Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Kimberly Raiser author of Stranded: Stories From The Edge of Infinity…

Good day Kimberly and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

Please tell our readers a little bit about your personal and professional background.
 
Kimberly: 

Wow!  My personal background is a story itself.  I've done everything from Firefighting, law enforcement, painter and plasterer, car salesperson, student, mommy, Deputy Clerk, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician.......I am a very cheery person.  I have always been writing in one form or the other, at first it was poetry, then attempts at novels, finally short stories.

Norm:

How did you get started in writing? What keeps you going?

Kimberly:

As I said previously I started writing poetry at a very young age.  I didn't try to get anything published until I was thirty years old.  After having a large amount of poetry published in journals and online I took a break from writing.  It was about two years ago that I decided to tackle it seriously.  I focused on short stories to get established.  I found that they were a lot of fun to write!  I drove my family crazy every single time one of them got published.

Presently I get more and more excited the more I write.  It's been wonderful.

Norm:

What do you want your work to do? Amuse people? Provoke thinking?

Kimberly:

Wow, that is a huge question.  All of the above.  I love to write quirky funny things and at the same time I love to be thought provoking, and sometimes both at the same time. 

Norm:

Has your environment and/or upbringing influenced your writing?

Kimberly:

Not really.  There aren't any writers in my family, but I have always had a huge interest in Science Fiction.  Both my mother and father were hooked on it.  It has probably been my overactive imagination that has influenced me the most.

Norm:

Why have you been drawn to the short story? As a follow up, are there aesthetic advantages and disadvantages peculiar to the short story? Does it have a form?

Kimberly: 

At first it was to get my name out there in the published world.  I also knew that I would be able to improve my skills as a writer by focusing on smaller amounts.  In today's world people are very very busy, and enjoy reading short pieces that either make them laugh, or make them think.  I don't ever want to make someone cry, unless they are laughing so hard they can't help it.  As far as form is concerned I really don't stick to one basic form.  It all depends on what kind of a mood I am in. 

Norm:

Do you feel that writers, regardless of genre owe something to readers, if not, why not, if so, why and what would that be? 

Kimberly:

Absolutely yes.  Unless of course you are only writing for yourself.  There is a great joy that comes from amusing someone with my writing, or when a person's mind wanders off into other directions of thought because of something I wrote.

As a writer, it is indeed my responsibility to satisfy the reader, whether it be by making them laugh, or just feeling good about what he or she has read.

Norm: 

How did you come up with the title Stranded: Stories From The Edge of Infinity…? 

Kimberly:

That took a while.  I had these pieces of paper with words and titles written all over it.  Because this is such an eclectic group of short stories, the title had to reflect that in some way.  Stranded seems appropriate.  Some of the stories are a little bit "out there".  There is the edge of infinity!

Norm:

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing? What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

Kimberly:

I have always hated grammar and rules of writing.  It has been one of the most difficult tasks for me to tackle as a writer.  The ability to make your reader care about your characters is of utmost importance.  Making the characters seem very real, even if they are little green furry animals.

Being able to take criticism is a must.  No one is perfect.  Everyone needs to edit and edit and edit.  Always be open to suggestions and never get your feelings hurt by someone's opinion, even if it is ridiculous.

Norm:

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

Kimberly:

All the time.  I can't say I have one thing that works.  I have learned that as long as you are writing something, then you are doing your job.  I have a document on my computer that is called "Mommy's Ramblings".  Sometimes I will just write about what is going on at that very moment.  I may describe how my dog is sleeping and snoring, and how a squirrel just ran across the roof and fell.  Even if it is completely quiet, there is something to write about.

Norm:

What has your experience been like with self -publishing? Do you recommend it over traditional publishers?
 
Kimberly:

It has been wonderful so far.  The key to self-publishing, aside from the right company, is marketing.  No one is going to buy your book if they don't know about it.  When the book is in print, it is only the beginning.  At least with self-publishing you can see your work in print very quickly.

Norm:

How have you used the Internet to boost your writing career? 

Kimberly:

The Internet has been an absolute blessing.  I would not be where I am right now if it were not for the Internet.  Response times can take months through snail mail as it used to be.  The Internet is the best thing that has ever happened to artists and writers.  The accessibility to the public is astounding, and there are so many opportunities to market your work that doesn’t cost a penny.

Norm:

Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us? (We would love to hear all about them!)

Kimberly:

Yes yes yes.  I am very excited about my next book.  Hopefully it will be in print by September this year.  The title is "The Family Bones".  It is a Sci-Fi thriller.  This particular project has become very dear to me.  I have gotten attached to the characters in my story like they are real people.  Everything they go through, everything they experience is real to me.  The family in the story have inherited some property in Astral Pennsylvania from Steven's grandparents.  There are stories about the well on the property that haunt Steven, as well as the family having a mysterious past.  The children are pivotal in the storyline as well.  And I have to say, when writing a scary story with kids involved is a challenge, because you can't just forget about them!

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered and where can our readers find out more about you?

Kimberly:

I wish I could have met Douglas Adams.  I will be making a great amount of appearances through Conventions.  I will have the dates and updates on my books on my website.  I I would love to hear from readers, as they are everything! You can click on the following link for my website and where I will have my updates:

http://www.kimberlyraiser.vpweb.com

I do have to add that without the loving support of my husband Geoffrey, this dream would have stayed in the back of my mind for quite some time.  I might be able to say that I sometimes write just for him. 

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

Kimberly:

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts, it has been a pleasure.

 To read Norm's Review of Stranded: Stories From The Edge of Infinity…CLICK HERE