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Looking Out the Window: Welcome K. Dawn Byrd

AND THE WINNER IS......
DANIELLE
CONGRATULATIONS, DANIELLE



It’s great to have K. Dawn Byrd, author of Killing Time. She'll be giving away a mouse pad with the image of her book cover on it.
To enter to win leave a comment with your email address (U.S. residents only). I'll select a winner on November 3rd!

First, tell us how your story originated.

I've always been an avid reader and planned to write a book one day. When I began work as a counselor in a jail, I thought that would be a neat setting for the book. I began to jot down notes about the environment such as sights, sounds, and smells. Before I knew it, my heroine had formed in my mind, begging me to tell her story.

What a worthwhile job! Tell us about your journey from idea to publication.

This book didn't go through rejections because I never sent it out. I did enter it in some contests in order to get feedback. It finaled in the Duel on the Delta last year. An agent took a look at it and said that she really liked my writing, but was afraid it might be hard to sell a book partially set in a jail. It was then I realized that there's such a thing as writing to market if you want to sell. About that time, I became friends with Michelle Sutton and she recommended one of her publishers to me, Desert Breeze Publishing. They liked it and the rest is history.

Great story! What about you? Would you share three things about yourself that would surprise your readers?

I own two hairless Chinese Crested dogs.
I love sour things....pickles, lemons, sour candy.
I used to ride a Harley, but gave it up in order to have more time to write. (My husband always wanted to stay out way too long and take the scenic route home. He still has his bike, but I don't miss mine at all.)

What are you working on now and what's next for you?

I'm working on three proposals requested by a publisher at the ACFW Conference. As soon as they're ready, I'll be editing the two books I've just signed contracts on for next year with Desert Breeze. They've been absolutely wonderful to work with.

Congratulations! I look forward to hearing more about your new books.
Thanks so much for visiting. Do you have any parting comments?

Thank you for hosting me on your blog! For those of you who love Christian fiction, please check my blog for weekly book giveaways. I interview 3-5 authors a week who give away their books. www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

Where can fans find you on the internet?

http://www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/
I'm also on Twitter (kdawnbyrd) and facebook (K Dawn Byrd.) I am the moderator of the Christian Fiction Gathering facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128209963444) If you join this group, you'll get reminders about the weekly book giveways.

Comments

Gail Pallotta said…
It's great to have K. Dawn Byrd here today!
Miss Mae said…
Hi there!

How interesting to have a jail for a setting, that makes me curious as to what goes on there.

As one who's worked inside a maximum security facility, though, I can't imagine a story here, so for you to do this and to do it so well, I take my hat off!

Nice to meet you! Do we call you K? :)
Hi K!
The setting in this book was very vivid, to the point that I breathed a sigh of relief when Mindy finally got out.
DanielleThorne said…
K Dawn-- it was great learning more about your journey. Best of luck with your books and your agent contacts.
chahtameda said…
Hi K. Dawn Byrd!

Your book, "Looking Out the Window", has piqued my curiosity, so I will definitely add it to my reading list. I was also intrigued by how you promoted and published your book, given the subject matter. Thanks, Gail, for posting this interview with K. Dawn Byrd.
How about a new book... I gave up my Harley for Jesus...

Thanks so much for sharing with us!
K. Dawn Byrd said…
Hey, Miss Mae! I worked at the regional jail as a counselor. I am no longer in that setting. It was a very sad place.
K. Dawn Byrd said…
Hey, Shawna! Good to see a fellow Deser Breeze author here.

Trust me, Shawna, jail is not a place I'd recommend for anyone, not even employees :)
K. Dawn Byrd said…
Hey, Danielle! If memory serves me right, you're another DBP author. Good to see you here!
K. Dawn Byrd said…
That's too funny, GA! Actually, I was living for Jesus while riding the Harley, there's just not enough time in the day for it all and my husband liked to take these loooooong rides. Now, he takes them alone :)
K. Dawn Byrd said…
Thank you so much for hosting me, Gail! You have a fun group here.

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