Five Minutes With Aspiring Author TK Richardson

TK Richardson is an aspiring author of young adult fantasy. Her favourite author is Leo Tolstoy as she says, “his writing and imagery take my breath away.” TK is currently seeking agent representation for her story Return to the Heart. She has always leaned towards the more literary, and more serious, thought-provoking stories. As a child her favourite story was Corrie ten Boom’s story about the Nazi occupation in Holland, In My Father’s House. If you read Richardson’s work, you will note how such writers may have affected her writing. You can learn more about TK on her website and blog as well as read some of her work.

A big welcome to TK Richardson. Thank you for joining me today.

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Jean: Tell us a bit about your latest project.

TK: My current completed project is RETURN THE HEART, a YA novel complete at 95,000 words. The pitch:

Seventeen-year-old Lilly is determined to keep her gift of reading the heart a secret, but when that secret is exposed and sold on the black market Lilly discovers her gift is more than just the target of criminal obsession– it’s the fulfillment of an old, Russian prophecy.

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Jean: What prompted you to start writing YA (young adult fiction)?

TK: I started writing a couple of years ago for my daughters. They had just finished a book they loved and I thought I could write one for them. When they read the finished product they were hooked. I have been writing novels ever since.

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Jean: What do you feel is your biggest writing strength?

TK: My biggest writing strength could be knowing what young adults want to read and trying, to the best of my ability, to write what interests them.

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Jean: How many novels/stories do you typically write in a year?

TK: A little over two novels per year, and that includes first draft to polished finish.

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Jean: Publishers depend upon authors doing some of their own publicity or generating word of mouth. What sort of ideas do you have to create a following or create a book buzz when you get published?

TK: My audience is YA, so I intend to use the social networking sites they use. I have already created a book trailer, a web site, and have plans for other promotional avenues. Those are top secret, though. You’ll have to sign me to know the details.

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Jean: Since you are seeking an agent, what is one thing you would like an agent to know about you that might not come out in a query letter?

TK: Well, I am pretty easy to work with and easy going. I am detail oriented and have a strong drive.

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Jean: Do you believe in the Perfect Agent?

TK: No, because there are no perfect people. Things happen, and people make mistakes. To expect anyone to be perfect is unrealistic. I believe there are many agents that would be a good business partner with me, and I look forward to that.

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Jean: Working with an agent/publisher is important –how well could you take editorial direction?

TK: I welcome it wholeheartedly! I am not so in love with my own words that I can’t see room for improvement– there’s always room to grow.

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Jean: What are you reading right now?

TK: Right now I’m reading history books and doing research for another project. I try not to read in my genre while I’m writing, so I don’t pick up another writers’ voice, etc.

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Jean: If we had more than five minutes, what would you like to add? Maybe share your rockstar writer superpower?

TK: I write stories that I believe young adults would love to read.

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Thank you TK. Best of luck in finding your agent. Check out TK’s Website and Blog.

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