J T Kunkel Interview Published on: 07, Dec 2022
Where did you grow up? What effect do you think a person’s ethnicity has on his work, especially writing?
I grew up near Albany, New York in a suburb called Latham. It was a typically mostly white suburb of the sixties. Only during my last five years, working in Philadelphia have I been exposed to a racially diverse population. I believe that has opened my eyes to some of the issues faced by non-white persons in the U.S. My main character, Miranda, has a good friend, Wanda who is black, and learns from her along the way, throughout the series.
What was the first book you ever wrote and what was it titled? Did you publish it?My first book fiction book written was called Dislocation. It was never published. I actually wrote an untitled memoir several years before that, also unpublished. Both of those books helped me to develop my craft, so the next book I wrote, which became, Blood on the Bayou, was eventually my first work published.
When did you realize you wanted to write your own books?It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with stage three Melanoma in 2011, and wrote a memoir about my experience, including a life-saving clinical trial, that I realized I’d like to try fiction in 2015.
Since you are working as a Finance professional and have also been writing books, we are curious to know, what was your original career aspiration?I always wanted to be a business professional of some sort, whether in Finance or Operations, so my career path was consistent with my education and career goals.
How did you come up with the idea for your book, Curse of Coyote Lake?Curse of Coyote Lake, was a break-out opportunity for my main character, Miranda Marquette. She had gone many years, since high school, without any family nearby. Curse of Coyote Lake was her opportunity to reunite with her brother, Michael, who eventually decided to move right down the street, starting a whole wave of emigration of her family from New Orleans to California.
When writing the first book in "A Miranda Marquette Mystery" series, did you think of making it a five-books series?I didn’t have a specific number of books in mind when I started the series, and now I have completed twelve books, five of which have yet to be published.
Your recent book, Blood on the Bayou has been praised a lot. What inspired the story of the book?It’s hard a nail down specific inspiration for any of my books because I write through stream of thought, basically just writing whatever comes into my head at the time. I don’t pre-plan my plots. I just let them take me where my main character lets them go.
What is the one genre you feel you can never write? Why?I could never write romance novels because I wouldn’t have a clue how to write a convincing sex scene.
What genre do you enjoy reading the most? Which is your favorite book?I like modern science fiction, like that written by Dean Koontz. From the Corner of His Eye was my first and favorite Dean Koontz book.
What is the ideal ambiance for you to write in?I will write anywhere at any time, while on a train, commuting; in a doctor’s office, waiting for an appointment; at home, before or after work. I don’t have a preference. I’m always prepared to write.
What do you wish you should have realized earlier as a finance professional?I wish that I had taken more of my vacation time. There’s always time to work.
What is your writing kryptonite? Inversely, what is something that never fails to inspire you?I can’t write too much description. I fin it boring to write and read. I write very much conversationally and my main character’s thought processes. I’m inspired by what happens in my every day life.
When writing a mystery novel, how do you leave clues behind for the main characters to find and solve?I leave them both in thoughts my main character has, but then disregards, or in conversations she has with others.
Tell us about the next book that the readers can look forward to. What is its genre?My next book is Book 3 of my new series, the Cordelia Corbett, Point Pleasant Beach Mystery Series. It’s a murder mystery.
How long have you been associated with AllAuthor? How has your experience been?I’ve been associated with AllAuthor for about six months. It’s been positive so far.
