I am honored to welcome author Kelly Risser to Reading For Fun. She will be attending OIBF on October 19-22, 2017 in Springfield, MO. I have been fortunate enough to meet her on numerous occasions and I can’t wait to see her again.
Hello Kelly and welcome! It’s an honor to have you here with us today. I wanted to start out this interview first with a look into the group of authors that you are a part of, The Ferocious Five. So far you have completed two anthologies together. What is it like working with such a great group of ladies?
I absolutely adore Casey Bond, Jo Michaels, Nichole Greene, and Tia Silverthorne Bach. We have all become good friends and really complement each other’s writing styles. I feel like they make me a stronger, more creative writer, and I hope I’m able to provide the same support to them. I’m so proud of Fractured Glass and 7: The Seven Deadly Sins, and I can’t wait for our next project to release.
What can we expect in the near future from TFF?
Our upcoming project is by far our most ambitious to date. I can’t really tell you much about it, but I think fans of our work are going to love it! Stay tuned – we are working toward a spring release date!
What or who inspired you to go into writing?
I have always been a voracious reader, and I had several teachers who encouraged me to continue with my writing. My parents also encouraged me, but the person who had the most faith in me of all was my best friend’s mom. She always said she was waiting to read my books and she’d ask if I was working on one or when I was going to write it.
Which of your books in your series are you most proud of and why?
I am most proud of Always Remembered. Concluding a trilogy is no easy task, but I’m really happy with how everything ends and the growth of my characters throughout the series.
Do you have a favorite quote from one of your books? If so, could you share it with us and explain why?
This excerpt between Meara and Evan from Never Forgotten is one of my favorites. I was slightly overweight and very awkward, especially in junior high, and I remember being teased for it. I was extremely sensitive, so what may have rolled off some kids really got beneath my skin. I love this scene, because it shows what a great guy Evan is and how a kind gesture can really make a difference when someone carries hurt.
Are you currently working on another book, if so can you share a little something about about it? Is it YA, NA, Adult? What genre?
My latest short story, Mandatory Vacation, can be found in the Fated Destinations anthology that release in late December from Crimson Tree Publishing. I’m about neck-deep in the next Ferocious Five project, and I have storylines brewing for three other projects – two YA fantasy novels and an adult historical fiction. My brain is always coming up with something!
~~Now for a little FuN!~~
Who is your favorite author?My “auto-buy” authors are A.G. Howard, Cassandra Clare, Colleen Houck, Marissa Meyer, Patricia Briggs, and Rick Riordan. I love many other authors too.
Do you have a favorite book that you come back to time and time again?
Harry Potter, Mortal Instruments, Splintered, and Percy Jackson series.Twilight or Bram Stoker’s Dracula?
Twilight
Would you please share something quirky about yourself that most people wouldn't know?
I’m a huge Disney fan and can sing many of the songs by heart. I also love to burst into spontaneous songs, much to the embarrassment of my children.
One last question...it needs to be a good one… Who is your most favorite celebrity hunk? Why do you find so hunky about him?
Ryan Reynolds, mainly because I appreciate the combination of good looks and humor. He also seems down to earth and a family man. Then, there’s the hair, which is perfect. (Meet my husband, and you’ll learn curly hair is kind of a thing for me, maybe because mine is so straight!) I’ve liked him since the Two Guys, A Girl, and A Pizza Place days, but The Proposal is probably my favorite project of his to date. Such a funny movie!
Thank you so much for taking time from your busy schedule to share your thoughts and work with us. I can’t wait to see you at OIBF!!
Be sure to follow Kelly on any of the social media sites to get updates!
