Today I’d like to welcome K G Fletcher, “The Singing Author” to Creekside Café. Wow, when I was doing my research for our interview and I came across this moniker, I thought, I need to know more about this. So welcome to my virtual café, and why are you called the singing author?
KG –I am a professional singer/actor as well as a romance author. I was a singer/songwriter in Nashville. I am currently a back-up singer in a national tour.
Sherri: A popular contemporary trope is of the singer/songwriter romance, do you have a novel using this trope?
KG: Of course! Many of my stories incorporate music, singers, band-life. A couple of examples:
- GEORGIA CLAY (book one in my Southern Promises Series/contemporary romance) – the story of a Nashville songwriter and reuniting with his high school crush at their high school reunion.
- LOVE SONG – (romantic suspense) the story of two touring musicians.
- THE NEARNESS OF YOU – (contemporary romance) the story of a lounge singer and a famous British super-model.
Sherri: Are you traditionally or indie published? What are a few things you have learned on your journey to being a published author?
KG: My first 3 books are with a traditional publisher. I learned a TON through that experience, which carried over into my self-published books. Being an indie-author is hard work and not for the faint of heart. It’s totally do-able if you surround yourself with a great team. My readers are amazing, and I have loved getting to know other authors in this amazing community. Author support is HUGE in the indie world.
Sherri: How many books have you published? What genre? Tell us a little about them.
KG – My eighth book comes out today, October 21. I am a hybrid-author (3 books with a traditional publisher and the other 5 self-published) I write contemporary romance and romantic suspense. My readers say my books are “sweet & spicy” – they are for ages 18+
Sherri: Reader Glitz describes your books as “K.G. Fletcher writes contemporary romance as it should be: Sexy, Steamy, Heartwarming, Story-driven….” That’s pretty awesome praise. So, what comes first, story or character? Are you a plotter or pantser?
KG: I am a pantster – I write by the seat of my pants! Usually the characters come first. I have a BFA in musical theatre, and characterization as an actor was always huge for me. That definitely carried over into my writing career. My characters have been known to keep me up at night, crafting the story, LOL.
Sherri: I’m fairly new to publishing, though I’ve been writing most of my life. I wanted to be a romance author and really hoped to be traditionally published. I realize now, part of my problem is I’m not exactly a romance writer. I have a strong romance and a happy ending, but it doesn’t drive the story. How do you drive a contemporary story with romance being the main vehicle?
KG: There is definitely more than romance that drives my stories; although I am intentional about the romance factor. I love building the relationships and setting for my characters – the conflict and resolution. I adore second chance themes and giving my readers their anticipated “happily-ever-after” but I definitely throw them a few curve balls along the way to keep them guessing. I want my readers to swoon and walk away feeling satisfied and happy for my characters.
Sherri: You’re a Georgia Girl now, were you born and raised in Georgia?
KG: My family moved to Atlanta the summer before my senior year of high school from Kansas City. I consider myself a Georgia Girl now because I have lived here longer than anywhere else. Most of my stories take place in the South.
Sherri: You are a member of Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers, how has being a part of these groups helped your career?
KG: I met my critique partner at my very first GRW meeting. She is one of my best friends now, and essential in my writing process. We go on writer’s retreats together, brain storm and throw ideas off each other. The GRW group is wonderful – the annual conference, a time of learning and fun with other writers struggling with the same things. I was recently a conference speaker, sharing how music can enhance a writer’s experience and their stories. I think it’s important to keep learning your craft and being around like-minded people who can help you along the way. I definitely encourage other writers to find their tribe. One of my books (GEORGIA PINE ~ Southern Promises ~ Book Three) is a finalist for the 2019 Maggie Award of Excellence. The winners are announced at the GRW Moonlight and Magnolias Conference October 5. This annual conference in Atlanta is chock-full of great speakers, editor/agent appointments, critique sessions and fellowship with other authors. I highly recommend going to a romance writer’s conference!
Sherri: I was checking out your website, oh my God, when do you have time to write? Tell our readers some of the highlights of your artistic endeavors.
KG: I am an indie artist through and through. I did NOT have time to write this past summer because I was an artist-in-residence at my alma mater, Valdosta State University for the 30th anniversary of Peach State Summer Musical Theatre. I got to play the role of Donna in Mamma Mia!, the role of Marmee in Little Women the Musical, and Lottie in Crazy for You. It was a ton of work performing in 3 full-blown musicals in repertoire but SO MUCH FUN! This experience pushed my latest book release back a couple of months, so I’ve been playing catch-up. I also travel a good bit as a back-up singer in the national tour, Remember When Rock Was Young – the Elton John Tribute. We just finished a week of shows at the beautiful Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. I leave this week for shows in Baton Rouge and Virginia. I write a lot on planes and in hotel rooms, LOL. When I’m not traveling, I have a lovely office in my Atlanta home that overlooks the woods in my backyard
.
