I had the pleasure of interviewing Bestselling novelist Sandra Kitt. Here's what she had to say about her illustrious career and the publishing industry.
Q Did you always dream about becoming a
writer? If not a writer, what would you be?
A I used to write poetry and
short little romantic scenes that I guess could be considered romantic. I was in middle school. By the time I reached
high school, to study art, I had begun to write children’s stories based on my
life and my family. But I never had a
thought to becoming a professional writer…a novelist.
Tell us about your first experience with the
publishing world. How did you get
published?
A My experience selling my
first books and getting published, I now think of as ‘magical’. I got my first idea to write a book while
I was out shopping, on a lunch break from my day-time job as a Library Manager.
I felt as if the story popped fully realized in my head, and all I had to do
was write it all down. It took me 6 weeks to write a 100,000 word
manuscript. But that first book I was
writing just to entertain myself. It was a story that I wanted to read. It was after finishing a second and third
story that I thought, maybe it was time that I showed my work to a publisher.
An editor from Harlequin was
setting up a New York office for the Canadian owned publisher. She invited me to meet with her in her
office, and she gave me a two hour tutorial on the publishing of romance novels
and what kind of stories she was looking for.
Afterward I sent her two of the three books that I’d already written,
and she bought both of them! THE RITES
OF SPRING and ADAM AND EVA were published in 1984. I was the first African American to ever
publish with Harlequin. I’ve been
publishing ever since.
Q What was your reaction to your first sale?
Who was it with? What year and with which publisher?
A The first published book was
THE RITES OF SPRING, from Harlequin American Romance in 1984. When the book was released I went to a
bookstore and saw the books on the shelf. I was dumbfounded, and delighted! There, in front of me, was a row of my
book, with my name printed on the cover.
I took a picture of the display as proof that I’d written and published
a novel. It remains one of the most
special events in my life.
Then, things really became
even more special later in 1984 when ADAM AND EVA was published. It was the first Black romance by
Harlequin’s first African American author. This October will mark the
40th Anniversary of the publication of that story.
Q You made history as the first African
American to write for Harlequin. Was it
the story, or current events that made this possible, or neither?
A I think what made this
extraordinary beginning for me possible was a little of being in the right
place at the right time, and quickly meeting the editor who first bought my
books. The only thing ‘current’ about my introduction to Harlequin was that I
was writing stories with fresh ideas and diverse characters.
My coming into the industry
when I did was the start of publishers and editors realizing that the genre
needed to welcome a new demographic of writers, with new voices and stories to
tell. The audience has always been out
there waiting for stories that were more representative of the
population. The industry had to find a
way into the future. I was the first new author through that opened door.
Q What have been some Highlights of your
career?
A There have been a ton! I’m happy to say that writing, publishing,
having readers who enjoy my books, has given me a wealth of experiences and
opportunities that I might not otherwise have ever had! I’ll bullet-point some
things here but it’s incomplete:
* My first book signing in a space filled with
people!
* My publisher sending me to attend the first
L.A. Times Book Festival, that is now an annual event.
* Writing
and publishing the first interracial story for Harlequin.
* Writing
and publishing the first interracial romance for the genre.
* Meeting so many other writers, some of whom
have become personal friends.
* Being asked to be keynote speaker at
conferences, or presenting workshops
or seminars .
* The many TV interviews and talk show
appearances.
* Becoming an Adjunct Instructor in writing
fiction for 15 years at a college in New jersey.
* Having my first novel optioned by HBO for a
possible film. And having it optioned a second time by Lifetime. ALL before the story had even been published.
* Creating the art for the cover of one of my
books (a 1st and only for any author)
* Nominated for an NAACP Image Award in fiction.
* Having my first foreign book signing in Munich
Germany.
* My book signing aboard a cruise ship I was
vacationing on.
* My books published in a dozen countries and
languages overseas.
* A number of my titles made into audio books.
Q I
read that you illustrated a couple of books for Isaac Asimov. How did that come
about?
A When I worked as a Librarian
at the Hayden Planetarium in New York Dr. Asimov was a frequent visitor. He used my library as a quiet place to
work. He was also a member of the Hayden’s
Astronomy Council, consulting with or working with the staff on public event
projects. Because of the time he spent
in my library we chatted a lot, and became friends. He knew that I had degrees in art, and asked
me if I’d be interested in illustrating a book he was writing. I said YES, of course! That book was ASIMOV’S GUIDE TO THE RETURN OF
HALLEY’S COMET. A year later he again
asked me to illustrate his next book called, BEGINNINGS.
Q Your break out novel THE COLOR OF LOVE was a
huge hit, and so appropriate for the times. It hit a chord with many
readers. Why do you think it did?
A As I said, initially I was
not thinking of anyone else but myself as a reader for THE COLOR OF LOVE. At the time a very bold interracial story.
Editors who read it, but rejected it, considered the subject ‘taboo’. I wanted
to see if I could write a contemporary urban story in which a white police
officer becomes friends with a Black book designer, and they eventually fall in
love. But their deepening relationship
is understandably difficult, with objections from family members, friends,
coworkers, and perfect strangers. This couple had to commit to their feelings
and defend their relationship against all the hostility the encountered. The
story has subplots, and two points of view, both the hero and the
heroine…another first for the genre and the industry.
I think the success of this
book spoke to the curiosity and desires of a new generation that welcomed the
idea of meeting and falling in love with someone unlike themselves, whether
it’s racially, ethnically, religiously…whatever. It’s now routine for us to see portrayals of
this in movies, TV shows, and in books.
