Kelli McCracken Interview Published on: 07, Apr 2018
Where did you grow up? What was it that first awakened your love for books and writing?
I was born in Lancaster, Ohio and lived in a tiny town called Baltimore until I was 12. My mother and I moved to Charleston, WV after that. I spent my teenage years there.
I remember as a young child before I could read, I would grab books and pretend to read them. In pretending, what I really did was look at the pictures and create my own story. By the time I was 12, my love of music inspired me to write. Whenever I listen to music, it's like a scene pops into my head, almost like a movie, and it plays out with the song.
Who did you look up to the most as a child? When did you decide to become an author?My mom and grandparents. They were the ones helping and encouraging me.
I began writing in my youth, but I didn't take it seriously until 2010.
What was the first book you ever wrote? What the Heart Wants. Did it get published?Yes. I self-published the book in 2011. I never submitted to publishers because I wanted to be in control of every aspect of my writing career.
What is your favourite time of the day to write? Do you have a little writing niche or nook where you like to sit and type away?I prefer to start in the mornings, but if that isn't possible, I'll try again in the afternoon.
I do most of my work from my office but there are days I can't focus. I go escape outside if the weather is nice. It clears my mind and helps me focus. It's harder to do this in the winter, so I just find the quietest corner of the house and write.
Would you say that you chose to write the romance genre or that it chose you? Why?I think we chose each other.
I've always loved romance books. From my teen years to present day, I love a good story with a happy ending. I feel like the world is full of enough misery, so I write stories that give people hope and stories that prove love is much stronger than hate.
What inspired the Soulmates series? What are some twists on fate and destiny that you incorporate into these books?It all started with the song Angel by Aerosmith. To this day, it is my all-time favorite song.
Fate plays a big part in this series. The Psi, which is a group of superhumans with psychic abilities, are controlled by fate, unlike humans who are given free will. No matter how much a character does or doesn't want something, it's all left to fate. You see this come into play by the 3rd book. In the 4th book, there is a huge plot twist. I like to think I'm good a writing smoke screens. Things aren't always as they seem.
Who was your favourite character to create in this (Soulmate) series? Who has been your favourite character to create ever?Layne Perry. He's a drummer, a pyrokinetic, and a thorn in my side. Oh, he loves chocolate, especially Kit Kats. Most of my readers know that he is my alter ego. Bruce Wayne gets Batman, I get Layne Perry. Some days I feel like I got screwed on the deal, lol.
When you start reading a new book, what are some ways that it might immediately capture your attention and heart?Anything to do with psychics or elementals always grabs my attention, but ultimately, I have to get invested in the story. I enjoy getting to know the character. Their emotions, thoughts, and actions say a lot. I like a good adventure too. J. R. R. Tolkien is one of my favorite authors.
What are some important things you learned while writing the Heart & Soul series? What about the Touched by Magic series?That life goes on despite what's happening in our life. It isn't always fair, but miracles can happen. I learned about faith and not giving up.
I've learned that love comes about in different ways. You can be attracted to a person because of their physical qualities, but true love comes from the inside, it comes from compassion and sacrifice. While love shouldn't hurt, I believe if you love someone, you're willing to risk everything because nothing else matters but that person.
How long have you been a writer now and how do you think it has molded you as a person?Like I mentioned earlier, I began writing in my youth, but I published my first book in 2011. That makes 6 years. I celebrate #7 in November 2018. Writing has helped mold me into a person who is observant. I'm a people watcher. The old saying that actions speak louder than words is true. I no longer listen to what someone tells me as much as I pay attention to their actions. Writing has made me more of a cautious person. It's also been very humbling. At the same time, I've pushed myself to do things I wouldn't have done otherwise. I've had to leave my comfort zone on more occasions than one, but I feel that it's helped me grow not only as a writer but also as a person.
What are your kids' relationships with books and writing?I have 4 kids. Two of them want to be writers too and they enjoy reading. The other two are more active in sports. They like reading and books, but it's not their hobby of choice.
What is one non-author or book related thing you love to do or spend your time/money on?My family and I love to travel. We also camp every weekend from April until November at our permanent campsite in Ohio.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years and how many books do you hope to have published by then?I'd love to hit a bestseller list within the next 10 years. I currently have 9 published books so I hope at that point I have at least 20, but 40 would be even better. We'll see how kind my muse is.
