Meet Pamela K. Kinney | Published Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pamela K. Kinney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pamela K., what is the most important factor behind your success?
By sticking to the genres that are related or close to each other. That’s horror, fantasy, science fiction, and nonfiction books connected to the paranormal. Even when I wrote under the pseudonym of Sapphire Phelan for romance, it was still paranormal, fantasy and science fiction. I don’t think one should confuse readers they are beginning to get, by suddenly writing a western historical as an example, unless you are adding vampires or aliens. Be consistent in what you write–find out what you like to write about. Give it time–no one writer suddenly became an overnight success. And write well.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I guess to begin with, that I got published as a teenager back in spring 1972, which might have made me different, as back then, I don’t think teens and kids could get published in those days. Three poems I wrote, “The Horse,” “The Leopard,” and “Sands of Time,” were my first published works that I got paid for! For a seventeen-year-old girl about to graduate that year from high school, I was excited to be paid for my words. Words that many others would get to read in a print magazine, Hyacinths and Biscuits. Did that set me on the path to success then? No. But I did get another three poems accepted by them, plus had others published, and even an article in True Story Magazine. I wrote some stories over the years, submitted them by mail, but received rejections. One publisher in the 90s sent another letter to me about a story they had rejected but told me they had liked it, and would have accepted it, but were going through a transition of another magazine merging with theirs. They told me to try them later on. I lost the address, but when the 21st century rolled around, I got serious about writing then, and that story, “Werewolf for Hire,” did get published at an online website. From then on, it was write, submit, repeat, and keep on plugging. Some successes and some rejections, but I did not give up.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since my friend would like the same things as me, if a science fiction, fantasy, or horror convention was happening somewhere I would take them to that. If not, then maybe to some good places around here for breakfast, visit the Richmond Zoo, the Poe Museum to Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, nearby Hampton Roads or Washington D.C. Most of all, to bookstores in those places—because my friend like reading as much as me–right?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Bill, for being there behind me with his support. Plus, the writer’s organizations I was a member of or still am a member: Romance Writers of America (I am no longer a member, but they taught me the business of writing), Horror Writers Association (especially my chapter here in Virginia), Virginia Writers Club, and James River Writers. Plus, the many editors of my books, stories, and poetry that helped make those books, stories and poetry become the better version of themselves.

Website: https://PamelaKKinney.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamelak.kinney_author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamelaKKinney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Pamela-K-Kinney-Author-and-Actress/100027533719941/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH0p5YAyW-uTUaqdx8Tf9Dg

Image Credits
Pamela K. Kinney and William Truesdale.