The Final #FirstDayofSchool Photo ~ #BacktoSchool Where Did the Time Go? #MomLife

First day of Kindergarten and first day of Senior Year!
Same tree in the background...I had a cherry blossom tree
in my yard growing up that I loved to climb (those were
the days) and this tree was my first Mother's Day present
when we moved to Cape Cod and bought a house.

I'm struggling this week, having to confront the fact that yesterday I took the final "Back-to-School" photo of my younger son heading into senior year.  I really don't understand where the time has gone!  Of course, I hope he'll go "back to school" to college many times in the next few years, but it's not the same as having them leave from our house after breakfast, juggling their backpack, lunch, and clothes for practice.

It brings to mind other rites of passage, like my post on Saying Goodbye to Our Backyard Swingset.  But you can't stop time, apparently.  I'll never forget the day I received a publishing contract offer for my first book, Silver Lake--a goal my whole family knew I'd been working on for years.  It was a Friday in December of 2011 when I received the news, and only my younger son was still home, due to his later start time for grade school.  When I shrieked with joy, he came running, and we danced around the kitchen together.

One thing I think I did right!  He's
always love to read.  In fact, this is a
pic from an amusement park, we were
taking a break from rides and he pulled
a book from his backpack!

Now, his hugs are few and far between, but I think that will change as he grows older.  When my older son comes back from college, he's genuinely happy to see us and to be home.  It's all a part of growing up, and I'm hoping I'm doing something right along the way.



But it doesn't make it any easier as a parent!  I know that, with this being my final year as the mom of a high school kid, there's not one game or event I'll miss.  And just like that final first day photo, I'm taking pics, whether he likes it or not!   

Anniversary of my 1st #Publishing Contract! #amwriting #saturdaymorning

I admit, I love the Facebook memories feature, where, when you log in, you see a post you made "on this day" sometime in the past.  Or, at least I love it when it was a post about something good--like today's!  Honestly, I may have forgotten this anniversary, being as it's so close to Christmas, New Year's, and two family birthdays, not to mention it was six years ago.  But I will never, ever forget that morning.  Only my younger son was still home when I clicked on the email...he would have been almost 10 years old and still in elementary school.  The subject line only included the name of my manuscript (SILVER LAKE submission), no indication of what news might be inside, and I'd already received 2 R&Rs (revise and resubmits) on my first manuscript from the publisher I longed to work with--and while R&Rs are a good thing, not a final rejection, they are no guarantee of a "yes" either.

Six years ago today...I even remember that it was a Friday!

So I clicked with shaking fingers and discovered, to my absolute delight, that this was the "yes" I'd been waiting for.  A publishing contract!  A company actually thought my work was a worthwhile investment, something they were willing to put money, time, and effort into.  I remember screaming with surprise and joy, my son racing into the kitchen, and the two of us hugging and dancing around the kitchen.  Both my sons knew how hard I'd been working, for years, and how much I wanted this.  I like to think my journey and tenacity sunk in as a lesson of sorts...keep working for your dreams, and don't give up.

Six years later, a lot has happened.  That first book, Silver Lake, has been a #1 Kindle Bestseller on several occasions.  A larger publisher purchased the electronic rights to the novel in 2015.  I've had 3 additional novels published, which have found their own success: another #1 Kindle Bestseller, various awards, and now my latest release, Haunted Souls, is being made into an audio book by my publisher.  I even got to sign books alongside one of my childhood idols, Mary Higgins Clark!  It's been a whirlwind six years!

Has it been all happiness and roses?  No, of course not.  Bad reviews are painful.  Sales slumps are disheartening.  Reaching new readers is a challenge.  And writer's block can be tortuous.  But I don't think I'd change my decision to write down my stories.  If I've given some people what I consider one of the ultimate forms of entertainment and pleasure--getting lost in an impossible-to-put-down book--then it's all been worth it.

How to make an author's day!

Now, back to my WIP, Dangerous Currents...only a few chapters to go!  But I'll treat myself to a little anniversary celebration today too...probably a mid-day break, where I climb under a blanket, pull up the covers, and read...bliss!  (Check back after the new year for my list of my favorite books of the year!  Here's my 2016 list.)

Probably will substitute water for wine in the middle of the day...
but then again, it's my anniversary!

My #Kindle Book Disappeared...and I'm So Excited! #amwriting #romance #ghosts #NA

Last week I announced some exciting news...my debut novel, SILVER LAKE, was purchased by Amazon's traditional publishing house for their Encore imprint, which acquires "extraordinary" previously published books with untapped sales potential.  Amazon is a reputable publisher with fantastic marketing, and I'm thrilled to be a part of this line dedicated to "hidden gems".

My second-chance romance is getting a second publisher!

I have a release date--August 25th--but I just noticed yesterday that the Kindle version of my book has disappeared.  Now, I admit I panicked for a moment, and then I realized what was going on.  Amazon will now own exclusive rights to the book; as a result, it will no longer be available in any other competing format.  Plus, they make a few changes to the "new" books before putting them back up for Pre-Sale under Encore's Imprint...for example, a new ASIN will be assigned.

