Q: When did you first begin writing stories? I’ve always written stories—even before I knew how to write! I used to dictate stories to my mom and have her write them down for me. And then I never stopped…although now I write them myself instead of asking my mom to do it.
Q: What was the name of your first book? My first book was called Love and Other Alien Experiences, and it was young adult.
Q: How did you get into the contemporary romance fiction genre? After writing two young adult books, I had the idea for Waiting for Tom Hanks. Since it was about a character who was obsessed with romantic comedies starring Tom Hanks, it didn’t make sense to stay in the young adult genre (I’m not sure many teenagers care about Tom Hanks). I’ve always loved romantic comedies in print and on screen, so I love being able to create my own stories in this realm.
Q: Who was your favorite author when you were younger? I had a lot, but when I was in elementary
school my absolute favorite was Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. I read her Alice series more times than I can
count. And when I was in high school, I used to read Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries books over and over.
Q: How would you describe your writing style in three words? Warm, funny, cozy.
Q: How many books have you published so far? Just Another Love Song is my sixth published book.
Q: What inspired you to write your latest release, Just Another Love Song? I’ve been trying to write a
book about a small town for years—I’m from a small town and I always love that setting in books and
movies. I finally figured out a way to do it in a way that made sense with characters I love. I was feeling
super nostalgic when I was writing Just Another Love Song (possibly because it was the second year of
the pandemic and all that time being isolated gave me time to reflect), so it was fun to write a second
chance romance that flashed back in time.
Q: What future projects are you currently working on that you can share with us, readers? I’m working on a new romantic comedy that should be out in 2023! I can’t say too much about it yet because I’m still hard at work, but it’s enemies-to-lovers and it’s a lot of fun.
Q: Do you outline your stories, or do you just dive into writing them? I absolutely outline. I wish I could be one of those writers who simply starts writing and discovers the story that way, but I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t work out well for me. My outline almost always changes, usually when I’ve drafted about half the story, but it really helps me to have an idea of where I want to go.
Q: What is your go to beverage when working on a new book? Coffee in the morning and tea the rest of the day! Even though I’m forever trying to cut back on caffeine.
Q: What is the writing and publishing process like for you? My writing process varies a lot because my
main job is being a stay-at-home mom, so I’ve written five books around my son’s schedule—and his
schedule has changed a lot as he’s grown! I don’t have huge chunks of time to write, so I usually get my
work done before he wakes up or on the weekends when my husband isn’t working. I always tell other
parents who want to write that it’s possible to write a book in fifteen-minute increments, because I’ve done it! My editors at Berkley, Cindy Hwang and Angela Kim, are absolutely wonderful, and I love working with them to shape my books into the finished products. The entire publishing process has also varied a lot because several of my books have come out during the pandemic, which is obviously a much different experience than publishing pre-pandemic.
Q: For aspiring writers in your genre, what advice would you give to them? Finish what you’re working
on. Even if it’s terrible, actually finishing a draft is the biggest confidence booster and the best way to
learn.
Q: Tell us about your main characters in Just Another Love Song.
Sandy and Hank were high school sweethearts who planned to stay together forever, but they broke up
when he left for college. Sandy stayed in their hometown and built a life there as a greenhouse owner
and a part of the community. Hank became a successful country musician and had a son. Now it’s fifteen
years later, he’s back in town, and the two of them are thrown together to help plan their town’s annual
street fair.
Q: Where can readers find you and your books online? The best place to find me online is on Instagram
(@kerrywinfrey).
Urban Book Reviews 