I’m thrilled to be here today on N.N. Light’s Book Heaven for an Author Spotlight! I’m Kathryn Knight, and I primarily write Paranormal Romantic Suspense—novels that combine romance with a haunting mystery. October is a perfect month for ghost stories, so I hope you’ll check out some of my titles if you enjoy a bit of spooky suspense (with a guaranteed happy ending for the main couple, at least…since they are romances as well!)
So, yeah, I have a thing for ghost mysteries mixed with romance. What started this?
Well, when I was in second grade, my father brought home the usual weekly stack of chapter books the local librarian had recommended for me. Generally, the books revolved around horses, my main interest as an 8-year-old girl. But sometimes other subject matter found its way into the pile, and this time, there was a book entitled Jane-Emily, by Patricia Clapp. The tag line read “A ghost story…and a love story”. My first paranormal romance, this YA book is both a sweet romance and a spooky ghost story. I was hooked. I read that book over and over again throughout my childhood. I made my best friend read it. I even read it to my kids when they were younger and I had a captive audience for bedtime stories.
Thanks to those weekly library visits, I’ve been a lifelong reader. Growing up, if I didn’t have a book to entertain me, I made up my own stories. Some I wrote down, some just played out in my imagination. But I didn’t actually start trying to write a novel until 2007.
That’s when I started writing Silver Lake. I’d had the story arc in my head for years already, and I knew the characters intimately. My husband had heard me relate the entire plot, and he pushed me to get started. It took me 2 ½ years to finish the first draft, and another year to edit, query, cry over rejections, revise, query again, etc. until the story sparked the interest of an editor at a small publishing house. Several revisions later, I was offered my first publishing contract in 2011. I’ll never forget the morning I received that email. It was a Friday in December, and my younger son, 9 years old at the time, was still home getting ready for school. He danced around the kitchen with me.
A few years later, that novel went on to attract the attention of a larger publisher, and they made an offer—which the original publisher and I accepted—to acquire the rights to the e-book version. Silver Lake has hit the #1 spot on Amazon on several occasions since then, and it’s been a thrill to see my first novel earn that orange banner!
I’ve had 4 more novels published since then, including Gull Harbor, another romance and ghost mystery that’s hit #1 on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble on numerous occasions. That title was made into an audio book last year, which was an exciting process. A second novel of mine, Haunted Souls, is now available on audio as well. I absolutely love the narrator who brings the characters to life for those who like to listen to books. I have to say, I’m a big fan of audio books now, too. It doesn’t cut down on my print reading time; having an audio book on my phone allows me to get more reading in as I’m driving or doing chores. Of course, that means I’m in the middle of two different books at once, but somehow I can usually keep everything straight!
My sixth novel is actually a novella—slightly shorter than a full length novel—that is coming out as part of a Romantic Suspense Box Set entitled Love Under Fire. I’m so happy to be a part of this box set, because we’re raising money for Pets for Vets with every sale. Pets for Vets is a wonderful nonprofit organization that pairs shelter pets with veterans seeking companion animals. The box set is a limited edition, and readers can get their set of 21 new Romantic Thrillers (and help a fabulous cause) for just 99 cents on Pre-order. I’ll be revealing the cover of my contribution to the set here on N.N. Light’s Book Heaven in a few weeks, so please check back to take a look. Thanks for coming by today, and I hope you’ll take a look at my books, including the e-book version of Gull Harbor, which is on sale for a limited time! Happy haunted reading!
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/dmzSs1
Title: Gull Harbor
Author: Kathryn Knight
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense (Romance/Ghost Mystery)
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Blurb (ebook on sale right now for 99c!):
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.
Excerpt:
She shook her head vigorously. “I can’t spend your money to do my job. That makes no sense.”
“It’s not about that, Claire. It’s about keeping you safe.” He closed the distance between them, setting off alarm bells in the back of her mind.
Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep breath. “I realize you’re trying to help me, and I appreciate that. But what gives you the right to worry about my safety?”
“I don’t need the right.” He stood over her, and she took a step backwards, bumping up against his desk. His words shouldn’t have sounded menacing, but for some reason, they did. She nodded weakly.
“I am going to keep you safe, Claire,” he said, his eyes flashing. He reached out and stroked her arm.
A shiver ran through her, and she gripped the edge of the desk for support. “Okay,” she breathed. Every nerve in her body was calling for him. She closed her eyes as his hands moved up to cradle her head.
His mouth seized hers, and her lips responded urgently. She lost herself in the kiss, her fingers weaving themselves around his neck and tangling in his hair. His hands moved to her waist, and she gasped as he hoisted her up on the desk.
Buy Links:
Author Bio:
Kathryn Knight spends a great deal of time in her fictional world, where mundane chores don’t exist and daily life involves steamy romance, dangerous secrets, and spooky suspense. Her novels are award-winning #1 Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestsellers and RomCon Reader-Rated picks. When she’s not reading or writing, Kathryn spends her time catching up on those mundane chores, driving kids around, and teaching fitness classes. She lives on beautiful Cape Cod with her husband, their two sons, and a number of rescued pets. Please visit her at www.kathrynknightbooks.blogspot.com.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/k_knightbooks
Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/dmzSs1
Other Titles by Kathryn Knight:
Haunted Souls: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EZLQX9G
Dangerous Currents:
Divine Fall:
Love Under Fire Romantic Suspense Thrillers Box Set: