Interview with K T Lee…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

Thanks for having me on your blog! To introduce myself, I’m a writer, mom and engineer. I’ve always loved reading books from a wide variety of genres and have combined elements from some of my favorite genres to create The Calculated Series. These novels blend elements from thrillers and cozy mysteries with strong female leads to create fun, page-turning suspense. Each book in The Calculated Series can be read as a standalone novel or as part of the series.

In Calculated Contagion, vaccine scientist Dani Christensen is kidnapped after speaking at a conference. Because the CIA is watching her kidnappers, they are able to extract her before she comes to harm. However, after the CIA returns her safely home, they realize her kidnappers have followed her back to her lab. Dani teams up with the CIA to figure out why her kidnappers are still after her while trying stop them from releasing a potentially deadly contagion.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Everywhere, really. If I’m daydreaming in the car, I’m usually writing a scene in my head before I put it to paper. I always start a book with the foundation of a few primary characters and then decide which science elements I want to blend into the story. Not to worry – they aren’t textbooks! However, as a woman in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) career, I love getting to add characters with specialities in STEM fields that resonate with readers from all backgrounds. And it helps me create some fun plots too!

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

I share more than one similarity with Dr. Ree Ryland – although I do not have a PhD, I share her outgoing nature, enthusiasm for science, and love of coffee. However, most of my characters start as a seed of a personality trait and then I create a background that helps grow them into their own unique character.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Character names are so challenging for me. First, I try to make sure my villains don’t share a name with anyone I’m close to! If a character is from a certain region, I’ll Google names from that region or popular baby names for their approximate age. Then, it’s a gut-feel process from there.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I’m a mom, so I write whenever and wherever I can! I generally write the first 10,000 words, edit from the beginning, then 20,000, then edit from beginning, and so on every 10,000 words until I reach the end of the book. That way, I can repair those sneaky plot holes that arise while I write without completely chasing my tail and never finishing the book.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

My favorite books really depend on what sort of mood I’m in. For an engrossing thriller, Michael Crichton remains hard to top. Romance, Robyn Carr. For a cozy mystery, I really enjoy Rita Mae Brown and Angie Fox. Classic mysteries, Arthur Conan Doyle. I feel like I’m leaving out at least another 10 authors but I’ll stop before I get carried away…

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Maya Angelou. I was lucky enough to hear her speak many years ago and was captivated by her wisdom and poetry. I’d love to go out for coffee and make small talk – there is often a lot of big wisdom nestled in small talk.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Oh definitely. I read everything I could get my hands on. I was told to stop reading a novel under my desk more than once in grade school. Fortunately, I was encouraged to read by my parents, who also love to read and made sure we made regular visits to the library.

When did you start to write?

I think I’ve always been writing. It just took me some time to figure out that not everyone finds reading and writing a great stress reliever. I started getting serious about writing a book right after our youngest child was born. I sat down to write a story and found it such great fun that three full-length novels and a novella later, I still haven’t stopped!

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

“Consent to Kill” by Vince Flynn. My author side understands that it was a dark thriller, but in that book, the author killed Anna, the wife of the main character. I fully get that these things happen in real life, but I was so attached to her character that it totally broke my heart. If I could use my magic red pen, I’d rewrite the heck out of that ending.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

Timeline, by Michael Crichton. There is something so impressive about how he blended history with a science thriller. He made time travel seem plausible using string theory in a page-turning, utterly engrossing novel. Hats off to him!

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Joyful Chaos

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

Elizabeth Bennet. We would meet in the Lake District or at Pemberley, naturally!

What are you working on right now?

Book 4 in The Calculated Series. Alexis is a character who has appeared in all three full-length books and the prequel novella. She is getting her own story and I’m quite excited to share with readers all of the things I’ve planted in previous books for this story.

Tell us about your last release?

Calculated Sabotage was released in October. It’s all the action and fun banter you love from The Calculated Series, with rockets!

Do you have a new release due?

Book 4 in The Calculated Series is planned for late 2019. I better get back to work!

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

I am always so nervous! That hasn’t changed with each release. I try to take a moment to enjoy the day and then plan something unrelated to writing in the evening to keep me busy!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

You can find me on social media – I’m most active on Twitter and Instagram.

Website: http://www.ktleeauthor.com

Twitter: @ktleewrites

Instagram: @ktleeauthor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ktleewrites

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17410508.K_T_Lee

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

I’d just like to give a big thank you to everyone who has taken time to rate and review these books. I am so grateful when readers take a moment to tell others they enjoyed the series – it always brightens my day!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! 🙂

Blurb

Dani Christensen is a vaccine researcher who has spent her career proving she is more than just the daughter of the company’s CEO. However, as her accomplishments in contagious disease research grow, the wrong people begin to notice. When Dani is isolated from her colleagues at a well-regarded conference in Europe, she is kidnapped and taken to an isolated camp in the Carpathian Mountains.

CIA officers Cam Mitchell and Tyler Scott are sent to observe a suspicious group of armed men in rural Romania. When Cam sees Dani being brought into the camp against her will, he and his partner rescue her and bring her safely back to the United States. The CIA initially believes Dani was kidnapped for ransom, but they soon realize her kidnapper has followed her back to her lab. Now, the CIA must work with their allies in the FBI to catch Dani’s kidnapper before he releases a potentially deadly contagion for his own political gain.

Calculated Contagion is Book 2 in the Calculated Series. All books in the Calculated Series may be enjoyed as standalone novels or as a series.