with K.M. Hewitt
We are delighted to welcome author K.M. Hewitt to Omnimystery News today.
Kathy's new suspense thriller, A Life Unbroken (June 2014 trade paperback and ebook formats), introduces USDA plant biologist Alex McKay, who has a frightening story to tell …
We recently had the chance to talk a little more about the series with Kathy.
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Omnimystery News: Why did you choose to write A Life Unbroken as the first in a series?
Photo provided courtesy of
K.M. Hewitt
K.M. Hewitt: For A Life Unbroken, I envisioned a variety of journeys for Alex McKay, beginning with Book I when her personal and professional life is shaken to the core. Just when Alex's life is finally coming together in a wonderful way, she has the misfortune of making an innocent mistake that forever changes her life. My goal with each Alex McKay story, is to take the reader into an unusual and often dangerous world and learn how Alex adapts and navigates the shark-infested waters of power, greed and deadly secrets.
OMN: How would you categorize your series?
KMH: I believe that labeling is key when defining a novel. I would categorize the Alex McKay series as Mystery-suspense novels that weave elements of politics, a bit of romance and interesting bits of science throughout the story. I love to learn and also be entertained when I read. I want to read a story and say, "Hey, that's interesting, I didn't know that" and for me, it's a big plus if my readers discover that in my novels too.
OMN: Tell us something about the book that isn't mentioned in the synopsis.
KMH: A Life Unbroken began as a "what if" scenario while employed in the Biotech Industry. Tremendous strides have been made in medical research in recent years, but I often wonder about the ongoing research, the kind of research that goes on behind closed doors around the world. It makes you think.
OMN: How would you tweet a summary of the book?
KMH: As sole witness to a devastating accident at a secret Biological Weapons Lab, Alex McKay vanishes while on assignment in South America.
OMN: You mentioned that the storyline had its origins with your own work. How much more of your personal or professional experience have you included in the book?
KMH: There are some characters in A Life Unbroken that are loosely based upon people I know. But for the most part, the characters are fictional. As for Alex, there are parts of me in her. We both love science and my career in biotechnology became the basis of the novel A Life Unbroken.
OMN: Tell us a little more about your writing process?
KMH: My writing process takes on a natural process. I have an outline in mind and then I sketch out a general storyline plot, then I begin writing. The characters continually grow and evolve. I constantly add, subtract and rearrange until I feel the novel is balanced and complete. And then, I still have a tough time letting it go to print. I always feel there is something more I can do to improve the story. I'll ask myself, what's so interesting about this character? If I can't find a reason, it has to go or it changes. I love stories that combine political plots with a bit of romance, intermingled with plausible situations and bits of science, all wrapped up in a seemingly hopeless situation until the protagonist somehow figures out how to sort out the dilemma.
OMN: Where do you most often find yourself writing?
KMH: I write in my office with my back towards the window, otherwise, I'd probably end up spending too much time gazing outside the window. There are times when I'm easily side-tracked. When I begin writing, I need a quiet environment to focus, but once I get started and into the story, the ideas begin to flow, sometimes at such a fast pace that I can hardly keep up with the pace of my thoughts at the keyboard.
OMN: How do you go about researching the plot points of your stories?
KMH: I definitely use the internet to fact-check historical times and to gain more insight. I also use books that I've collected over the years as reference. As I wrote A Life Unbroken, I researched the facts that related to the Black Plague and Napoleon's Army. My education, interests and work experience comes from my background in the chemical and biological sciences.
OMN: If we could send you anywhere in the world, at our expense, to research the setting for a book, where would it be?
KMH: I would love to spend time in Italy to take photographs, tour and add the experience in one of my books. There is so much I would like to see in Italy: Michangelo's "David", Rome and the Coliseum, just to name a few.
OMN: What are some of your outside interests?
KMH: I love everything about gardening because I'm outside. I especially enjoy planting flowers that attract birds, especially hummingbirds, and butterflies. I also plant flowers to attract and feed Monarch and Painted Lady butterflies, which need our help because their food source is disappearing. I have a bluebird house and it is a joy to watch them raise a few clutches each spring. I'm also a fan of wine. I'm not an expert, but I do like cool, crisp whites during the summer and reds during the cooler months of winter. Viognier, anyone?
OMN: What is the best advice you've received as an author?
KMH: The best advice I have received and can give as a new author is: write what you enjoy and just be yourself. It's so true. I write what interests me and hope that readers will find it interesting and fun to read. I've also learned that at times, writing can be hard. It's difficult to keep the flow of the read straight when you make even the tiniest of changes and I make changes all the time. So, you have go back and make sure that the story is as seamless as possible.
