This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.
Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to an author who spins romance and suspense into happy-ever-afters—Kim Janine Ligon! If you love cozy mysteries with slow-burn romances, you’re in for a treat.
Kim Janine Ligon is known for crafting faith-filled stories with strong family ties and compelling mysteries with a splash of romance. Their latest release, being published November 18th, Finding Kate, is a story of three thirty-something sisters. Kate, the youngest, is missing. Her older sisters team up to find her, learning about themselves, and finding love when they least expect it.
In this spotlight, Kim Janine Ligon shares what it was like growing up as the big sister to nine siblings and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her newest book, Finding Kate, coming out November 18th.
Whether you write love stories, devour them, or dream of doing both—you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it and give Kim Janine Ligon a warm welcome! 💖
What’s your typical writing routine like—do you write with emotion or outline first?
Frequently, I start with a character or group of characters and a vague idea of the direction of the story. I don’t make a formal outline, although I do get a calendar and plot out the story’s timeline. I like the visual of a month-at-a-glance calendar, and it helps me make sure I don’t get ahead of myself—have something happen when you haven’t met that character yet, for example.
How do you handle writer’s block, especially during emotional or steamy scenes?
My best medicine for getting past writer’s block or any snag in the story is to stop writing and start spinning. I have a spinning wheel and make my own yarn. There is something about the rhythm of spinning, the feel of the fiber in your fingers, and the magic of color blending that frees up your mind to be creative. It helps me see the story from a different perspective. Frequently, I stop, make some notes on the pad by my spinning wheel, and continue spinning. If my notes still make sense after an hour or so, then I probably have the solution to the snag. If not, I table it until tomorrow.
Can you tell us about your latest cozy mystery and what inspired the story?
This story is more personal than my first six. I have been a big sister since I was fifteen months old. I have six sisters and three brothers. The family dynamics, especially the relationship between the sisters, are born from my real-life experience. I started the story with a simple question. What lengths would I go to in order to find one of my sisters when professional investigators have failed to locate her? In the story, the two older sisters, Ava and Piper, basically put their personal lives on hold to pull out all the stops to find their baby sister. I believe sisters who are also best friends know one another better than their parents or spouses do. It is a unique bond, and this story explores that relationship as well as the loving father-daughter relationship. The story includes visits to London, England; Chicago; central Illinois; and the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Are your characters based on real people, or entirely fictional?
I don’t think anyone is entirely fictional. Some characters are inspired by people I know, and some are even named after them. Some are created from meeting or observing strangers who I think have interesting traits that would make good characters. The end result is a fictional character who is not 100% any living person. Some of my characters actually are based on me—good traits and bad. I think it’s hard to create someone without thinking about the people you know, are, and meet.
How has your writing evolved since your first book?
I think I finally—after seven books—finally understand Show, Don’t Tell. When I look at the first manuscript I submitted, I’m embarrassed about how little I understood that concept. My first editor with The Wild Rose Press, Dianne Rich, took the time to educate me and to send me to read a book, Show, Don’t Tell, by Sandra Gerth. It’s a great resource and gives you easy-to-understand examples of the concept. I will be forever grateful to Dianne for not simply rejecting my story out of hand. It was definitely a richer story for her guidance to a newbie author.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
To quote Winston Churchill, Never, never, never give up. If you have been given a story to tell, then tell it. Be open to constructive criticism and take action on it. Recognize that the reader doesn’t know everything that you know about your characters and their dilemma. You have to bring them up to speed in a way that isn’t just telling them the facts, but engaging them in the story. They need to care about your characters. To believe in them.
Do you have any quirky writing habits or rituals?
I don’t think I am unique in this, but my characters speak to me in my dreams. They know what needs to happen even when I seem to be stuck. I had the main bad guy in LANDING ON HER FEET tell me that he refused to be named Danny Mercer. He said it was a wimpy name. I listened, and he was rechristened Dirk Crowe, definitely not a wimpy name. If I ignore their demands, they continue to disrupt my sleep until I concede their point or make an acceptable alternative plot line. I’m thankful they communicate so well. They want their story to shine too.
How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life?
I am blessed in that being an author is my post-career passion, not my primary livelihood. That means I can take my time with a story to get it right before I submit it. I usually write in the morning. The afternoons and evenings are spent with my husband of over fifty-one years. Sometimes we are discussing my story because he was an attorney and a college professor, so he can advise me on legal and financial issues. He is always my first reader. We have a standing date each day at one thirty to do a crossword puzzle. We each are working on the same puzzle. It’s kind of a competition until you can’t finish, and then we trade answers. It’s fun and keeps you thinking.
What are you working on next?
A story called Kidnapping at Castle Rock. A mystery bringing back investigator Joe Rockport, who appeared in Abby’s Gift. This time he’s helping his college roommate try to find an heiress kidnapped three years earlier. She never returned after the ransom was paid, and no evidence of her death was found. My husband thought Joe Rockport deserved a story of his own and gave me an outline of the story for our anniversary this year. He told me to “work your magic with it.” It’s been fun collaborating.
Kim Janine Ligon’s Bio:
I grew up in rural Wisconsin where my father was a veterinarian. We always had lots of pets around, from Great Danes to Siamese cats to ponies, sheep, and ducks. There were six of us girls. After I left home, there were two boys and a girl added by adoption, and even later my baby brother was born. Ten of us in all, and I am the oldest.
I had a forty-plus-year career in healthcare information technology. I have published seven books with The Wild Rose Press. Each of them has a little mystery, sweet romance, and is laced with faith. I have been married almost forever to my own real-life romance hero! On my wall is a plaque that says “The joy of the journey is in the ride,” and I believe it to be true. I am enjoying every minute of my journey and trying to squeeze as much joy from it as possible.
I hope you loved getting to know Kim Janine Ligon and learning about their latest release, Finding Kate. If you haven’t added her books to your TBR yet, now’s the time—trust me, you won’t want to miss them. 💖
You can connect with Kim Janine Ligon here:
🌐 Website: https://www.spinningromance.com
📩 Email: kimjanine@spinningromance.com
🛒 Grab their books:
https://mybook.to/FindingKatebyKJLigon
Thank you for joining me in spotlighting a fellow author who’s giving us all the feels. Stay tuned for more author features, book talks, and behind-the-scenes romance goodness.
Until next time—keep reading, keep swooning! 💖