ANITA GORDON AKA KATHLEEN KIRKWOOD
ANITA GORDON AKA KATHLEEN KIRKWOOD
is the award-winning and best-selling author of the 'HEART' trilogy (published by Jove/ Berkley in 1991, 1993, 1995). The first novel of the trilogy-- THE VALIANT HEART--a tenth century medieval--garnered numerous awards and recognitions including Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart Award. The sequel, THE DEFIANT HEART, a sweeping, epic style work--joined VALIANT on the bestsellers lists in the late summer of 1993. THE CAPTIVE HEART completed the trilogy, bringing back the family of familiar characters plus new ones, this time traveling from Normandy to King Athelstan's England and on to Ireland.
Now writing under the pseudonym Kathleen Kirkwood, Anita has penned two Late-Victorian, paranormal romances-- A SLIP IN TIME, (Topaz), set in the Scottish Highlands in 1893, and SHADES OF THE PAST, (Signet), a haunted tale set in England's west Midlands in 1882. Anita's last Kirkwood book, a 12th century medieval entitled HIS FAIR LADY, captured the 2002 Golden Quill Award for Best Historical Romance. After a somewhat extended hiatus from writing, following a major move, she has picked up her pen once more and is working a new medieval set in 13th century Wales.
How long have you been writing?
Since the 1970's.
Did you always want to be a writer?
Not at all. I was the "artist" and my brother was the "writer" in the family. It wasn't until after I'd published my third book, The Captive Heart, that I no longer felt like a "fraud". But then I came to realize that, while I may not have always been a writer, I've always been a storyteller. That resonates as true when I reflect on my background and particular passions.
What type of career/job do you have other than writing?
Currently I am a Weight Watchers Leader. During the years when I wrote my books on deadline, quite literally around the clock ,and tended to my family's needs, my weight ballooned. The gift of health was one of the greatest gifts I could give myself, and now I hope to help others. Leading meetings not only helps me stay accountable with my own weight, but it's the perfect balance to the solitary life of writing.
What is your writing routine like?
Ideally, since my greatest energy is in the early part of the day (and it's a downhill slide from there), mornings are reserved for creative (new) work and afternoons are for revision. Evenings are for my husband and myself and old reruns of TV favorites, Ghost Hunters every Wednesday, and quiet reading.
Do you have a ritual that you go through before sitting down to write?
I light a candle.
How do you define the type of writer you are? Do you outline or are you a “pantser”?
I resist both labels as they don't really fit my approach and I really believe there are more than two, or three, or even more approaches. I adore brainstorming new story ideas for at that moment, at the start, they are the "world of all possibilities." I see myself as a juggler, juggling ideas. When I have an "ah-ha" moment, I throw in on a skeletal outline form to save them. In that respect, I'm more like a "plotter." Fluidity is the key -- the fluidity of ideas. What I'm seeking is the spine of the story. I also go back and forth between brainstorming story ideas and historical research. Many ideas come from the research, better than I could have dreamed up. There is a natural shift from plotting to research and back again -- a gut feel really. The material takes form, falls naturally into component parts (scenes, chapters, etc), and then there is another shift and "gut feel" that signals it's time to write. No matter how much work I do up front, however, the creativity and surprises never end until the final period is typed and the manuscript is pried from my hands and sent off to the publisher. Characters are born unexpectedly on the page (such as Ketil Bluntnose in The Valiant Heart -- I knew immediately that he was perfect for Aleth); ideas, scenes and circumstances that seemed so great at their conception fall flat and are deleted; uses for objects and places take on a life of their own and find key uses (such as the twin Norse brooches, given to Brienne in Valiant or the underground cisterns in Constantinople in The Defiant Heart); prose is poked and prodded, added and axed, I could go on and on. Bottom line, we all need to find what process works best for us and not fear that our creativity will be stifled.
Where do your ideas come from?
Everywhere -- whatever captures my imagination and sparks my curiosity, such as the theory of "time slips." While reading about time-slips, images suddenly formed in my mind and led to A Slip in Time, set in the Scottish Highlands with the time slipping between the 19th and 15th centuries. What fun!
What do you find the most challenging part of the writing process?
The long hours attached to the computer.
Do you set daily writing goals for yourself?
Not in the way of pages. Normally, I work on a scene at a time as a unit. that's not to say they're polished when I leave them. Not at all. Since my stories are multi-layered, I really do need to have a handle on the various "threads" and thrust of the storyline so as to not get too far ahead of myself. If I do, character reactions will be off, the writing gets "watered down" and time is lost.
How many days a week do you give to your writing?
Ideally, 5 - 6. For me, the trick is to not get "unplugged" from the story. If three days pass and I haven't written, I'm totally unplugged. It will take three days of writing to get back to the level I'd previously been at in the story.
Where is your writing space? By a window in your home, at a desk facing the wall?
My writing "nook" is just off the kitchen and faces a window. I'm flanked by shelves of books on two sides which gives the nook a cozy feel. The nook also gets a name depending on the book I'm writing. When writing Pirates Moon, it is called "Pirates' Cove." When writing The Griffin and the Pearl, it becomes "Griffin's Lair."
What is the one writing tool you can’t live without?
My computer & printer, first and foremost, then Rodale's Synonym Finder.
How important is the happily-ever-after ending?
Essential.
Explicit love scenes, yes or no; if yes, please explain; if no, please explain.
Sexual tension is what matters most. IMHO, love scenes should advance or add to the storyline in some way and not be merely gratuitous.
How important is a critique partner to a writer’s success?
Good critique partners -- ones who can give constructive feedback -- can be of enormous help. Best hear if something isn't working in the story from a critique partner first, rather than from an editor.
What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
These days I enjoy walking with my dogs, swimming, beading and watching favorite movies.
How understanding is your family about your writing? Do you find it hard to organize time for family and friends?
My husband and I are empty-nesters with two four-legged "children" of the furry variety. My time is pretty much my own except for when I prepare and lead Weight Watchers meetings. Structuring and holding on to my time is the real challenge.
What famous writer do you admire most?
Some of my all time favorites include Anya Seton, James Goldman, Rosemary Hawley Jarman, Mary Lide, Elizabeth Chadwick and Sharon Kay Pennman.
If you could write an anthology with any NYT best-selling author(s), who would they be and do they reflect your own writing style?
NYT or not, any of the above, still living. Yes as to style, although these authors are light-years ahead of me.
Do you have a web site or blog?
My website is www.anitagordon.com
Where can readers find you?
My books are now off the shelves, but I can be found at my website which I'm in the throes of updating.