OMN: Complete this sentence for us: "I am a mystery author and thus I am also …".
KMH: … and thus I am also … a people watcher! I'm very curious about the world and love to watch people go about their day, their expressions, and body language. I ask a lot of questions too, not always because I don't know the answer, but because I'm so very interested to hear another's perspective. People can be interesting in so many ways!
OMN: Tell us a little more about the intriguing cover design.
KMH: The book cover is the ingenious design by Clarissa Yeo of Yocla Designs. I love how she intertwined the DNA strand on the cover with Alex's face that reflects her transition in life. Clarissa managed to artfully convey so much and so beautifully.
OMN: What kinds of feedback have you received from readers?
KMH: Naturally, I love to hear why they enjoyed reading the story, or how it made them think or feel, or that the events could really happen to someone. I'm still amazed to read the feedback.
OMN: Suppose A Life Unbroken were to be adapted for television or film. Who so you see playing the key roles?
KMH: I definitely had certain people in mind as I developed my characters. For Alex McKay, I could see a combination of actresses: Jessica Biel, Olivia Wilde and Marion Cotillard. For Ryan Stinson, I envisioned one actor as I wrote, Josh Lucas. As for the pets, I used real names of friend's best pet buddies.
OMN: What kinds of books did you read when you were young?
KMH: Growing up, I was a huge fan of the Nancy Drew mystery series and I was totally absorbed into each story. I loved reading about such a smart girl who was good at solving mysteries and problems! I never thought that I would some day write a book of my own. I think there is something inside that tells you when its time to write that story that has been formulating in the back of your mind.
OMN: And what do you read now for pleasure?
KMH: I enjoy fiction that also incorporates historical and current events into the story. I just finished The King's Deception by Steve Berry. I like the way he weaves history throughout the story. As a new author, I attempt to do the same with historical, scientific and current events, because I think it adds so much more to a story and, I want to learn something new while I'm being entertained.
OMN: Have any specific authors influenced how and what you write today?
KMH: I love some of the older stories written in the 1800s by Alexandre Dumas: The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. The Count of Monte Cristo was my inspiration for writing A Life Unbroken, but the setting takes place more recently. I also love the stories created by Charles Dickens with A Christmas Carol as one of my favorites. A present day author, Jean M. Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear is still a great read and story and I would love to meet her one day as her work inspired me to write.
OMN: And what about films? What do you enjoy watching?
KMH: I truly enjoy all of the Alfred Hitchcock movies. He really knew how to create suspense with very day settings and a camera. Shadow of a Doubt is one of my favorites. The acting was superb and it was all done without special effects. I also have a passion for historical movies about life in the 1800s such as The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. Overcoming hardship and desperate situations are themes I love to read about and have been a source of inspiration to my writing.
OMN: Create a Top 5 list for us on any topic.
KMH: My top five places to visit are:
• Paso Robles wine country, for the expansive open country and of course, the wonderful wines created there.
• La Jolla Cove, to relax and enjoy the good restaurants while overlooking the beautiful coastline.
• Julian, CA, the drive up into this old gold mining town is so relaxing and laid back, plus they're known for making awesome apple pies from fruit sourced from local orchards.
• Disneyland, need I say more? The name alone makes me smile. It's always a good day when you're walking around Disneyland.
• The Huntington Library, Museum and Gardens in San Marino, CA. The multi-themed gardens are amazing and meticulously cared for, and they serve the most wonderful High Tea with more food you can imagine, and I can imagine a lot!
OMN: What's next for you?
KMH: Writing has become such a passion that I'm busy working on the second book of the Alex McKay series, all while getting ready for the holidays and trying to keep up with life!
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K.M. Hewitt lives in San Diego with her husband and standard schnauzer, Lucy. Kathy began her career in the biological and chemical sciences after earning her BS degree at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, CO.
For more information about the author, please visit her website, or find her on Facebook.
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A Life Unbroken
K.M. Hewitt
An Alex McKay Mystery
As the sole witness to a devastating accident at a secret Biological Weapons Lab, Alex McKay vanishes while on assignment in South America. Six years later … through luck and a twist of fate … she resurfaces in the U.S. with a new name, a new face and a new identity.
Alex has a frightening story to tell and she knows it could send shockwaves throughout the nation and world … if she lives long enough to tell it.
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