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It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with K.L. Brady, author of The Nick Before Christmas

Author’s Bio: USA Today Bestselling author K. L. Brady is a D.C. native and award-winning author of 20 novels. She self-published her first book, THE BUM MAGNET, after an Oprah "live your best life" moment, which was picked up by Simon & Schuster in a two-book deal. She’s been publishing romantic comedies ever since.

 

K.L. is a Washington football fan and professed nerd-girl who loves all things Star Trek, Star Wars, and Big Bang Theory. She lives to write stories involving hilarious quirky characters looking for love. She's hard at work on her next several projects, including Sincerely, Santa, a heartfelt romantic comedy that also celebrates the special friendship between her late mother and grandmother.

 

Fun Fact: If K.L. could choose a superpower, she thinks she would be a mind reader so she could embrace those who really care about her, and she could cancel those who don’t. She figures out motives over time, but reading minds would make the process go much faster.

 

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?


K.L. Brady:  It’s truly a Generation X story. The core of this story is about a woman in search of her second act. She’s reached the big 5-0 on her birthday (Christmas in July) and part of her realizes she’s stuck. When you reach the age of 50, you question what direction to take with the gas left in your tank. Are you on the right path? Or have you been on your current path because it’s comfortable and easy?Personally, I live by walls and windows. If I feel like I’ve run into a wall—a roadblock, a point at which I can go no further in a life decision—then I look for a window.

 

Well, our character was in the easy and comfortable space until she hit a big wall. A “heavenly presence” basically forces her to go look for and find a new window by Christmas Eve or the rest of her life will be cursed. Given the credible source, she sets out to find her second act. During her journey for a new window, she meets a new man and confronts the one that got away, which is where the fun really begins.  With the clock ticking from Christmas in July to Christmas, will she find her second act and her “person?”

 

In addition, like the heroine in this story, I lost my mom to cancer, and she died so quickly that I never got the chance to say goodbye or thank her for all she given to me. When that happens, it leaves a void in your life. So, nestled in this romantic comedy is a truly heartfelt goodbye from daughter to mother and vice versa.  

 

It’s funny that my 20th book would follow the path of my first in that I drew heavily from personal experiences to derive the meat of the stories and then wrapped fiction around them to make them more fun and less depressing for readers. This was truly a labor of love, especially after going two years without publishing.

 

DL: How do you handle writer’s block?


KLB: I’ll be honest, I’ve struggled with writer’s block. It’s a beast that hunts creatives at some point in their careers. I’ve experienced a lot of upheaval over the past couple of years, personally and professionally (9 to 5 versus writing). So, how do you write when your life is spinning and flipping and you’re upside down every day? It’s like my life gave me whiplash for so long.

 

I have a few techniques to overcome a block – and it begins with making a habit of just writing every day. I pull up a story every day. Somedays I write a word. Somedays I write a paragraph. Somedays I write pages. The point is to never break the habit of writing every day but give yourself the grace not to be productive.

 

Sometimes, you have to change your location (I’ll go from my office to the deck). Sometimes, you have to change your writing tool. I use a MacBook, MacBook Air, Freewrite, digital notebook, pen and paper, whatever…as long as the words come, I don’t restrict myself.


Sometimes, you have to declutter. Even as I wrote this, I cleaned my bedroom, made my bed, and folded my laundry. Decluttering your space allows you to clear your mind of responsibilities and honey-dos, so you can connect with the creative part of yourself.

 

DL: What is your writing process?


KLB: On my good days, I’m usually awake by 4 am. I jump out of bed, put on my writing clothes, pray (because my 9 to 5, good Lord), and then I write for an hour or so before work. I save editing for after work because my job usually sucks the creativity from the marrow of my bones. 😊 After work is the perfect time to focus on mechanics.

 

DL: What were some of the challenges when writing this book?


KLB: Sobbing. I cried a lot at the end, even though it makes me laugh, too. No book I’ve ever written has ever made me cry. They’ve all made me laugh…this is the only one that chokes me up or brings tears. It’s more funny than sad, but it’s got its moments.

 

DL: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?


KLB: I’ve read black authors my entire life. One of my favorites is Toni Morrison. Her prose is truly art. With that said, reading Terry McMillan’s Waiting to Exhale really helped me connect with my voice…and realize that my voice was okay. I came to understand that I didn’t have to write like Toni Morrison to be a writer…or even to be read. It would be a long time before I wrote my first book (didn’t do so until I turned 40), but that book was incredibly impactful in that I finally accepted that, for better or worse, writing was my path to fulfillment.

 

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers?


KLB: Write…every day to build your creative muscle so you won’t be dependent on a “muse” to be productive.

 

Never compare yourself to other writers/authors, don’t compare your career to theirs. Their calling is not yours. Their path is not yours. Their vision is not yours. Only compare where you were yesterday to where you are today. Find your special lane (whatever that looks like for you) and stay in it. The race is you against you. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up to be constant defeated and depressed.

 

If you want to be productive, be a plottser (plotter and pantser). Plot your novels so that you stay productive and have content to write to even when you don’t feel like it…but allow yourself to change directions if your imagination takes you in a different direction. Don’t be chained to your outline but develop one.

 

So, keep writing. It’s that simple and that difficult.

 

DL: What are three books you’ll never part with?


KLB: I’ll never part with these books:

  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou – What a voice!
  • On Writing, Stephen King – One of the best books on the writing experience I’ve ever read.
  • The Nine Lives of Christmas, Sheila Roberts – Helped me find my way into Christmas books.

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from The Nick Before Christmas?

 

KLB: Sure, here you go:


     Sasha approached…and based on the sound of footsteps, she wasn't alone.


     "Nickie? Uh…You have company?"


     "Who?"


     Into the threshold stepped Evan…and Jordan, both carrying sizeable brown shopping bags scented with contents that smelled a whole lot like dinner.


     Evan ghosted her for weeks, dropped off the radar. J. Dev blew her off and was off parading with Ava, or so she thought. Now both stood in her living room, in the flesh, at the same time. She had no idea how to handle this. Nickie had never been a juggler so two potential courters in her presence, in her house, wasn't a situation she expected to face. She couldn't have orchestrated this cluster if she tried.


     Their faces sapped the air out of her lungs. Laying the blame on Sasha wasn't an option.


     Her stomach growled, reminding of her greatest need in the moment. If worse came to worst, Nickie pledged to keep the dinner and cannoli...and dump the two unexpected guests.


     "Jordan, Evan…what a surprise to welcome you…both…in my living room…right now,” Nickie said, her eyes volleying between them so as not to give one more attention than the other.


     Evan glanced at Jordan without speaking a single word, and Jordan returned the favor. She suspected each was eager to learn what the other had to say.

 

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?


KLB: I’m working on a small-town Christmas novel called Sincerely, Santa. Set in a town based on my old hometown of Bellaire, Ohio (Belle’s Aire). It’s another romantic comedy with a fun meet cute. It’s about a woman who doesn’t believe she deserves Christmas because she made one mistake—so she spends her time and effort gifting Christmas to everyone around her. At its core, it’s a celebration of the friendship between my mother and grandmother.

 

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?


KLB: Readers can get more information here:

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

KLB: Thanks so much for inviting me to participate on your blog! 


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