Tag: novelist

Wes Brummer, Featured KWA Writer

bar non candy barsWes Brummer still laments the end of the Bar None candy bar.  He probably wishes he had one to crunch through while working on his novel, Dust and Roses, a historical of Depression-era Kansas.  History is what Wes loves.  He writes, I feel a story makes the history more alive and compelling.  It doesn’t matter if it is far-fetched, as long as the setting is accurate and the characters are well driven.”

Wes is the recipient of several awards from the 2012 KWA Poetry and Prose Contest.  The first chapter of his novel won 2nd place, and his story Wes Brummer jpegGhost of a Chance won both 1st place in Short Fiction AND 3rd place in Humor!  You can read both by downloading our contest anthology, Words out of the Flatlands.   You can also read more from Wes by visiting his blog, Journey of a Novelist.

When asked about what this writer is reading, Wes acknowledges his latest resolution: “Read Local. Forget those NYT bestselling authors.”  He does his best to support his fellow KWA members.

As for advice for writers, Wes admits, “Hey, I’m just starting out!” but goes on to say, “be sure to follow through with the promises you make in a story.  Deliver on everything… If you talk about the possibility of something, either deliver it or take it out.”

Wise words from a great writer!

Katherine Pritchett, Featured KWA Writer

K PritchettKatherine Pritchett is a gal that says she has “rarely met a book I didn’t like.” A prolific writer and collaborator, Katherine considers herself primarily a novelist, although she has written articles, papers and policy at work.  She says that she loves “the luxury afforded by the word count to dig deep into the characters and the complex events that shape them.”

Several projects are in the works:

For short pieces, Katherine writes two blogs.  Through My Window expresses living with an attitude of gratitude, of being thankful for things often taken for granted. Diary of a Wimpy Dog chronicles her life with a manipulative Labrador retriever, and their other animal friends.

Katherine’s current project, Dr. Wonderful, is a romance between a surgeon and a paramedic.

When popular surgeon Rand McQuarrie challenges female paramedic Kris Evans, she dares him to observe a shift with her crew. Together they fight to save a patient and find the beginnings of mutual respect. The respect grows into attraction, despite misunderstandings and conflicts. The many demands of their jobs place on them is part of the conflict, and they struggle to find time to be together. And when they finally agree on a future, it is suddenly placed in jeopardy.

Her Richard Matthews novels, More Than a Point of Honor and The Judas Seat, are available at Barnes & Noble.

Katherine has also collaborated on a novel with her critique group: Baby Makes Three . Inspired by the life of a famous stripper who married a billionaire, had a baby and then died, leaving paternity of the baby in question, this book explores how it COULD have happened.

Katherine notes that new writers should “Never go with your first draft. Write, re-write, re-write again, edit some more, have others read it, then let it sit under the bed for six months to a year and edit again before you even consider it ready. And to quote Winny Churchill, “Never, never, never give up.”

For more news and information about Katherine Pritchett’s work, visit Ramblings about Life and Writing.