It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Kristin Paul, author of Drowning (pen name Katelin Maloney)

Author’s Bio: Kristin Paul is a two-time award-winning author addressing social issues that impact women. Her books extend beyond storytelling, creating a platform for dialogue and awareness surrounding the challenges faced by women. She has spoken to numerous organizations about the difficulties women experience including domestic violence.  

Her books are Drowning by Katelin Maloney and Freeing Yourself Financially: A Woman’s Guide to Rebuilding Her Finances After Divorce. She is also a book publisher at Purple Ribbon Publishing.

Kristin Paul, also a passionate advocate for empowering young single working mothers, is the Strategic and Operations Administrator for the St. Joseph Neighborhood Center in St. Augustine, Florida. With a Master's Degree in Finance, Kristin combines her financial expertise with a heartfelt commitment to community service.  

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

KM: The inspiration to publish my novel Drowning came from the desire to help domestic violence survivors; however, the idea of the story came from a dream. I dreamed the story one night and the story wouldn’t leave my mind. I wasn’t an author. I had never written a book or even an article. But I couldn’t shake the story. It haunted me. Eventually, I started writing the story down in a notebook. After seven notebooks, I had a very rough draft of a book! 

DL: How do you overcome the challenges of writer’s block?

KM: Because the story had been a vivid dream and it stayed with me, I didn’t have the typical writer’s block. When I would sit down to write, it was as if I was pressing “play” on a movie. The words just flowed. I was very lucky! 

DL: What is your writing process?

KM: Once I had that very rough draft done, then the writing process became difficult. With no writing experience, I wasn’t skilled in editing. When I edited Drowning, I worked for twenty-five minutes, then took a five-minute break, and repeated the process. I realized that I needed that discipline to make progress because editing was daunting to me. 

DL: What elements do you think make a compelling story?

KM: I believe that a compelling story hinges on having an empathetic and relatable protagonist. Given that my protagonist endured domestic violence, it was important to portray her strength and resilience rather than weakness. Crafting her as a likable and empathetic character was crucial to ensuring that readers would be emotionally invested in her journey. 

DL: What obstacles did you encounter while writing this book?

KM: As previously stated, I lacked experience in book writing and hadn't received formal training in creative writing, so there was a steep learning curve ahead of me. To address this, I enrolled in various workshops and classes, read books on writing, and became a member of a critique group. Balancing the demands of life was challenging, especially with two young sons and a full-time job at the time. Consequently, there were multiple occasions when I had to set aside Drowning due to my busy life. 

DL: What was the most valuable piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

KM: “Just publish it!”  a friend said. I think that I could have edited forever, but she convinced me that at some point I just needed to publish the book. I had to ‘let go’. 

DL: What strategies do you use to successfully market your book(s)?

KM: In writing Drowning, I aimed to leverage the book as a platform to raise awareness about domestic violence. To achieve this, I reached out to numerous women's groups, church organizations, colleges, and bookstores, volunteering to give presentations. Additionally, I specifically targeted book clubs as part of my outreach efforts. 

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers?

KM: Don’t give up. From the night I dreamed the story until the day I published it, ten years went by. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to write, edit, and publish. There is no deadline. 

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from Drowning?

KM: Sure, here you go:

      Rebecca looked up at the sky. The clouds parted and the bright sun strained her eyes. She shielded them with her left hand. Her diamond sparkled in the sun. A spectrum of colors streaked through the sky. A faint glow appeared through the cloudless opening.

     The wet sand beneath her chilled her skin. It contrasted the sun’s rays soaking into her body. The breeze blew wisps of hair into her face. She wiped the strands away, leaving gritty sand behind.

     Conflicting emotions warred inside her as the glow slowly approached, until a sense of calm swept over her. She felt him before she saw his figure evolve from the light.

    “Daddy.”

    “Reba, I’m here to take your pain away.” He held out his hand and she took it. “It’s time. Come with me.”

    “I’ve needed you.”

   “I’m here now.” Her father looked at her with teary eyes. “I love you more than life.” 

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

KM: Readers can get more information here:

• Website: www.purpleribbonpublishing.com
• Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/yc2px238
• Facebook: Facebook
• Book Buy Links: https://www.amazon.com/Drowning-Katelin-Maloney-ebook/dp/B00Z7KJZK4

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

KM: Thank you for interviewing me and learning about Drowning and my journey.