One of the things about Beach’s personality is that he’s a giant Id walking around. He wants and he sees no consequence to having what he wants right now. One of the hardest things in the world for me to wait for is book release day. Not just mine, but books in series or by authors I love. Those greatly anticipated dates I can rattle off like my own birthday.
Wouldn’t it be cool to not have to wait? Here’s a chance to win an early copy of Bad Behavior! Ask me a question or even better, ask one of my characters a question because they are WAY more interesting than I am, in the comments (about the Baltimore books or any of my books, or about writing) and you could have the ebook in your hands five days before the rest of the world!
K.A. Mitchell's Blog 
I already pre-ordered so no need to enter me for a copy (although I want it nowz!) I’m curious as to whether there may be more Zeb and Silver? It felt like they might have more story.
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They definitely do. I know that they aren’t ready to live together (Quinn was right.) Silver needs to feel more secure in his independent, legally on-the-books life. Zeb needs to adjust to wishing he could fix everything for Silver. But they spend a lot of time together, comfortable time. And Silver is nearly as focused on the shelter as Gavin is. If you win, you could haz it now and just buy yourself something else shiny!
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what is the hardest erotic scene you’ve ever had to write?
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What Is the hardest erotic scene you’ve ever written? Like, most difficult to write, not hard in any other sense.
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Ha!! That’s a really excellent and hard question. Every erotic scene has to come from who the characters are. I can say to myself “Maybe there should be sex scene now” but if the characters aren’t feeling it, I’ll know. I think there’s always one that feels like it was hard to write in each book, usually because I’m trying to weave in a lot of feeling or there’s a conflict underlying it. For Beach and Tai, I’d say the scene on the deck of Beach’s yacht. Oh, in No Souvenirs, I got stuck in the first scene at Kim’s house after they got back from Belize. Kim kept poking me in my head saying he was frozen in a blow job and needed to get off. Definitely the hardest thing is to make sure I’m including the feelings as well as the sensations without going too far either way. Sometimes I can see/feel it so clearly and it won’t come out right on the page. That was the problem there. So much to say and not knowing how to say it.
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I absolutely LOVE your Bad In Baltimore and Florida Books! đŸ˜€
My question is:
With the setting up of the shelter, in Bad, we could see some more amazing stories – are you planning any family reunions/apologies from the families of characters or future characters who had turned their backs on them – or another confrontation, I love both? ;D
I love a happy reunion… but I also love to see a character turning out awesome and overcoming any issues created by their families and situations – one of the reasons why I love Silver đŸ˜€
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Hi! Thank you for commenting. Yes, the shelter is the scene of more um, scenes. Beach and Tai are both there more than once in their book and it will be a part of a new book I’m planning with two new characters in that world. I also know that Gavin will skillfully dragoon anyone who comes in range into helping out. As for reunions, I don’t see Silver’s parents changing, mostly because their objections are more about the way they are perceived that because of a deeply felt belief. But I could see some of Marco’s family softening. And I think there’s a redemptive theme to the next book, the one with new characters, but I don’t know all of that story yet. I do know that they have a lot of history. And I think there is something with one of their families.
I do love Silver and Eli for how hard they fought to be themselves, and how much they want to reach back with a hand to help other people. Silver had a tougher time, because he didn’t just lose his home and family, but he felt betrayed by his lover. Eli didn’t operate under any great illusions while he lived at home. He had hoped he’d make it to graduation, but he knew the clock was ticking.
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i can’t wait for this book. i love this series and still have to say Eli and Quinn are the two i love the most.
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Hi Lorraine. Thank you. I’m very excited about it too. I know Eli enjoyed meeting Beach. He is never far from any of the stories. And Quinn is his touchstone and happy to come along. I can see them interacting in the future. I have an idea about a sort of sequel for a few of the characters, but I have to think of how to make it not just be me indulging myself by hanging out with my imaginary friends and actually have a story to tell.
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I’ve been pre-ordered for ages on this book, cannot wait! Freakishly enjoying your daily posts too! My question is about Jamie and Gavin. Any chance for a sequel or even a follow-up novella for them? I loved their story and wished it would go on and on. Cheers!
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Hi! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the posts. I hate to be all annoying at people saying “Hey, did you know…” so I hope I’m not too boring. Jamie and Gavin are definitely a fun and important part of everything that goes on in my head as far as my Baltimore stories. Jamie occasionally tries to grab point of view in other character’s scenes, the control freak. They are definitely in Beach’s book quite a bit. I love Jamie’s attitude, love that he has that bristly exterior to fend people off but at the same time genuinely wants to do right by his friends. He hasn’t forgiven Beach for nearly getting Gavin killed. Twice. But Beach didn’t exactly apologize.
I have another book in the planning stages which starts with a friend of Jamie’s who helped him get his truck restored after it was towed out of the bay. All of the characters are committed to helping with the shelter, so there will be interactions. I loved spending time with Jamie and Gavin in Beach and Tai’s book. There’s a scene with all four of them by the side of the road near Gavin’s house that I hope is as funny to read as it was in my head. I feel like all of the stories could go on, and they do in my head. If I get more than just a hanging out idea, I’d love to give them another book. Really, I’d love to write more stories for all of the characters. I’m very fond of them and it’s like getting to play with my imaginary friends when I get to check in with them and see what they’re all up to.
