Meet K.T. Frederick, author of 'The Corset Maker'

What was the inspiration for this book?

I’m glad you asked. I have always been a fan of historical romance – you know, Vikings, Jacobites … your run of the mill aristocracy. One common thread in these books (which is often panned) is that they’re “bodice rippers”. Google “bodice ripper” and you can often find some satire or eye-rolling reviews about a story that’s been overdone. I wanted to create a modern book, filled with artists that thrive on their baser passions and aren’t afraid to be bodice-ripping lovers. A corset maker would know what it takes to weaken a garment so that it be ripped from her frame, yes?

Who is your favorite character?

In this first book, Amelia is my favorite. She’s brave in heading up her new small company. Which means that like most, she’s worried about her reputation in her industry and desperate to make a sale. She’s intelligent and strong and as much as she tries, she constantly finds herself in trouble.

What was one of your favorite scenes?

There are a few that stand out. The final scene of the book is one that took patience and I’m happy with how the characters behaved (or misbehaved) themselves. But if I were to pick, I’d have to say it’s when Amelia falls on the red carpet effectively tearing her dress, in front of thousands of spectators.

How many books do you anticipate in this series?

At the moment, for this series, I have three scheduled for release. This December 2015 I’m releasing book 2, January 2016 is book 3 and right now I’m writing book 4, which may be released in late February 2016. There is a massive underlying plot to this series. Everyone is hiding something. I envision 15 books minimum, and if there is demand, I’ll see what other skeletons live in these characters closets and bring them forth.

Tell us about some of your other writing.

I have three other full length novels that are sitting with traditional publishers. As many of you know, traditional publishing takes time. I can’t really discuss them at the moment, but I’ll be back with more information when I have it. Promise!

What is it that drives you to write? And why are you particularly drawn to the steamy side of stories?

What drives me to write (as of late) is two-fold:

A) I’m dying to see what happens with these characters and how much more trouble they can get themselves into.

B) The characters are growing and changing. They’re maturing and realizing that love is quite painful and exhilarating at the same time. There is always fear and there is always a cost to Amelia and Julien’s relationship.

And for the steamy side? Well, I think that’s what makes new love exciting – all the steam that comes with a fresh lover. It is possible to have the steam in mature romance too, I hope readers will be inspired by my work to inject steam back into their relationships. It can be done.

Your saying is, "People don't change; you just get to know them better.' Would you like to elaborate on this? How did you come up with this?

That’s an anonymous quote that has driven my love of people watching. I don’t think anything surprises me in the human condition anymore (both the good and the bad). Think about the people we know, we’re really only seeing the tip of the ice-berg. That is exactly how these books unfold. I don’t spend tons of time in the first act trying to solidify character development. I’m getting to know these characters as the reader is. It’s our mutual bond.

What is your writing routine?

I write between 9 AM and 12 PM, Monday-Friday. You have to be bleeding or on fire for me to look up and disturb that routine. Isn’t that romantic? In the afternoons you can find me working on promotional work or tweeting (my guilty pleasure).

What is the best writing advice you have ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received was actually a criticism! It turned out that what someone felt was my weakness, was actually my strength. Let me explain:

Someone once said I should write screen plays because I just don’t have enough description and what it takes to write a good old fashioned romance novel. I tried to fix that in my work and it turned out wonky. So I started writing smaller pieces where my brevity was a fit. I love writing novella serials now and I’ve learned fast pace is my strength. So here is where I sit now!

What can you be found doing when not writing?

I like to exercise and read. I also love visual art (my father is a well-known artist in our community and I grew up with it all around me). I also have two young children who remind me of all the important things in life.

What is something on your bucket list that you have crossed off? Still hope to achieve?

I’d like to see more of how people live around the world. So when I say travel, I’d like to jump into the culture and experience it. That includes following around a Sherpa in Nepal or an Indigenous fisherman up in Alaska. Oh, and I’d like to do some sort of mission work. I have a few ideas in mind but time will tell.

What is the last book you read? Reading right now? Next on the TBR?

Believe it or not, hot on my e-reader, is James M. Cain. He writes fast-paced, crime scene fiction. His most famous novel which was adapted into a film was “The Postman Always Rings Twice” which was written in 1934. I couldn’t put it down. Next I want to read “The Day of the Jackal” by Frederick Forsyth.

I try to read my own genre minimally so I can bring something fresh to the page.

What is something readers may be surprised to learn about you?

Being a writer, people often assume I hang out with only the lunatic fringe and listen to obscure indie music and, well, I do. But what they’d be surprised to learn is that when it comes to music, I’m a top 40’s junkie. Hit me with some Adele or some Sia and you can find me writing and tweeting about that. If it’s fresh and catchy I’m interested. Sometimes we writers can take ourselves too seriously and lock ourselves into a certain image and well, I’d rather not.

Tell us in one sentence why we should read your books.

I’ve been told my writing is very honest and raw. As well, my sex scenes are hot. (I can’t believe I just wrote that… Let’s leave it in).

Is there anything else you would like to add?

My goal is to keep my first book at a very low price. Ideally 99 cents, unless something drastic happens with book retailers and pricing expectations change. Since you’ve never read my work, I’d like you to try me and then I’d like to earn your readership again and again. I was a reader just like you before I became a writer. I understand the value of our precious time and money.

Thank you so much for your time! It was a pleasure getting to know you better.

The Corset Maker, Volume One

by K.T. Frederick (published Nov 17, 2015)

Most girls love wearing elaborate costumes and sultry corsets, but twenty-one-year-old Amelia Jacobs prefers cinching waists and creating perfect hourglass figures for her models and actresses. Jobs for costume designers in New York City are few and far between, so Amelia waits tables to pay her bills.

Everyone wants the elusive Julien Wolfe to direct their film, but he refuses to speak to anyone about his troubled past in Hollywood royalty. Wolfe’s next blockbuster is Amelia’s dream commission: a bodice-ripping time-travel film. But a lot of designers are vying for the job, and they’d be only too happy to see Amelia come apart at the seams.

Three days before her pitch, a perilous mistake forces Amelia to take desperate (and indecent) measures to land the deal and avoid eviction. And that’s just one of her problems.

Just when things can’t possibly get worse, Amelia does the worst thing of all and falls for the emotionally unreachable director.

Buy links

Amazon / Kobo / Nook / iBooks

About the author:

I'm K.T. and thanks for stopping by. In these last five years a day hasn't gone by where I haven't thought about or written something steamy in one of my novels.

As you can imagine, I'm thrilled to finally be releasing my work. There’s something that fascinates me about men and women falling in love, facing impossible odds, and overcoming the unlikelihood of ever being together romantically. The equally tragic and exciting parts to love and eroticism are all set in modern and fashionable metropolitans.

My style of writing is best summed up in this one sentence:

People don’t change; you just get to know them better.

I hope you enjoy.

Love,

K.T.

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Twitter: @kt_frederick

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