Sherri: You recently released a new book, Stars Fall From the Sky October 21st. This is a bit different from your other books. Can you give us a little insight into this story?
KG: Stars Fall From the Sky is Book Two in my Reigning Hearts Series. All of my books can be read as stand-alones. This book was a tough one. It deals with grief. I can’t say much about it without completely giving away the full story. The book is dedicated to one of my best friends who died unexpectedly over the summer. It was a cathartic process writing this book and dealing with my own grief. I hope that this love story will resonate with someone who needs to know that they are not alone – that love is never forgotten.
Sherri: It has been such a pleasure to have you at Creekside Café, if you’re ever in eastern North Carolina you’ll have to stop by for real. Until then, I can’t wait to read your books and see what else you have going on.
Stars Fall From the Sky
Reigning Hearts ~ Book Two
KG Fletcher
(can be read as a standalone) ARC sign up link: https://forms.gle/BrxsfzDn6uDgFUG8A
Hashtags to use:
#kgfletcherauthor #singingauthor #secondchanceromance #bookstagram #bookish #standalone #addtoyourtbr #contemporaryromance #romancebooks #newrelease #sweetandspicy #lovestory #bookpassion #romancelandia #igreads #igbooks #readandreview #starsfallfromthesky #reigningheartsseries #booktwo #swoonworthy #romancenovel #romanceauthor #indieromance #yournextbookboyfriend #happilyeverafter #lovealwayswins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 312
GoodReads TBR Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44639729-stars-fall-from-the-sky
Cover Designer: Eva Talia Designs
Self-published: Kelly Genelle Fletcher
ISBN-13: 978-1-7320240-4-5
TAG LINE: Grief brought them together. Will love tear them apart?
BLURB/mini-synopsis:
Ginger McCormick is living her very own happily-ever-after. With her precious newborn daughter and handsome firefighter husband by her side, life couldn’t be any sweeter in Sandersville Beach. When a freak accident occurs, and her world is suddenly turned upside down, Ginger can no longer bear to be near the ocean that anchored so many happy memories. Nevertheless, her best friend’s beachside wedding is on the horizon, and Ginger must face her biggest fears to be there for Emeline on her special day.
Across town, Doctor Jonathon Walden struggles to move on from his former life and career in Atlanta after relocating to the sleepy beach town. He mostly keeps to himself and yearns for the day when the ghosts of his past will no longer haunt him.
When Ginger and Jonathon both realize they need outside help to mend their broken hearts, the two run into each other at a local meeting and develop an instant friendship. Can they resist the undeniable connection they feel for each other as they navigate their grief together? Or will they decide to go it alone and walk away from a second chance at love?
Main Characters:
Ginger McCormick (Brown eyed-dirty blonde- Southern Girl with newborn daughter.)
Dr. Jonathon Walden (Tall, dark haired, hazel-eyed, glasses-wearing, tie-wearing, small-town doctor. He is very professional and keeps things to himself.)
Author Bio:
Dubbed, “The Singing Author,” KG Fletcher lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Ladd and three sons. She is an active member of RWA and Georgia Romance Writers. She was a singer/songwriter in Nashville, TN and a recipient of the “Airplay International Award” for “Best New Artist” showcasing original songs at The Bluebird Café. She earned her BFA in theater at Valdosta State College and has traveled the world professionally as a singer/actress. She currently gets to play rock star as a backup singer in the National Tour, “Remember When Rock Was Young – the Elton John Tribute,” www.almosteltonjohn.com and recently finished an artist-in-residence at her alma mater performing roles in three musicals for the Peachstate Summer Theatre 30th Anniversary (Donna in Mamma Mia!, Marmee in Little Women the Musical, and Lottie in Crazy For You.)
KG is a hopeless romantic continuing her work on her original cabaret act called, “The Novel Romantic – an unexpected evening of sweet & spicy love” to help promote her romance novels. Her Amazon best-selling romance novel, Georgia Pine is a 2019 Maggie Award of Excellence Finalist. KG is a GRW board member and conference speaker, and shares how music can enhance a writer’s experience.
Website: www.kgfletcherauthor.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/@kgfletcher3
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kellyf9393/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kgfletcherauthor/
Amazon: www.Amazon.com/author/kgfletcher
Audio/Video: https://www.kgfletcherauthor.com/audiovideo.html
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/kfletcher3
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44639729-stars-fall-from-the-sky
Spotify Playlist: https://www.shorturl.at/uRT03
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kg-fletcher
YouTube Channel with book trailers: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxD4r0_mOYWWiVmlT_JSSdg
Book/Story Quotes:
- She needed to be there for her friends on their wedding day—even if it meant standing near the dark water that stole her forever against her will. She needed to be brave.
- “I only want two things in this world. I want you. And I want us.”
- Grief brought them together. Will love tear them apart?
- “…grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we lost. Where there is deep grief, there was probably great love.”
- “…she found no comfort looking up into the night because her stars had fallen from the sky…”