Interracial coupling is no longer a new idea, and really wasn’t when I
wrote THE COLOR OF LOVE. But as a
society we never talked about it. Now It’s very much part of the world culture.
Q It certainly seems that you’ve had more than
one creative career focus in your life.
Besides being a writer you’re also an artist, and a former Librarian. You haven’t really settled on just one
career. How come?
A I have a LOT of creative energy. I have boundless curiosity and interest in
everything. That’s why I love to travel,
and I’m willing to experience and try new things I’ve never done before. I’m very fortunate to have turned three of my
interests into concurrent careers. And
when people ask me where I get ideas for my books, it’s simply by living,
experimenting, meeting new people, doing new things. LIFE!
I pay attention what what’s going on around me.
Q What do you do to relax?
A Because of my tendency to
want to do everything at once, and to be on the go all the time, I used to be
very bad at ‘relaxing’. But I’ve learned
over the years how important it is for me to take a break from my usual hectic
routine, and to force myself to ‘chill’.
The reason why I now insist on taking a real vacation, or to go away for
a weekend, or visit friends, is because when I’m away from home I have no
choice but to stay in the moment, and enjoy myself. I love going to museums, and lectures, book festivals,
movies, ballet, opera, fairs, etc. Living in New York I have access to a lot of
FREE events all over the city. I take advantage of as much as I can.
Q Do you set aside a special time of the day
for writing?
When I first began writing I wrote primarily
at night. I was working as a Librarian,
so I only had the evenings to be creative when I got home. As I’ve said, I have an enormous amount of
energy so it was not hard for me to balance this dual part of my life. Now, that I’m retired, if I’m working on a
book I work best early in the day. I
begin around 9:30AM and work straight through the morning until about 12 or
1PM. Even if I don’t want to stop
because my writing is going well, I do so anyway to take a few hours
break. Then I might begin working again
around 4 or 5 for a few more hours.
Q Tell us about your lates project, THE
MILLIONAIRES CLUB. There are three books in this collection. What are they about? I came up with THE MILLIONAIRES CLUB for the collection of three books. The basic theme of all three stories is that one of the characters (or both, as in the second book, THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE,) comes into a huge amount of money that they didn’t earn. In the first book, WINNER TAKES ALL set in New York, the hero wins the lottery! That was the easiest.
A I was offered a three book
contract, and the editor asked that I submit ideas for a trilogy. scenario. In the story
it’s the heroine who suggests the hero start a foundation where people can
become members, who are interested in doing good with their new wealth. That’s THE MILLIONAIRES CLUB. In the second book, THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE Set
in D.C., both the hero and heroine are each left a xxfortune by the hero’s late
stepfather. And in the 3rd and final book, FINDERS KEEPERS (April 2024) set in
L.A., the heroine finds money hidden in a false closet in a house she’s
renovating. There are plenty of
complications in all three stories as well as the developing love story. All three stories can be read as stand-alone.
What the editor liked about
the theme is that instead of finding selfish ways to spend money just on
themselves, the protagonists in each book feels the need and responsibility to
share with others less fortunate then themselves.
Q What’s next on you writing bucket list?
A I’m actually taking a break
for the rest of the year, to clear my brain and to think about what I want to
write next. Recently I came up with a
new idea about a middle-aged couple. I’m
just allowing my mine to roam freely before I settle on my next project.
You’re always traveling. I can never keep u.
What are two favorite places so far? Name one international and [one] domestic.
A Italy is my favorite
European country. I’ve seen a lot of the
southern part of the country, but I want to do Tuscany, and all of northern
Italy; Lake Como, Florence and Pisa, Venice (again). In terms of a domestic location I really
don’t have a favorite, but I enjoy L.A., and Bellevue and Seattle, Washington.
Q You’re a native New Yorker. What draws you
and keeps you in the city?
A I’m very comfortable in New
York. I was born and raised here and
know my way around. I live in a quiet
residential area, with lots of parks, private schools, and colleges! And there are extraordinary cultural
advantages in New York. Dozens of world class museums, historic institutions,
opera, Broadway, many accessible beaches in the summer, movie theaters,
galleries, botanic gardens. I hope this
gives you a good idea of what the city offers, that’s available to me.
Q If you had a crystal ball where would you
predict traditional publishing is heading.
A The last 10 + years have been
incredible. We’ve lost almost a dozen
traditional publishing houses to mergers or closures. While what remains
continue to publish an astonishing number of books every year, writers are not
able to ‘make a living’ on their advances, or the hopes of royalties. The real
power, it seems, in publishing is in the hands of ‘Indie’ writers who are, in
essence, their own publishing businesses.
There are now categories on the New York Times Bestseller Lists for
ebooks, and independently published books.
And it appears that these two categories constitute most of the best
seller lists. Women’s fiction and
romances also have a very big presence on the lists, probably more than general
fiction or literary works.
There are also new
sub-genres, and the entire industry is more diverse in terms of people of
color, voices, POV, and subject matters. I don’t get a sense that it’s a
‘friendly’ environment, but I’m not as involved nor have a presence the way I
did in the first half of my career. The readership has also changed, and I
chalk that up to generational changes and new cultural mores. I think that even the way we define what is a
romance has evolved. That’s neither good
nor bad, just different.
I can be reached through my
website www.sandrakitt.com or
at sekitt5e@gmail.com
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