Please help me give a big Hoosblog welcome to Kat Colmer!
Kat Colmer is a Sydney-based young adult author and teacher librarian who writes coming-of-age stories with humour and heart. The recipient of several writing awards, her debut novel The Third Kiss (Entangled Teen) won the On the Far Side contest for best Young Adult Paranormal Romance. Kat has a Diploma in Education and Masters in Teacher Librarianship and loves working with teens. Her second novel Can’t Beat the Chemistry (Rhiza Edge) comes out 20 April 2019.
(Side note: That’s my anniversary. <3 ) Tell us about your latest book.
My latest book, due out April 20, is about overachieving high school student MJ who is cornered into tutoring her brother’s deadbeat drummer university roommate Luke. It’s a story about finding the best path for your future and discovering love in the most unlikely of friendships.
Here’s the blurb:
Ionic and covalent bonds are a piece of cake for MJ. But human bonds are a little harder …
There are only two things MJ wants in her final year of high school:
1) Glowing grades and …
2) to convince uber-smart, chiselled-jaw Jason they’d be a winning team outside the science lab as well as in.
Tutoring deadbeat drummer, Luke, isn’t part of the plan. After all, he has average intelligence, takes disorganised notes and looks like a partied-out zombie at their study sessions! Not even his taut biceps will win MJ over.
But MJ learns that she could be tutored in a few life lessons too: That sometimes there’s good reason to skip chemistry tutorials. That intelligence is so much more than a grade average.
And that sometimes you can’t beat the chemistry.
Preorder Can’t Beat the Chemistry
Now for the fun stuff!
What’s your favorite genre? Do you read what you write?
Currently, my favorite genre is YA contemporary with equal doses of humor and romance. And yes, my next novel happens to be YA contemporary romance, as is the one I’m currently editing ready for release in the second half of the year.
I am right there with you. I just love reading about first love. <3
What’s your favorite part about writing?
When I manage to gag my snarky internal editor and I lose myself in a scene or an exchange of dialogue. Those rare moments are my favorite part of writing.
That internal editor can be a real PITA. Getting her to shut up is a definite win in my book. (ha)
What’s the hardest part of writing for you?
I’m not a fan of the first draft. Possibly because I’m a perfectionist and overthink Every. Single. WORD. It is beyond frustrating, especially when I know that large chunks of the first draft will be chopped and changed and cut altogether.
That’s something I’ve really had to work on because I’m also a perfectionist. It’s easy to waste time thinking of the PERFECT word instead of banging out the first draft.
What’s an activity unrelated to writing that you love?
I sing. I’ve sung for as long as I can remember. The lead in the sixth grade musical, leading music in church, singing at weddings, braving the crowd at open mic night at a local restaurant. My husband plays guitar and composes music so we’re a perfect match.
This is my favorite question because I love learning about the different sides of my author friends. That’s so cool that you and your husband are matched that way. [heart eyes]
Who’s your biggest cheerleader?
That’d be my husband. He’s incredibly supportive of my writing. So much so that he dressed as my debut novel to a fancy dress party a couple of years ago!
WHAT!? I’d really like to see a photo of that.
Now I’d like to play a fun little game called This or That. As a writer, I find that a lot of interviews ask the same questions, so I always appreciate sharing something new about myself. I’m super excited about these questions—and I hope you enjoy them!
Introvert or extrovert? Ambivert! I love being around people but I also love some quiet time on my couch with a good book or movie.
Morning or night person? Definitely night. It’s 10pm as I write this and I’m only now getting my second wind. Seriously, any activity before 7am is torture.
Coffee or tea? Coffee. I’m ashamed to say I struggle without one in the morning. I try to limit myself to two a day, otherwise I can’t sleep. Which doesn’t help the whole “torture before 7am” situation.
Sweet or salty? Sweeeeet. But I’m trying hard to be good. All the sitting around while writing doesn’t pair well with a sweet tooth.
Eternal summer or four seasons? Four seasons. I live in Sydney, Australia, and the summers get stupidly hot. We’ve had a run of 43 degree Celsius days recently that leave me begging for winter.
Mountains or beach? Beach all the way! Sydney has some gorgeous beaches. Although I don’t mind a good hike or “bushwalk” as we Aussies say.
Dogs or cats? Until a few years ago, we had two little Jack Russell terriers for over a decade. They were a feisty pair and such great dogs, but I’ve always had a soft spot for cats. Shhh, don’t tell my husband. He can’t stand them.
Over 5’5” or under? Well under. I’m a proud 5’2” and wouldn’t have it any other way. Shorter people have more fun. Don’t quote me on that – I have no empirical research to back it up – but that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.
Left or right-handed? Right.
Hoodie or yoga pants? Yoga pants. Or trackies as we call them here. I’m all for comfort over fashion.
AMBIVERT! That’s what I am. I definitely need time to recharge but I do love being around people. And I will back you up on the theory that shorter people have more fun (5’1″ here)!
Kat, thank you so much for spending this time with me and my readers. Readers, you can find Kat at these links and be sure to preorder Can’t Beat the Chemistry!
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub
If you missed the previous interviews, you can read them here.
