An Interview with K.M. Krenik: Author of Danger Lies Within

It all started with a song.

Before K.M. fell in love with writing stories, she was singing them. For most of her life, she worked on the craft of songwriting for herself and other artists. She has a background in performing, and for many years she couldn’t sit still long enough to commit to writing novels. In her late thirties, while pregnant with her fourth child, was when writing non-fiction and novels became the outlet for Kim to find clarity in the midst of chaos.

Agatha Christie, John Dickson Carr, Jane Austen, Rhys Bowen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and C.S. Lewis are among K.M.’s favorite authors and influences. One of her happy places after a long day is curling up with a cosy mystery or a historical fiction novel, pouring a cup of tea, and getting lost in a story.

K.M. lives in Washington with her husband, Rob, their four children, two dogs, four cats, three ducks, and many chickens. In addition to writing, K.M. is a musical artist and teaches voice lessons.

Tell us about your book.

My book follows the story of a widow, Courtney Drake, who lost her husband to the “Peace Alliance” government. Both her children set off to college, and as an empty nester, she takes a job as a nanny for the five-year-old twins of a captivating viscount, Lord Robert Ranfurly. Sparks quickly fly between her and her new employer. A member of the household staff is murdered, Courtney finds herself caught in a web of deception. Little does she know that Lord Robert lives a double life, and one of his many secrets is that he is working with a group called CAPE to fight human and drug trafficking, and to bring down the evil government.

Why did you want to write a book?

As far back as eight years old, writing has been one of my passions. Most of my experience has been writing songs and scripts for community plays. The initial inspiration ignited when my eldest son was digging into my Knox family’s genealogy, and he shared with me that we have distant cousins on my father’s side who have a title. There was a real Lord Ranfurly (the Rugby shield is named in honor of him.) My imagination took it from there!

Why did you choose to self-publish?

In discussing the options with author friends who have worked with traditional publishers and comparing their experiences with author friends who are self-published, I believed the best course of action for me was to self-publish. Granted, it is a lot more work on my end. But in my own experience as an independent singer and songwriter who owns almost all my publishing, it is worth the effort. I am hoping to find more friends along the way who are passionate about partnering with me, and who mutually like hanging out, because I’m generally a good team player. But for now, when I am first introducing my story to the world, who will believe in my work as much as I do to promote it? So yes, for now I’m in D.I.Y. mode.

What tools or companies did you use, and what experience did you have?

I found a developmental editor on Reedsy.com. Jessica Powers. She has been fantastic! A game changer, for sure. Next, I hired Miblart to design my cover, and I really enjoy working with them. I signed up with Story Origin, and really appreciate the founder, Evan Gowe. He responds directly to my emails, and is always striving to make improvements to the site. He offers a checklist of things to do, which I’ve been following. The company who I use for the interior of the book is TLC Design. Erin, the interior designer, is fantastic to work with, a gem. Tamara Dever is equally awesome, and she is handling the typesetting and look of the back copy and front quote of the book. I’m in the process, learning as I go. So far, working with these people has been wonderful and I highly recommend every one mentioned.

Would you self-publish again?

I plan to self-publish the second and third book in The Ranfurly Mysteries series.

Is this the first time you have self-published a book?

It is the first time I have self-published a novel. But ten years ago, I self-published a non-fiction work, Fire Lilies: Out of The Ashes, under the name Kim Krenik.

What do you think are the main pitfalls for indie writers?

One pitfall is the tendency to be a lone ranger. Many writers are introverts and it is torture for them to interact with people in the real world. I get it. When I’m writing, I’m an introvert. But I’m also 50% extrovert, so the time comes when I’m like, “I need real people to hang out with!”

Another pitfall, one I struggle with the most, is the lack of time to do it all. I currently have a favorite character in a dire situation, and he has been hanging there for the past two months while I work on building my email list and promoting the launch of Danger Lies Within. Wouldn’t it be nice to just focus on writing? But even famous authors with the Big Five have to promote their books, I remind myself. Still, if I just never had to sleep, or run errands for my family, or eat, or work another job…that would make things easier.

The last pitfall that I really struggle with is budget. This is so hard. I haven’t sold a book yet, and yet to get it out to the world, I have to front money and invest in it, hoping it will bring a return. This, I find, is the toughest pit to get out of, and at the moment, I’m the wrong person to ask for an exit route.

What tips can you give other authors looking to self-publish?

Make sure you are willing to listen to others for feedback on your book. Work with professional, experienced editors who will tell you the hard truths. Reach out to others for help. Build a team of honest beta readers and people who will support you by reviewing and sharing your book with others. Get opinions from others on your cover, include them in the journey and they will be more excited to help you launch the book.

