Hello Hearts Through History members, today I’m talking with HTH  member Kimberly Nielsen. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you’ve been working on?  

Hi Everyone!  I am from Colorado, although I am living in Pennsylvania right now.  I have just returned to writing after a long hiatus.  I am writing both medieval historical romance and time travel romance in the traditional genres and young adult genre.

 

Do you write full-time or part-time? 

I am writing part time right now, but hope to write full time very soon..

 

What’s the hardest part of writing? 

Not letting the pain of your own personal past keep your characters from being who they were meant to be.

 

What’s your favorite historical movie? 

Oh, that is a very difficult question. My top choices are; The Power of One, Braveheart, Patriot, King Arthur, A Knight’s Tale, and Last of the Mohicans.  I guess my absolute favorite would be Last of the Mohicans.

Who’s your favorite historical figure? 

Catherine II of Prussia

 

If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be? 

Elizabeth I of England

 

If you could time travel, what era would you visit? 

4th century AD

 

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received? 

Write from your heart, not your head.

 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was in second grade, I wrote a story about cats who swept away rain clouds with brooms, and I knew that was my destiny.

 

Are there specific books or authors who have influenced you as a writer?

I fell in love with the Sunfire YA Historical Romance books in middle school in the 80s.  There was always a fiery heroine who had to choose between two love interests. When I was in High School, I discovered Zebra Historical Romance books and I loved them so much, especially the time travel stories the best. I was hooked by the happily ever after in each story.  The HEA gave me hope. The authors who have influenced me the most in my writing career are: Jacquie D’Allesandro, Cindy Miles, Diana Gabeldon, Julia Quinn, and Lynn Kurland.

 

Give us a brief rundown of your process. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in the middle? I am somewhere in the middle.

I will always start with a set up idea and then I write a “discovery draft”.  After reviewing the draft,  I will plot the story out to tighten up the GMC, the character arcs, and plot.  When I have finished,  I will rewrite the draft incorporating all the ideas of the plotting sessions.

 

Can you tell us a bit about your journey to publication? 

I am actually just beginning this journey.  I dabbled in writing all through school and college.  After I married and started a family, I put writing on hold until my children went to school. This is when I began writing in earnest for a few years until significant life events made me put away the writing again.  Now, I am writing again and working towards publication and finally making a career of sharing stories.

 

Tell us about your latest release and what’s coming next for you. 

I don’t have any releases, but I am working on an adult time travel historical romance that takes place in the Dutch West Indies during the 18th Century.

 

Please include author website, and a few images (book covers, author photos, etc.), social media links. 

I do not have any book covers to share, but here is a photo of me.  I am an outdoor lover, so nearly all my photos are outside in the wilderness somewhere. 🙂