So panic turned to excitement once I figured out this was a sign things were moving forward! And since a number of romance authors from the former publisher were also selected for this program, those of us with the same release date have decided to celebrate with a big online Facebook party on 8/25!  Ten authors will host an all-day event, chatting about books, writing, romance, suspense, and giving away tons of PRIZES!  Raffles every hour, all day long...and you can come in and comment at any point to enter.  So come Join the party!  Here's the invite page, hope to see you there!  LINK

SILVER LAKE Sold to #Amazon Publishing! #amwriting #romance #ghosts #suspense

Amazon Encore:
Rediscovered Works

Exciting news: I'm pleased to announce the sale of SILVER LAKE to Amazon’s traditional publishing house!  Amazon Publishing’s Encore imprint focuses on acquiring successful small press books with decent sales and reviews and improving their exposure and sales potential.  Books within the Encore imprint will benefit from Amazon’s phenomenal marketing and promotion efforts, as well as be included in programs such as Kindle Unlimited.

A few months ago, Amazon contacted my publisher with an interest in purchasing the rights to my debut novel.  To have such a big name willing to back my book was – and continues to be – thrilling!  I decided to move ahead with this fantastic opportunity, and the contracts have been signed.  While the print version of this title won’t change, the electronic version will soon be re-released exclusively to Amazon.  At that point, it will no longer be available in e-format from other online vendors.

A haunting, an old flame, and secrets from the past...

My haunting suspense/second-chance romance is slated for release with Encore on August 25, 2015, and I’m so excited to share Rain and Jason’s story with more readers.  To celebrate the occasion, I’m joining several other romance authors whose books were also chosen by Amazon for an all-day Facebook event!  We’ll be chatting with readers, raffling off prizes, and giving away copies of some of our other books…so come join us and discover some great new reads!  To receive a reminder, just click the link below and “Join” the event; then visit the page when you have a chance on the 25^th and enter any raffles you’d like to win.  Hope to see you there!

FB Encore Romances Release Party

Check out the SILVER LAKE storyboard on Pinterest!

Should I take a break? Can I? #amwriting #romance

Since 2008, a very large chunk of my life has been writing.  I began Silver Lake during an 8 hour car ride, once a friend had given me the final push I needed to get started (if you don't at least try, you'll never know...words to live by).  The entire first draft took me two and a half years, because at that point, it was mostly a distant dream.

During that time span, we remodeled our home, including the kitchen...so for six months, I awoke every day to different people stomping around the house before I even got dressed.


A giant hole in the yard
was just the beginning

I'd trudge down in my pajamas and ask where they put the coffee maker that day, because that and the toaster oven were the extent of our working appliances.  Usually it was sitting on a step ladder somewhere, and occasionally I had to find an extension cord to get it working.  Let's just say it wasn't the most conducive environment to write romance.  If I even tried, invariably a contractor would show up within five minutes, asking me where I wanted the light switches to go.  Huh?  Put them where you think they should go.  I'm trying to channel the ghost of Brandy.

It was worth it!  ^ This stool is
where I write.

But once I began querying publishers and agents with Silver Lake, writing became more of a compulsion than a hobby.  I had editors interested who wanted to see changes.  I rewrote and rewrote again, and every time I had to endure the painful wait for feedback, I turned to my new story.  By the time Silver Lake was contracted by The Wild Rose Press, I ecstatically told myself it was time for a break.  But I couldn't do it.  I was deep inside the fictional Cape Cod town of Gull Harbor, helping Claire deal with both a dangerous spirit and her ex-boyfriend, Max.

Gull Harbor was finished--and contracted--in record time.  Certainly it was time for a rest.  But I had two new stories tugging at my imagination--which to pursue?  I decided it was time for something different, and I embarked on a journey into the world of Nephilim in my first YA paranormal romance.

Nine months later, I had yet another finished full length manuscript.  Three in five years...not bad.  Since my current publisher does not handle YA, I began the query process all over again.  That in and of itself is quite a daunting and time-consuming process.  Surely now I should take that break, relax, and hope an agent or publisher is interested in Divine Fall.

I'm trying.  Really.  But I feel strangely adrift.  I miss my characters.  I miss living in their world, experiencing their next moves as the intricate plot comes to life in my mind.  Jamie and Dothan will have their incredible story told, and I'm sure I'll be back with them when it's time for edits.  But in the meantime, can I just sit back and wait?

Again, I'm trying.  But that other story that took a backseat to Divine Fall is beckoning.  The first three chapters are there.  The preliminary research is done.  Emily and Brett are waiting, and so is Jonah's ghost.  I know on some level my brain needs time to recharge.  Somehow, I need to get that message to my characters.  Their time will come.  They'll have to be at least a little bit patient.  And I'll admit, I'm not usually one to advocate patience--it's not my strong point.  But in this business, it's a necessary virtue. 

So I'll tackle my To Be Read list while I try very hard to take that break from writing.  Judging from the long blog post I just joyfully typed up, it should be no problem.  Wait...

