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Meet Donna Kauffman, Kate Pearce, & Priscilla Oliveras!!!
Learn all about what they do for fun, their writing process and where they stand of a very important book debate.
So read on for some behind the scenes info exclusive to Military Spouse!
1. What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Donna Kauffman: The planning that comes before the plotting. I usually start with a location (travel to that location quickly ensues!) While there, I start developing the town, the surroundings, then casting the characters, both primary and secondary. Although typing “The End”comes in as a close second!
Kate Pearce: I just love it when things start to come together in my head and it all makes sense.
Priscilla Oliveras: Getting to know the characters. It takes me longer than it probably should to actually start writing a novel because I spend a good chunk of time digging into the characters—their background and psyche. I need to feel like I know them as well as I know myself, my sister, or my best friend. That way I can crawl inside their head, see the story world from their perspective and hopefully do a better job of bringing them life on the page for readers.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self about writing?
Donna Kauffman: To focus all my energy on writing and building a readership and not so much on comparing my success (or lack thereof) to other authors who starting publishing around the same time as me. Actually, this is something I knew even then, it was just a lot harder to take my own advice in those early years. Twenty-six years later, it can still sneak up on me, but I’m pretty good at keeping my focus on my own journey.
3. Do you do any hands-on research for your books? Have you had a favorite experience?
Donna Kauffman: I always try to spend time in the location where I set my books, which has led to some wonderful memories. My current series is set in my home area here in the Blue Ridge, so I decided to take a few weeks and hike/camp/drive my way the full 469-mile length of the Blue Ridge Parkway for further inspiration. I knew it would be a lovely drive, but I had no idea how life changing it would be. It is on par with any national park experience I’ve ever had, including Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. I made the trip in the fall, so the leaf peeping eye candy was indescribable. I plan to do it again in the spring when the rhododendrons are in bloom.
Kate Pearce: I really enjoyed sitting in the kitchen of my chef friend because I got to watch her work at many different tasks which helped with my character Yvonne, the baker who runs the Morgantown café, and I got to sample lots of cake.
Priscilla Oliveras: I’m always up for a trip to Chicago because it’s one of my favorite cities. J With the Matched to Perfection series and my Holiday Home Run novella, I relied on past visits as well as a few trips throughout the writing process. I haven’t been back during the winter for a several years, so most of the research for Julia and Ben’s story—like capturing the ice rink in Wrigleyville—was done online.
My favorite experience? Going to Cubs baseball games helped me write a few scenes in Their Perfect Melody, Lilí and Diego’s romance which releases at the end of November.
And, I actually just had a chance to do some hands-on research for a new series, I’m working on for Kensington. Stay tuned for more fun news about that down the road.
4. How long does it take you to write your books?
Kate Pearce: On average about 3 months.
5. What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?
Donna Kauffman: I’m a crafter (stitching, loom weaving, paper crafting) but one of the most rewarding ways I’ve been using my spare time since moving to the Blue Ridge mountains six years ago is as a volunteer wildlife rescuer for a local wildlife center and a local sanctuary.
Kate Pearce: I’m an avid knitter and dog walker.
Priscilla Oliveras: Zumba and salsa dancing are high on my list of fun To Do’s. Spending time with familia and friends is at the top, always. If you follow me on social media, you’ve noticed that I’m a big sports fan, so I’ve almost always got one of my favorite teams—the Chicago Cubs and all the University of Florida Gator teams—on the TV or a sports app on my phone. We also enjoy playing tennis as a family. When it comes to relaxation and creative well refilling, my go-to spots are either the beach or my backyard hammock with a great book.
6. Do you have a favorite character trope to read? What about write?
Priscilla Oliveras: Probably the friends-to-lovers trope. It has an innate angst and conflict angle—the whole, if I say or do something, will it mess up the good thing we already have going on? But if I don’t, will I miss out on something great? The will they, won’t they draws me in.
7. If you could spend one day with any character from your book, who would it be?
Kate Pearce: I’d love to spend a day with Billy Morgan up at Morgan Ranch, meet all his kids and get fed my Grandma Ruth.
Priscilla Oliveras: Ooh, it’d be Ben. One of my dream jobs is to be a color commentator for Cubs Radio. I’d love to join Ron and Pat in the booth for a home stand, then travel with them for an away series. So, if I could spend time with Ben on his new job as the voice of a sports network, I think that’d be pretty cool.
8. Do you ever base your characters off of the people in your life?
Priscilla Oliveras: Not entirely, but occasionally shades of characters, their traits or mannerisms, might be loosely based on someone I know. As I mentioned in my note to readers in the anthology, my heroine Julia is named for my abuela; so Julia will always be a special heroine to me.
9. What is the one book you could read over and over?
Priscilla Oliveras: Suzanne Brockmann’s Hot Target. Cosmo is probably my all-time book boyfriend. Though Diego, the hero in Their Perfect Affair is giving Cosmo a run for his money. And I’ve gotta say, Ben’s desire for hearth and home strikes a note in me, too.
10. Where do you fall on the bookmark vs dog-ear debate?
Donna Kauffman: I’m a bookmark person. I dog ear magazines, or things that will be otherwise recycled, but for books, I use a bookmark. Partly because I can’t bear to bend the paper, but mostly because I might have a wee bit of a bookmark addiction. From glossy photo bookmarks, to silver wands, to beautifully handmade bookmark charms, they find their way into my collection. (I’m not seeking a cure. J )
Kate Pearce: Definitely book mark. Fold a page? Shudders.
Priscilla Oliveras: Oh my gosh, bookmark. Please! I think I just heard some of my favorite Keeper Shelf novels whimper at the thought of dog-ears.
11. Describe your novella in five words:
Donna Kauffman: Christmas Wedding Leads to Romance.
Priscilla Oliveras: Heartwarming, emotionally captivating, culturally rich.
To connect with the authors, be sure to visit their websites!
Donna Kauffman: https://donnakauffman.com/
Kate Pearce: https://katepearce.com/
Priscilla Oliveras: https://prisoliveras.com/