1. How old were you when you wrote what you consider your first story?
I was in my early teens. I don't remember the title; however, the first story I decided I would stick with and keep revising until I sold it was a story that eventually became "Soul Searching", which appears in my collection Sparks and Shadows and also provides the antagonist for my second novel, Shotgun
Sorceress. The finished version bears very little resemblance to the story I first wrote (thank God).
2. What inspired you to write it?
That's a very good question! As I recall, part of it came from a dream, and the rest came from that first part.
3. What was the first book you wrote?
If by book you mean novel, as opposed to story collection, the first novel I started and finished was my novel Spellbent, which was released by Del Rey late last December. I had started other novels before then that I abandoned in varying stages of completeness.
4. Of all the books you've written, which is your favorite?
Probably Spellbent, because it represents the achievement of my long-held goal to have a novel released by a major publisher.
5. Which book would you like to forget you wrote?
None. I'm proud of all my books.
6. Who is the most influential person in your life?
My husband, Gary A. Braunbeck. He's been a tremendous influence and also tremendously supportive of my writing career.
7. Who is your favorite author?
Neil Gaiman - he hooked me with the Sandman graphic novel series.
8. If you could only own one book, what would it be?
I would keep my signed, inscribed copy of Gary Braunbeck's Things Left Behind.
9. When and where do you write?
I mostly write at my desk in my home office, either in mid-morning or late at night.
10. Do you have a "day job?"
I'm a computer systems specialist for The Ohio State University.
11. Do you have a "dream job?"
I'd rather be a full-time novelist. Although I really enjoy coordinating writing workshops, which is my volunteer job for the Context convention. The two are certainly not mutually exclusive!
12. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I don't have a specific place picked out, but if money were no object, the Isle of Capri would be really nice (that Caligula, he knew a good thing!). But on the other hand I like living in the US, so someplace with both the ocean and mountains. I'd say Oregon but I haven't spent enough time there to know if the climate suits me.
13. What is your guilty pleasure?
My guiltiest pleasure is the games (Scrabble, Lexulous, etc.) on Facebook.
--MyMiserys (aka Kimberly Cook)
(The Black Glove thanks Lucy A. Snyder for her time and effort. Visit her website at http://lucysnyder.blogspot.com/)
