I’ve been writing for most of my life. Whether it’s fiction, poetry, scripts, or nonfiction, I’ll write it. I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do love all forms of writing.
I started writing the What Happens in… series ten years ago. From the minute I started telling Hollie and Fayth’s stories, I knew that theirs would be the first stories that I shared with people.
Back in the days of online forums, I shared their early adventures and people always commented on how well they connected to the characters. I still get comments from readers buying the books today and talking about how they relate to Hollie and Fayth and their situations – even though they’re surrounded by the rich and famous – and that’s really important to me.
If you had to give an elevator pitch for Return to New York, what would it be?
Fayth is about to finally get a taste of the independence she never knew she wanted. She'll live in New York with her celebrity boyfriend, study photography, and start to build a life away from what's left of her close-knit family.
But is she ready?
And when the ghosts of her past begin to haunt her, can she fight them, or will they finally win?
If you had to describe Fayth in three words, what would they be?
Loyal, creative, Hufflepuff.
There are five books scheduled for your What Happens In... series, with Return to New York being the third, how much planning /plotting did you need to do in advance of starting to write the series?
More than I thought. I didn’t do a lot of planning when I first started out, but as the series grew, I realised that I needed to plan everything out so that every character’s story got the time it needed. There are four points of view in the series, as well as a spin-off series that will be out next year, so that’s a lot to juggle. Planning is crucial to knowing what goes where and when.
What attracted you to writing a series as opposed to standalone stories?
It was never an intentional thing. I actually prefer writing standalones. Once I started writing about Hollie and Fayth, I found it really hard to stop so just kept coming up with things to happen to them. I actually came up with how to finish the series today, and it’s a really odd feeling. I’ve been writing about them for ten years now, so knowing that their story will be wrapped up this time next year is very strange indeed.
What essentials do you need to have close to hand when you are in writing mode?
My laptop and my headphones. Nothing else. I have to be as distraction-free as possible when I write. I like to completely zone out and that’s difficult to do with lots of things around you. I tend to like to be at home on the sofa or at my desk, when I write. If I’m around other people I just want to talk to them (which means my boyfriend gets kicked out, too).
What would you say is the best thing about writing? And on the flip side, what is the hardest?
For me it’s when people reach out and say that they’ve connected to the characters, or that it’s helped them in some way. That’s the most amazing thing. It shows that all the hard work is worth it, because you’ve affected – and potentially helped – another person.
The hardest is dealing with the negative criticism. It’s not so bad when people justify what they’re saying, but when people turn around and say they hate something for no reason, that hurts.
What novel have you read that you wish you had written?
That’s a really tough one. I try not to compare myself to other writers too much as it can lead to comparisonitis and affect self-confidence. However, love Gone Girl. The characters in that completely blew me away.
Do you treat yourself to something special to celebrate the publication of your books?
I wouldn’t say I treat myself, but I usually go out for a meal/drinks with friends and/or family. To celebrate the launch of Return to New York I went out for drinks with my closest friends and discovered a really cool new bar (new to me, not where I live), which was nice.
I always find finishing a book a weird combination of happiness at having achieved something, but also mourning because that part of the journey is over. I’m much more interested in the journey than the destination.
And finally what can we expect from your next?
I’m currently in the editing stages of the next book, What Happens in Barcelona. I have a rough plan for the final book, too.
There are also a couple of spin-off series focusing on other characters that I’m hoping to release next year.
Website: https://www.kristinaadamsauthor.com
Blog: https://www.writerscookbook.com
Facebook: Kristina Adams Author
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