Featured Interview With K.S. Ruff
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I live in Northern Virginia with my football-crazed husband, two beautiful daughters, and two psychotic Shih Tzus. I teach courses in international relations, peacekeeping, and human security for the American Military University. I also work as a reading tutor at my daughters’ elementary school. What can I say? I still love school.
I’m addicted to coffee, dark chocolate, reading, and writing; although not necessarily in that order. Reading will always be my first love. Writing appears to be edging out coffee for second place, unless it’s morning. In the morning, it’s coffee.
I haven’t a clue what’s going on around me when I’m writing. The house could be burning down, and I wouldn’t even notice. I’m counting on my husband to save the children and the dogs.
More than anything, I want my readers to FEEL something. I love it when you growl at my protagonist, when you hold your breath in anticipation, when your heart stumbles against your chest, and when you laugh until you cry. That’s what I strive for. I want to make you laugh so hard in the middle of the night that your husband thinks you’ve finally gone mad.
To date, I’ve written five romantic suspense novels in The Broken series, a children’s book entitled Brave Just Like Me, and a young adult fantasy novel entitled Saving Tir na nOg, which is the first book in The Chosen Ones series. You will find my children’s book and YA fantasy novel under my full name, Kimberly S. Ruff.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’m pretty sure I was born with a book in my hand. I was that kid, the one who liked to hide under the covers with a book and a flashlight well past my bedtime.
When I look back over my life, I realize that I have always been a writer, although my writing has certainly run the gamut from Supreme Court briefs, government reports, legislation, academic journal articles, a children’s book, romance novels, and now most recently a young adult fantasy novel.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love Deborah Harkness, Nora Roberts, Skye Warren, Rebecca Zanetti, and Elizabeth Hunter (just to name a few!). My guilty pleasure is paranormal romance. As far as those authors who inspire me in my own writing… for romance, I’d say it’s an eclectic mix of Kristin Hannah, Nicholas Sparks, and Nora Roberts. For fantasy, it’s Deborah Harkness and J.K. Rowling.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is Saving Tir na nOg, a young adult fantasy novel steeped in Celtic Mythology. My youngest daughter inspired the book. She has been begging for a book about fairies for years now. I had very little interest in writing about fairies. Of course I was picturing Tinkerbell inside my head. But then, I realized I could introduce her to real faeries… to the very grown up, beautiful, and sometimes terrifying faeries, better known as the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Celtic deities born in Irish Mythology. Now, that was a topic I could get excited about. I’ve always been intrigued by the Sidhe. There is Irish blood coursing through my veins after all. And so… this novel was born. I assure you this was no small task, especially given the research involved. This book took a year and a half to write! I discovered I rather enjoy world building. From this point forward, I’ll be dividing my time between romantic suspense and YA fantasy novels. Saving Tir na nOg will be released in July.
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