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This is great news! Now I cannot wait even MORE than I already was excited! Thank you!
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How do research an area you have never lived in?
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That’s a good question. I have traveled a bit in the U.S. I definitely feel much more comfortable writing about areas on the east coast and places I’ve actually been to. There is a feel for places you can’t always get online even with Google street view. I’ve been fortunate enough to have readers volunteer to help with their hometowns and when someone moves from an area I know the feel of (like Jacksonville) to a place I don’t know at all (like Austin), Dylan and Darryl, I can get some second-hand help in nailing down that feel.
Whenever I travel, I try to create associations “Oh, this reminds me of where my grandmother lived.” Then I can summon up the feel for that setting if I want to write it. I’ve never believed in the “write what you know” thing because I write and read to go where I’m not. I’ve written stories set in the past and stories with paranormal elements and from non-human points of view (don’t look, those aren’t published!). For me, capturing the unfamiliar is a result of blending research, extrapolation, empathy and imagination. But Google maps and street views help a LOT!
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Truly enjoying these. Also pre ordered for ever.
My question would be about building characters. How complete are they when you start to write. Or perhaps this is better. How much do they surprise you as a book progresses and you find out new things about them
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Oh man, I could talk characterization forever. I usually have a feel for a personality when I start, an attitude about things, what their belief about how things go is. Series are a different challenge, because I’ve already met those characters and even if I haven’t been in their point of view, they do have a worldview that I know already. (All the characters think the book is about them.)
I am always surprised as I go along because the characters are surprised. They are growing and their worldview is challenged by the other characters, particularly their love interest. I look for ways to challenge them, make them want things they never would have wanted before. Their reactions often do surprise me.
With Beach and Tai, I never expected things to take a turn to D/s. Beach is not exactly someone who seemed to be craving rules. But when I put them together, it just happened. Then it took off. And it felt really right for them.
Some characters are really loud about their wants (Joey, Eli), some lie to me and themselves about what they want (Jamie, Dylan, Aaron), some think they aren’t allowed to have what they want (Gavin, Silver, Kim). Then there are characters like Quinn and John who don’t want to even admit they want things. Those guys can be tricky! I have to poke at them hard to make them go.
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Love many of the Baltimore books (more more more Eli please!). But I’ve loved characters from your other series’ too. Any hint about the next non-Baltimore thing you’re working on?
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whoops, used a masked email, but actual email for raffle-copter. Seconding my question, so it’ll match just in case it checks somehow (and because I really want to know, lol).
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Thank you for asking! I am working on a trilogy of books (the only thing I’ve ever planned as a series from the moment I thought of it, other series were accidents) about a group of four friends who’ve been each other’s family since college. Now they’re in their mid thirties and one of them plans to get married, and it throws off all the group dynamics, triggering Big Decisions for all of them. Definitely romantic comedy style stuff.
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When an author has multiple series or main characters, you often see people asking who the author’s favorite character is. I get the impression that your favorite are Eli and Joey, because they pop up the most often and seem to be the happiest. Or are they like children in that you’re not really supposed to pick a favorite? On the flip side, do you have a main character of your own that you don’t like? Maybe one where you felt a little like holding back on his happy ending?
Btw super excited for this book. Torn on the early copy thing. Of course I want it now! now! now! But I’ve already schedule my vacation day for next week so I can read it in peace….
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I’m so glad to know people are excited for this book. It is a bit like children, hard to pick favorites, and my favorite is almost always the one I’m two-thirds of the way into! But when I climb into a character’s skin and see their point of view, I love them, and I fall for their love interest. There is no one like that lover. I melt with them.
As far as from an author point of view, characters that have a lot to say, ones with strong feelings and opinions, can become favorites because they are easy to write and insinuate themselves easily into new scenes. They are larger than life and easy to call on for an opinion. In my head, I feel like they (Joey, Eli, Kellan) are the kids in the front row of the class, waving and yelling “Pick me!” all the time. Sometimes it’s hard to keep them from taking over a scene, especially when they are paired with characters who want to blend into the background. Right now Beach and Tai want to share more with me because I’m spending time focused on them for promotion and I can see stages in their relationship and how they fit in the bigger world of the extended group of friends.
One character who made me absolutely crazy to the point I wanted a voodoo doll for him so I could stop trying to choke my computer monitor was Jack from Not Knowing Jack. I understood completely why he did all the things he did, but he frustrated me beyond belief and I wanted to smack him. Even he wanted to smack himself but he couldn’t seem to help his default behavior. But Tony loved him. Still loves him. And wasn’t/isn’t willing to give up on him, even with all his baggage. He was definitely the most frustrating main character I’ve ever written.
Other than that, it usually takes me tapping out a few sentences in a character’s point of view to fall in love all over again and enjoy the world through his eyes.
I have a great critique group who are not sentimental about old characters at all. They have no problem saying “Shut up, Joey/Eli/Kellan” if they think that character is trying to take over a scene. I’m much more indulgent.
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