Author Interview: Kimberly Derting (&Contest!)

Kimberly Derting

Books:

• The Body Finder
• Desires of the Dead (2011)

Links:
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Myspace / The Bookologist's Review



What are some of your strengths and weaknesses as a writer?
One of my strengths is that I get easily engrossed (some might even say “obsessed”) with my work. I could easily become that hermit writer living in the woods with no connection to the outside world.

Okay, that might qualify as my weakness as well!

I love the idea for The Body Finder, Violet sensing where the dead bodies are, etc.. How did you come up with this?
OK, you just made my husband very happy because this is by far his favorite question! If you ask him, he’ll go on and on about how he’s my co-author because he was the one who said “What if there was a boy who could find dead bodies?” Of course, what he conveniently forgets is that his idea was about middle grade boy. About a second after he told me his idea, I changed it to YA, made the main character a teenage girl (just to be difficult), and came up with Violet’s creepy ability.

I’m just glad he didn’t suggest a YA book about a teenage girl because then I would have made it a middle grade boy book! :)

How are you and Violet alike? How are you different?
Other than the fact that we can both sense the echoes the dead leave behind and the imprints that attach to their killers, we’re not really all that similar. :)

Seriously, Violet is way more sensible than me, she handles her ability with so much poise. I could only hope to react that level-headedly if faced with danger.

The Body Finder is told in two perspectives, one from the killer and one from Violet. How did you go by with this? Which one did you enjoy writing more?
I loved writing all of it, which is a super-lame answer because what writer is going to say they didn’t like writing their own book??? But, honestly, I LOVED writing the serial killer sections! When I first sold the book, it had far fewer scenes from the killer’s point-of-view because I thought they might be too dark. So when my editor came back to me and asked for more, I was thrilled! So what if that means I’m a little twisted, I can live with that!

If you were to pick a theme song for The Body Finder, what would it be and why?
Theme song is tough, mostly because I don’t listen to music while I write. But for overall mood, I have to go with almost anything by Evanescence, they have a hauntingly beautiful sound.

On the other hand, I do have a song I always think of for the serial killer in TBF: Possum Kingdom by The Toadies. If you ever get a chance, watch the video, it is CREEPY!!!

If you were able to pick one ability, what would it be?
To be able to fly, definitely! I’ve always wanted to, I’ve even had “flying” dreams, which were really more like floating than flying, but still…they were awesome!

The sequel of The Body Finder, Desires Of The Dead is coming out in 2011..Would you be able to tell us a bit about it?
I’m not allowed to give away too much, but I can tell you this: There will be…a dead body. Hopefully my editor doesn’t read this, I don’t want to get fired!

Lastly, is there anything else you'd like to add?
Just thanks for having me, Mavie, this was so much fun!!!

Thank you so much Kimberly! A bonus, Kimberly has kindly donated a swag prize pack to (1) lucky winner.

Official Info:

• must be 13 years of age to enter
• fill out the form below
• April 21 is the deadline
• open to U.S only
• check my contest policy

Winner: Taylor (The Library Lurker)

~CONTEST CLOSED~