Gull Harbor's Official Release Date! Kathryn Knight

I just received my release date from The Wild Rose Press for my second paranormal romance, Gull Harbor!  Like Silver Lake, Gull Harbor is also a ghost story and a "second chance" romance between two main characters with a rocky history.  I began Gull Harbor while waiting to hear about a contract for Silver Lake.  At that point, my wonderful editors had helped me get the pacing perfect for Silver Lake - beginning the story right at the point of action and cutting everything out that slowed the story down.  I was hopeful my last rewrite would result in a contract, but to deal with the waiting, I got to work on the next novel I had brewing in my imagination.

When I got "the call" that Silver Lake had been offered a contract, I was obviously ecstatic.  I learned so much during the editing process of that first novel--especially what pitfalls to avoid.  Gull Harbor was finished in record time (for me that means 9 months as opposed to 2 1/2 years).  Thankfully, Gull Harbor was offered a contract immediately after the first submission.  But of course the entire process takes time, and a release date was still far away.

Once a novel has been contracted with The Wild Rose Press, initial edits begin. Cover art, blurbs and author bios must be created.  Pre-galley and Galley copies must be proofed and approved.  Even after all that is completed, a novel must wait its turn.  While Gull Harbor was going through the process, other TWRP novels were in different stages and "getting in line".  TWRP only releases 5 new books a week, so that each new release can spend an entire 2 weeks on the Home page and receive the full attention it deserves.  So the general time frame can be up to 6 months from final Galley to official release.

Which brings me to my date:  June 21, 2013!  However, now that TWRP participates in Amazon's Kindle Select program, it may be available on just that format much sooner.  I can't wait!  Please enjoy the blurb and cover art for Gull Harbor below:

When Claire Linden’s job sends her to the sleepy town of Gull Harbor, she never expects to encounter her ex-boyfriend. As a medium, the prospect of tackling a haunted house is less daunting than seeing Max Baron again. Throughout their passionate college relationship, he promised to love her forever. Then, without explanation, he abandoned her on graduation day.

Max never intended to break Claire's heart—a cruel ultimatum forced him to disappear from her life. While he's shocked to find her in Gull Harbor, he isn't surprised by the bitter resentment she feels for him...or the fiery attraction that remains between them.

Claire is determined to rid her temporary home of its aggressive ghost, but Max soon realizes she's facing a danger beyond the paranormal. When Claire risks everything to help a desperate spirit, Max must race to save her—before another tragedy tears them apart forever.

My First #Tattoo at 43! The #fullmoon from Silver Lake's cover! #moon #ghost #mystery #romance #paranormal

Love my moon &
first initials tattoo!

I admit it, I definitely have a wild side.  I've always wanted a tattoo, and once every few years I would spend time researching the process and looking for artist recommendations.  But it's such a permanent and personal thing, and the one thing holding me back was: what did I want inked onto my body?

I've read enough to know you don't show up at a tattoo parlor and pick "flash" off the wall.  I wanted something meaningful and significant, like what I gave my hero in Silver Lake.  Jason Lansing had the Japanese symbols for an inspirational statement inked onto the outside of his shoulder right before he took the plunge and opened his own Karate studio.

I decided for sure I would somehow want to incorporate the men in my family: my husband and two sons, the most important people in my life.  But the design I had in mind still felt incomplete, and I was lacking the motivation to actually begin the process with the artist I planned to use.

Silver Lake has earned an
orange #1 Amazon Bestseller
on three different occasions!

Then I got the "call" last winter, a year ago on a cold morning of December 2011.  Silver Lake, the novel I'd worked on for 4 years, had earned a publishing contract!  It was one of the most memorable moments of my life.  My younger son and I danced around the kitchen.

Silver Lake was released in August of 2012 (eta: and ended up hitting #1 on Amazon on several occasions over the years!), and from the moment I saw it available on Amazon a few days early, I didn't sleep for almost a week.  The excitement of the arrival of a day I had been anxiously awaiting, combined with the stress of knowing many of my family and friends were finally reading my words, fueled an insomnia that lingered until those first few reviews came in (eta: Worth it! 😂💙)

Somehow, I wanted to include this huge accomplishment -- and realization of my dream coming true! -- in a subtle way into my tattoo design.  Suddenly I knew exactly what it would look like, and I wanted to get it before 2012 - the year I was first published - was history.  I quickly made a rudimentary mock-up of what I had in mind and made an appointment with the artist.

Surprisingly, it didn't hurt very much.  I did almost faint before we got started, but that's the kind of thing I do around needles.  The end result is a design incorporating the first initials of my guys with the moon from Silver Lake's cover.  I truly love it, and it serves as a reminder that you have to work for your dreams, be patient, stay strong, and never give up!  

Another eta:  In a strange coincidence, last night, July 3rd, 2023, welcomed the first Super Moon of the year...AND, a local TV show we were watching featured Candlewood Lake, which is featured in Silver Lake and has a fascinating history!  The "Silver Lake" in my book is a fictional lake inspired by the very real kettle ponds surrounding the man-made Candlewood Lake.  More on the history and our visit to the area here.