Q: What have you been watching/streaming and enjoying lately?
A: I just finished the mini-series Nine Perfect Strangers based on the book by Liane Moriarty and I absolutely loved it. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it! It was perfectly suspenseful and entertaining with characters I totally rooted for and a twist I didn't see coming!
Q: How many copies of your own books do you keep on hand to sign/for signings?
A: I try to keep at least ten copies of each of my books on hand, though I've started to keep less of my older ones just for the sake of space. For signings, I tend to bring ten copies of my latest few and five or less of my older ones. I always recommend readers bring books with them for me to sign if they have a particular one they want signed as it is hard to bring enough copies of each one! But I do try my hardest to have at least a few of each.
Q: What is your current favorite snack for before or after writing?
We just bought some local honey at a festival last weekend and one of my favorite snacks is sliced bananas drizzled with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon.
Q: Which of your stories was the scariest or most intense to write thus far?
A: Just Married! It's nonstop crazy and has what I consider to be the scariest scene I've ever written!
Q: What is the biggest difference between how you expected your career to look when you first began publishing to how it looks now?
A: My career now is better than my wildest dreams growing up. I'm doing what I love, writing what I want, and enjoying every minute. I've always wanted this, but I was never sure I would have it, so this is an absolute dream come true. I never thought I'd have such loyal, amazing fans, and never dreamed I could publish so many books in my lifetime. I also always thought I'd go the traditional route (I didn't know there was any other choice) and have a publisher, go on book tours, see my books in stores, etc, but I wouldn't trade what I have now for any of that. I love the career we've built together, my dear readers, and I'm so grateful for you.
Q: What music are you loving right now?
I've been on a Kelsea Ballerini binge since she released her latest album, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat. If you haven't listened to that, I highly recommend it. I've always loved her music, but this latest album is so real, raw, and relatable, it's just amazing.
Q: Who were the people in your life who read your very first stories ever written? How did they impact the beginning of your writer journey?
My family and teachers were always the first to read my stories early on. I remember from a very early age, even before I could physically write, my family encouraged my story telling. I was always the one gathering all my cousins around at family get togethers to put on plays I'd written or tell stories. As I got older and learned how to write, I wrote every chance I got. From the very beginning, my family and my teachers were always so encouraging about my writing. My fourth grade teacher kept a poem I wrote in school and used it to teach her classes until she retired a few years ago. Growing up in an environment like that was pivotal to my career. If I hadn't had that early encouragement, maybe I wouldn't be where I am today. Q: Do you remember meeting your very first reader(s) who found you through your book(s)? What was that experience like?
I do! It was in Vegas in 2020. I had two readers who drove to see me, one from a few hours away. I knew them both from Instagram and knew that they were coming, but it was still so surreal to meet them in person and know that it was my stories that had connected us. And both readers were so sweet. Q: How many readers showed up to your first signing? How did it make you feel?
My very first signing was at McKay's bookstore in Nashville, TN. Five of my coworkers showed up and all bought a copy. It was really special because they'd all watched me writing this book in the break room every day on my lunch and had always been so encouraging. They were there when I received the news that I was going to be published and they were there for this huge moment. Other than my five coworkers, I sold one book to a sweet reader who was passing by and (I think) took pity on me. Despite the low turnout, I was on cloud nine and truly couldn't have been happier!
Q: Could you share about a time a reader contacted you to let you know how your books helped them? How did it feel to find out the impact your story(ies) had on them?
As a thriller author, I never really expected my stories to have an impact on anyone's life. I was writing to entertain, sure. But I'm not doing anything profound. Most often, I'm not writing on intense or difficult topics and my stories don't usually invoke tears. However, the number of you that I've heard from saying my stories have helped you through particularly difficult times has truly made me rethink what I'm doing and realize I had it all wrong. Books don't have to be profound or especially deep to make a difference. In our darkest times, books are an escape. Through loss, illness, grief, stress, and so much else, readers have taken solace in my books and that means more to me than I could ever put into words.
Q: When you sign books for readers, how do you decide what to write in them?
Unless a reader requests something specific, I have a tagline for each book that I use. For example, for Don't Go Down There, I write "Whatever you do...", for The Family Secret, I write "Every family has one...", The Arrangement is "Rules are rules" and so on. I usually come up with each book's line when I sign the first copy!
Q: I know you've discovered names for characters when you meet and sign books for your readers. How else do your readers inspire your stories?
My readers inspire me all the time! Most often, it's in seeing what types of stories they're enjoying from me, so I know what to focus on. I've also had readers send me storylines or funny moments from their lives which I'll occasionally use, or tell me which characters they'd like to see make an appearance in future books. I love incorporating my readers into my books and worlds however I can!
Q: What is your favorite thing about attending book clubs as a guest author?
Book clubs are so much fun! I mean, an entire hour (or so) discussing a book that literally once existed only in my head?! What more could I want? I love hearing reader's thoughts on my stories, what stood out to them, what they loved, and what their theories were. For me, there's nothing better than getting to discuss my stories in depth with readers and book clubs are the perfect place for that!
Q: What do you hope to give your readers through your stories?
A place to escape, mostly. A place to realize they aren't alone. Characters to relate to. Problems (and solutions) that are safe and handled by the end of the story. Community within the KMod Squad. Books have gotten me through some of the worst times in my life and, if I can give just a small piece of that to my readers or make someone feel a little less alone, I've done my job.
Q: I know how positive and uplifting kind reviews can be, and how much you appreciate readers who take the time to leave those reviews or message you about their experiences. Could you share about a time that a kind word had a lasting impression on you?
Reviews mean everything to me. When I'm having a hard time writing or really struggling with imposter syndrome, I often go read the 5-star reviews from some of my books or kind emails readers have sent me.
It makes a world of difference. My readers and their kindness are truly what keep me going.
Q: What do you want your readers to know about the way they've impacted your career and your life? My readers are everything to me. KMod Squad, I love you. You've given me this big, beautiful life of my dreams. I wish little Kiersten could see you all, see what we've built together. All my life, I've dreamed of you and wished for you and it seemed so impossible for someone with no formal training, no connections, no proof any of this could actually work. But you showed up. You found me. And you just keep showing up. Every day, I feel like I need to pinch myself over how incredible you guys are. You've given me the freedom to chase my dreams, confidence in my work and my voice, a community of people cheering me on, and a career worthy of standing on stages and teaching people how we've done it. You've given my family our first home and my daughter a reason to believe she can do anything she dreams of. You feed my soul, sweet readers. I'm so grateful for each of you and your love of my dark and twisted stories. Thank you for being part of my journey. I'm not sure what I did to deserve you, but I will do everything I can to keep you. |
KIERSTEN MODGLIN
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