As you all know by now, I like to keep my eyes and ears open for new authors for you all. And today, I’m happy to introduce you to K. Dawn Byrd, whose second book, Killing Time, releases from Desert Breeze this month.

Please join me in welcoming her!

How did you get started writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always been an avid reader. I feel a need to be creative, but am not good at arts and crafts. I tried oil painting, but wasn’t all that good at it either. When I began to release my creative outlet in the written word, I discovered my passion. 

What’s your new book, Killing Time, about?
Here’s the blurb from my publisher:
Mindy McLaurin, thinks it’s the end of the world when she’s incarcerated on trumped-up embezzlement charges. While in jail, she investigates the death of an inmate who allegedly died of an overdose. Mindy suspects foul play when her cellmate dies and she learns that both women had ingested the same drug. Mindy trusts no one, including Drew Stone, the handsome counselor she can’t stop thinking about. She faces many challenges, including constant interrogation by the Major and emotional abuse from the other inmates. Upon release, someone is stalking her and framing her for the murder. Can she prove to Counselor Stone that she’s innocent of all charges before she loses him forever?

How did writing your second book compare to writing your first?
The second book was a lot faster, in part because I completed it during NaNoWriMo. My books were actually published out of order. Killing Time (Desert Breeze Publishing, August 2010) was the first book I’ve ever written and Queen of Hearts (April 2010) was the second. The second book was a lot easier because I’d learned a lot about the craft in between the two. I’m currently working on my fifth novel.

How can they keep up with what you’re doing?
Please sign up to receive updates from my blog. I spotlight three to five inspirational authors there per week who give away signed copies of their books. www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

My hair has been driving me CRAZY! I mean, completely, absolutely nuts! To the point that was ready to just pull it out. But when I realized that might hurt, a lot, I opted to go get it cut instead. But a new city means finding a new stylist. Well it turns out nearly everyone I work with goes to the same person, so today Nikki worked her magic on my hair!

Okay, so I know it’s not an originally new haircut, but it’s so nice to have it cleaned up and soft and light and EASY. I’m all about the easy hair in the morning. 🙂

So this weekend my sister Hannah came for a visit. She left her family for a long weekend of relaxing with me Nashville-style. Now I’m certain that she missed her kiddos–and her husband, too! She called them daily, tucked her girls in by phone every night, and took lots of pictures for them. And her picture-taking prowess is your gain!

We did a lot of really fun Nashville things! Like breakfast at the Pancake Pantry, which is a Nashville tradition of the best kind! We got two speciality pancakes and shared them, so that we could have more variety. And let me just say that the cherry pancakes are AMAZING!

And then, of course, there’s the really, really amazing syrup. I love this stuff!

After the Pancake Pantry, we ran back to get a picture of this fire station. While the station was really cool, the run through the rain to get the picture was worth a thousand laughs. As we were running across the street to get a better angle, she was grabbing for my hand. Apparently she doesn’t give up being a mom of little girls very fast. We giggled about it for days!

Then there was the Bluebird Cafe, featuring some really amazing songwriters singing in the round. What I love about the Bluebird is that there is nothing like it anywhere else. It’s such an intimate night of incredible music!  

Hannah and I sat on the park bench in front of the church pews (as all good venues should have). It was a hoot! And so fun!

And then we celebrated my birthday with a rousing trip to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch on Sunday. Let’s just say that where was eating of cheesecake gallor! Pretty amazing stuff!

Well, that’s a start on the trip. I’ll share more stories and more laughs later. So let it suffice that my sister is awesome, and we had a riot!

When I was in 8th grade, my English/lit teacher, Mrs. Leggett, read our class the Dr. Seuss classic, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! We were about to graduate into the big, bad unknown–also called high school. And we needed a bit of encouragement, a bit of reminding that big things were in store for us.

Namely having Mrs. Leggett again for freshman English. (Oh, so painful, but I can’t thank her enough for the foundation of grammar she gave me.)

And I still remember that book.

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.

So if I have feet in my shoes for this grand adventure, I better have wickedly cool shoes, eh?

Enter the Dr. Seuss-inspired Converse All Star. That’s right. Chuck Taylors. In a Dr. Seuss design.

Could there be anything cooler? I contend not. Which is why I was forced to buy a pair. And in 7-10 business days, my feet are going to be rocking these excellent pieces of footware, which, of course, I can’t seem to get a picture of. So check out this link. You’ll be glad you did. You pretty much have to smile when you see them.

Oh, the places they’re going to take me!

It’s like a mixed-up magic show! 🙂 (Sorry, inside joke.)

This weekend, I had a thrilling experience! Friday evening I was watching some TV (Big Time Rush to be exact) and I got a knock on my door, and there was a dude in brown shorts, delivering four boxes of my new book!!! Yay!

I called my mom right away, and we talked for almost an hour. (Not just about my book.) And I’ve finally downloaded the pictures, so you can share in my joy! Let the celebrations begin.