very bad stage fright.

Writing in a notebook or typing on the computer? I love writing in a notebook, but I get more done when I use my computer.

Coke or Pepsi? Either. I like them both.

Living without your cell phone or living without your computer? This is a hard one! My cell phone keeps me connected to my peeps in real life and my computer keeps me connected to my online friends. It’d be hard to live without either. But if I really had to choose I’d live without my cell.

Now about you as anauthor…
Did you always want to be an author? Yes and no. I’ve always loved writing and it was kind of a back-burner type thing for a while. But when I hit high school, I became more serious about it. Not until I hit my twenties did I really actively write in order to be published though.

What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult? Growing up I was pretty much on the go at every possible second and didn’t read as much as I should have. I started reading a lot beginning in high school. One of my favorites who I thought was really inspiring was S.E. Hinton who wrote The
Outsiders.  As an adult, Stephenie Meyer has really had an effect on me. Just her writing style is amazing, she really pulls you in.

Did anyone in your life influence you or encouraged you to be a writer? (teacher, family member, friend) My mom has always encouraged me to do what I love no matter what it was and probably has been my biggest supporter. But I do have a friend from the internet that has been a big cheerleader when it comes to my writing and I’m forever grateful for all the advice she’s given me.

What is your favorite aspect or writing? Your least favorite? I think just the creating and actual writing is probably my favorite. It’s fun to use my imagination and get all those words out. I’m not sure I have a least favorite aspect of it. Writing is what I love.

What aspect of writing would you most like to improve on? All of it. I think there’s always room for improvement so anything I can learn would be great.

Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing? A drink, the TV remote and my cell phone. That way, I don’t have to get up too often.

Do you have a common theme or item that appears in each of your books? I love writing about musicians whether they’re in it professionally or not.

What have you learned the most from being in the writing business? Self-promotion is hard work. A writer friend of mine told me how hard it was, but I didn’t believe her until I got into it myself.

Tell us about your latest release: (blurb, excerpt, cover)
A Single Man’s Valentine
Blurb:
Kris Goodwin wants to spend his first Valentine's Day since his
divorce alone in his apartment with a case of beer. But his best friend Jake has
other ideas and shows up unannounced. Jake has brought supplies for what he
calls the perfect single man's Valentine's Day; take-out, flowers, romantic
comedies and a box of chocolates. 

As the evening progresses, Jake admits the harmless crush he's had on Kris isn't quite as harmless as he's made it out to be. He's actually in love with Kris. Then Kris tells Jake the real reason behind his divorce.


Excerpt:
    Jake leaned his mouth close to Kris’ ear and began to sing quietly.

    When the most romantic lines of the song came about, Jake tilted
Kris’ head back so he could look into Kris’ eyes as he sang about loving Kris
and needing him. About how Jake wanted him to stay now that they’d found each other and Jake wanted Kris to just let Jake love him. “I mean it, Kris,”Jake
murmured. “I love you.”

    Kris smiled gently. “I love you, too, Jake.”

    The older man shook his head. “No, Kris. I mean, I love you. It was never just a harmless crush. Why do you think that last guy and I split up?”

    “I know it isn’t a harmless crush,” Kris replied.

    “You… you do?” Jake was shocked.

    Kris nodded. “I love you too. Why do you think Jill and I are divorced?”

    “I thought it was because she didn’t like how much you had to travel for your music,” Jake said confused.

    Kris shrugged. “That’s just what we told people. It was really you. It was always you, Jake.”

    Jake brushed his fingers through Kris’ hair. “Then why did you want to drink yourself into oblivion tonight?”

    “Because,” Kris sighed. “I thought I was going to be all alone on Valentine’s Day.”

    “Then why were you grumpy when I showed up?”

    Kris shrugged and averted his eyes. “You showed up and you kept saying how this was the perfect single guy’s Valentine’s Day. I’ve never known how to make the first move, I always waited for you to do it. I guess it just kind of annoyed me that you showed up on Valentine’s day as just my friend.” He shrugged and looked down his hands.

    Jake tilted Kris’ face back towards his so they were eye to eye, brown to blue. “I’ve never been just your friend,” he murmured.

    “No?” Kris asked.

    Jake shook his head. “It’s always been you. But you were always one hundred percent straight.” A small smirk turned up the corner of his mouth and Kris grinned back.

    “Well, that’s obviously false,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been a hundred percent straight. Especially after meeting you, because really, it was love at first sight for me.” Kris blushed a deep shade of red. He couldn’t believe he actually admitted it out loud.


 
How did you decide on your story plot?
I entered in a writing challenge on an online writing community and the theme was Valentine’s Day and I was given the prompt of first Valentine’s Day after a divorce. It just kind of flowed from there.

How did you choose your characters names and location for your story?
I asked other people. I got a bunch of names from friends and family and decided which ones I thought worked. As for the location, the city/state part is all left to the reader’s imagination.

Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
My favorite scene is when Jake sings to Kris. It’s just a very sweet and romantic piece of the puzzle that is the catalyst for their confessions.

Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why?
I identify with Kris because he’s got a crush on his friend and doesn’t know what to do about it. He’s also not as straight as everyone thinks he is.

Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Author.PK.Morris
Blog: http://pkmorris.wordpress.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pk_morris
Email: pk.morris@comcast.net

Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!! I’d just like to say thank you for having me. It’s been a lot of fun!

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