What was your steepest learning curve during the publishing process?

Figuring out how to find readers who like to BUY my books, and getting reviews.

As a writer, what is your schedule? How do you get the job done?

Hmm. Good question. I have a giant clock with a saying that sums it up: “Wake up, say a prayer, and HUSTLE.”

I have four kids still at home. Two teens and two in college. My two sons look at me and think, “FOOD.” Don’t get me wrong, I love them, they are exceptional humans. But having to cook is not something I always want to do. I’d rather grab a bite and keep writing.

I have three main jobs. I’m a merchandiser for American Greetings, I teach voice lessons, and I perform. Fortunately, I’m able to set my own schedule, and I really enjoy my jobs, so that helps. I write, promote, blog, have a podcast, and excavate my property in my spare time. Deadlines are my friend, because they help me focus on what needs attention. In my experience, time is easily wasted when there is nothing to do, and I accomplish much more when I have short windows of time.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

I was in a writer’s slump when I started The Ranfurly Mysteries. I stumbled onto Kindle Vella, and tried it out by writing episodes and posting them. That was the very first draft of the story. Fortunately, I had no readers so Kindle Vella allowed me to remove it from the site. The first draft was not even close to being ready for readers to enjoy, but it was a great tool to get me through the slump. Another great resource I’ve used is “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. She offers exercises that help a writer break out of the block. Other ways I deal with the freeze: step away and get outside, visit new places, learn from observing nature and people, trying new things that are out of my comfort zone. Inspiration is all around us.

Tell us about the genre you wrote in, and why you chose to write this sort of book.

The Ranfurly Mysteries is a tapestry of all my favorite genres. The ultimate stories I enjoy have a mix of mystery, romance, and fantasy. But I was very much inspired by current news headlines, which is why I created a world where past and future collide, giving it a science fiction twist.

Who are your biggest writing inspirations and why?

Agatha Christie. She is the queen of crime! Other mystery writers I enjoy are Rhys Bowen (similar to Agatha), and John Dickson Carr (the master of the locked room mystery). I also enjoy Tom Clancy’s political thrillers. Jane Austen is my favorite romance author, because of the time period, humor, and colorful characters she wrote. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins inspired my genre blend, and in my opinion she had the perfect balance of mystery, action, and romance in that story. C.S. Lewis was my childhood favorite, and as an adult I enjoyed his spiritual insights as well. J.K. Rowling should be named among one of my favorites for her Harry Potter series. What an amazing world she built. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in a way that captivated my attention immediately. I also enjoyed reading The Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which I found intriguing.

How do your friends and family get involved with your writing? What do they think of your book?

My friends and family are the ultimate inspiration for my characters. I often ask for them to brainstorm ways to untangle messes my characters find themselves in. They enjoy hearing me share snippets of the stories that they have inspired. I’ve been amazed at the support of a few of my friends, who offered to be beta readers. Their insight was incredibly helpful. I have very smart friends.

What are your plans now your book is published?

Promote it like crazy! I have a goal to make $1000 per month on the first book, and I’m hoping to see that increase once I launch book two. I’ll travel to bookstores, farmer’s markets, festivals, wherever I am welcomed and I’ll do whatever the venues prefer. I offer venues a variety of services they can choose from when I appear in person. I can arrange a reader’s theater and invite audiences to read from a script of a scene or two in the story. I can sing songs that tie into the book. I can simply read a paragraph if the venue prefers a simple approach. Or I can show up and do a signing. I am at the venue’s service, but I will be grateful to be invited! Plus I will continue to promote through online streams.

Why did you write about this particular subject?

The story began when my oldest child left to attend a college in Virginia, and he is studying to be a government major. The reality that I was entering a new phase of life hit me during that time. I was at the beginning of a crossroads, and writing was the outlet for me. When I saw the way our country and the world was spiraling downward, I wrote about it in my own way. Writing is how I sort out moments of chaos, it is the place where I find clarity.

Do you ever have other stories come to mind that compete with the book you are currently writing?

That is definitely a problem for me. I have at least two other ideas that I can’t wait to begin writing. But I have to finish this series first!

What did you learn on your journey as an author?

In the process of writing, I learned more about my own weaknesses and strengths. I learned that I enjoy writing, and plan on continuing to write fiction.

What’s next for you as an author?

Finishing Book Two of The Ranfurly Mysteries. I am currently three quarters done. My developmental editor is waiting to start working with me on it.