Interview with an Author Featuring Kate Benson

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Kate Benson! Her newest release, Fallen (The Frenemy Series Book 3) released on July 31st 2020.

Congrats on your newest release! Tell me a bit about your book?

Thanks! I’m really excited about it.
Fallen is book three in The Frenemy Series, which is my rom/com series that starts with Frigid (book one). Since Fallen is the last book, I’ll start with telling you a little more about the start of The Frenemy Series, Frigid.
The series follows Dash Hunter, a blunt, womanizing, muscle-bound bartender/mechanic and Evie King, a mouthy, spoiled but hard-working art student. Dash is best friends with Mason. Evie is Mason’s little sister. Dash and Evie have known each other for the bulk of their lives and to say neither have ever been impressed by the other? Understatement of the century. In fact, the only thing that’s kept them from clawing each other’s eyes out on the regular is their mutual love for Mason, his intense overprotection of Evie and his undying loyalty to Dash. When fate, a flight delay and an abundance of alcohol steps in, a favor goes much further than either of them ever could have anticipated and hilarity and panic take over. Will they be able to keep their secret from Mason? More importantly, will they be able to go back to the hatred that’s always served them well when they’re no longer feeling frigid?

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I think it depends on the book and the character. I am by no means a plotter. Although I usually know my core details of every series/book pretty early in the process, I love to listen to my characters and take each adventure with them. Nothing brings me more joy than to fall in deep to the sound of the keys beneath my fingertips and my characters whispering their truths in what feels like a breath, but when I look up, hours have passed us by. Those are the moments I think most authors live for. They’re certainly the moments I crave most often.
Music, memories, dreams, personal experiences, those all inspire me, but nothing takes me there like the characters I’ve been so lucky to meet along my way.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Yes! It’s always been my biggest dream.

What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Books:
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch: I got this book when I was eight from a book fair at school and I still remember reading it on my bedroom floor and how it made me cry. It was my first heartbreak at the hands of fiction, and I ran crying into the kitchen to my mother. I told her I wanted to grow up and write stories that made people cry. That was the moment I realized I wanted to be a writer.
The Edge of Never by JA Redmerski: This is my favorite love story of all time. Not just because it’s beautiful and it wrecked me, but because it was the first thing I’d read that showed me I could write the type of love story that I wanted to read/write. I could write about a girl that felt like me falling for a guy that I’d want to fall for. They were both damaged and vulnerable and their love story was the first one that made me realize that I, too, could bring the spectacularly gorgeous disaster I’d always craved putting down on paper to life. That book changed my life.
Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James: I know there are conflicting views on these books (I’ve always been a fan), but if you’re an indie, I honestly don’t know how you can’t have love for them. Without Christian Grey, I don’t think any of us would be writing the love stories we’re writing today. EL James was the first to find that ceiling and kick it open for the rest of it. As far as I’m concerned, she’s our Elvis.

Writers:
I have so many favorites, but in addition to those I’ve already mentioned, some of my favorites/influences are Harlan Coben (that man is the plot twist KING!), Jodi Ellen Malpas, Stephen King and John Grisham. And obviously Nicholas Sparks. He’s the swoon master. Holy Noah…

If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?

For Fallen, my celebrity muses were a very tattooed version of Sam Hunt (Dash), Lauren Conrad (Evie) and Jake Johnson (Mason).
Do you think Sam is into expanding his career to film? If so, I’m totally down.

What is the best part of your day?

Any time I get to write uninterrupted makes me happy. And at the end of my day, when I cuddle on the couch with my husband and our furboy, Boomer. Best day ever.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Awkward, romantic, honest.

What are you reading now?

At the moment I’m typing this, I’ve just been informed by Amazon that my copy of Midnight Sun will be arriving tomorrow! I’m skimming Twilight while I wait for Edward. V””V

What advice would you give to other authors?

This business can be hard. You need thick skin and even with it, there are going to be days you want to quit. You’re going to have days when a bad review, a writing rut, a social media post or just life in general make it feel like you don’t have it in you to keep going. You do. Always remember that. Your story deserves to be told in the way that only you can tell it. It won’t be for everyone and that’s okay. It just needs to be for you in the beginning. It’s for the bad days when you need to just let go. It’s for that emotion you don’t know what to do with. It’s for the characters that you’re lucky enough to hear before anyone else. They chose you to tell their story for a reason, so tell it. Even when it’s hard. God, especially then. Take a hot ten, fix your bun, come back to them, and listen. They won’t ever steer you wrong. When it’s time to let them go, they’ll tell you that, too. You just have to listen. And breathe. And find a really great set of headphones.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

My books/series are all a little different, but I’m completely enamored by the characters who drive my stories and I’m a total sucker for a great love story. I might be known for loving a wicked cliffhanger, but my ultimate goal is always to give my readers (and my characters) the happy ending they crave. If you ever find yourself halfway through one of my series and plotting my demise – hang in there! Happy days are on their way *wink wink*

Thank you so much for the feature and the support! I’m so grateful! XO Kate

Thank you Kate Benson for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her newest release, Fallen today!

~Synopsis~

College graduation wasn’t quite what I thought it would be.
Along with my art degree, I received a positive pregnancy test.

The father just happens to be my brother’s best friend, any my nemesis-turned-boyfriend.
It’s complicated.

Now, we’re living together, in a new city, with new jobs and my hormones are raging like a crazed banshee. What else could go wrong?

I hear Mexico is beautiful this time of year.

If this had happened a year ago, we’d both be running for the hills. It’s too late for that now, though.
We’ve already fallen.

Kate Benson was raised in Texas and currently resides in central Florida with her husband and their furbaby, Boomer.
She learned to read at the age of four and has been hooked ever since. She credits her passion for literature to her mother, her love of story-telling to her father and her unwavering faith in happily-ever-after’s to her husband, Sean.
Some of her favorite things include rainy days, loud music, superhero movies, hot tea and of course, lazy afternoons with a great book.
To find out more about Kate, her work or to just say hello, she loves hearing from her readers and can be found on social media.