Kaylin\'s interview with Books in Sync

1. Books In Sync Author Spotlight Interview With Kaylin McFarren
Books In Sync Award-Winning Author, Kaylin McFarren Publishes Flaherty's Crossing, A
Powerful, Life Changing Book And Severed Threads, A Romance Suspense Guaranteed To
Capture Your Imagination.
Author Kaylin McFarren’s Bio: Linda Yoshida, aka Kaylin
McFarren, is a rare bird indeed. Not a migratory sort, she prefers to
hug the West Coast and keep family within visiting range. Although
she has virtually been around the world, she was born in California,
relocated with her family to Washington, and nested with her
husband in Oregon. In addition to playing an active role in his
business endeavors, she has been involved in all aspects of their three
daughters' lives - taxi duties, cheerleading coaching, script rehearsals,
and relationship counseling, to name but a few. Now she enjoys
spending undisciplined time with her two young grandsons and hopes
to have many more.
Although Kaylin wasn't born with a pen in hand like so many of her
talented fellow authors, she has been actively involved in both
business and personal writing projects for many years. As the director
of a fine art gallery, she assisted in furthering the careers of numerous
visual artists who under her guidance gained recognition through
promotional opportunities and in national publications. Eager to spread her own creative wings, she has
since steered her energy toward writing novels. As a result, she has earned more than a dozen literary
awards and was a 2008 finalist in the prestigious RWA® Golden Heart contest.
Kaylin is a member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, and Willamette Writers. She received her
AA in Literature at Highline Community College, which originally sparked her passion for writing. In
her free time, she also enjoys giving back to the community through participation and support of various
charitable and educational organizations in the Pacific Northwest.
Screenplay:
Kathy Slevin, a screenwriter from Los Angeles, completed a screenplay for Flaherty's Crossing and has
already received positive feedback from several television and movie producers. Fingers crossed that
more great news will soon be forthcoming...
Fun Tidbits:
She is proud of the fact that her great aunt Bessie B. Cordell, an evangelistic missionary during WWII,
was instrumental in opening an orphanage in Tientsin, China and also wrote two published novels,
Precious Pearl and Blossoms of the Flowery Kingdom, about her dangerous, harrowing experiences.
She keeps a glass of wine close by while writing love scenes, Kleenex on her desk while writing heart
breakers, and has been known to empty a box of chocolates when she's completely stumped.
A consummate "pantser" and perfectionist, she writes and edits as she goes, and uses photographs of
models and actors from tabloid magazines to visualize her characters.
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2. She loves her husband of 36 years dearly. However, if Brad Pitt or Orlando Bloom came knockin',
well... their marriage just might be put to the test.
On A Personal Note:
Kaylin sat before her computer writing FLAHERTY'S CROSSING as a source of personal therapy after
losing her beloved father to colon cancer. You might say she was angry at him, at God, at the world in
general. However, after writing this story, she had the opportunity to really look into her soul and
consider the fact that so many other sons and daughters have had to deal with similar and even worse
situations. Rather than a memoir, her novel evolved into a fictional journey which brought about the
resolution she needed to find. She never expected this exercise in writing to go to press, touch lives, or
win literary awards. But as a result of her good fortune, she has arranged for proceeds from the sale of
this book to go directly to the Providence Medical Foundation's colon cancer research department in her
father's name. She's now convinced and proudly shares her belief that good things can grow out of the
worst times in our lives if you just take the time to open your heart.
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What makes you proud to be a writer from the United States? I love hearing back from readers who
have enjoyed my stories and the great letters I continue to receive.
What, or who, inspired you to become a writer? My sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Tuttle, encouraged me
to write but after watching the Notebook years ago, I was inspired – like so many other authors – to try
my hand at writing novels.
When did you begin writing with the intention of being published? Following the death of my father
eighteen years ago, I became more passionate about writing – perhaps needing to get a message out. I
had hoped to get published after the completion of my first manuscript and was delighted when I
received my contract from Champagne Books four years ago.
Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and why? I suppose the best
stories come from the most dramatic times in our lives and mine have definitely impacted the words I set
to paper. As far as environment, I’ve been fortunate to travel extensively for the past twenty years,
which has allowed me to meet people from all walks of life and incorporate them into my stories. I guess
that’s why my characters and their dialogue seem so real. 
Do you come up with your title(s) before or after you write the manuscript(s)? I always begin with
a title, since I have an idea of what I’m writing about before I start.
Why do you write in the genre(s) that you’ve chosen? I tried my hand at inspirational romance first
and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I felt like I was pouring out all my feelings, which can be incredibly
draining at times. Then after reading a zillion books, I realized I preferred romantic suspense stories.
Using my rather vivid imagination, I decided to involve my heroes in wild adventures around the world
and to this day truly look forward to writing.
What has been your most rewarding experience while in the writing process? I would have to say
receiving awards for my work, which helped to validate my writing ability, and especially being notified
that ‘Flaherty’s Crossing’ was selected as a mainstream fiction finalist in the RWA’s 2008 Golden Heart
contest. That was quite a day! 
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3. What has been your most negative experience while in the writing process? I suppose this was
realizing I needed to be more open to constructive criticism after receiving feedback from a first draft
and to realize that it takes hard work to become a credible writer.
What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Probably receiving the
2010 Publisher’s Award of Excellence from Champagne Books. I’m still enjoying the little trophy I
received which permanently resides on my computer desk. 
What has been your most negative experience in your publishing journey? I was discouraged to
some degree after receiving rejection letters from twenty of the top publishing firms in the U.S. But
according to these editors, the reason wasn’t because of my writing ability, it was because I crossed
genres in my novel – making placement on bookshelves incredibly difficult at the time. I have since
elected to write with marketability as the main focus while keeping the enjoyment of my readers
constantly in mind.
What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Read as many books as possible,
especially in the genre you’ve interested in pursing as each one brings different elements into the writing
arena.
Who is your favorite author and why? I love reading books by Pamela Clare and Suzanne Brockmann
because they tend to write fast-moving, riveting stories with unique characters and unexpected twists
and turns.
Please tell us the title(s) of your current book(s):
Flaherty's Crossing by Kaylin McFarren
Severed Threads by Kaylin McFarren
What format(s) are your books in: Print Only - E-Book Only - or Both? ‘Flaherty’s Crossing’ is
available in all formats; ‘Severed Threads’, which is due out on July 1, 2012, will be released in trade
paperback first then e-Book on July 15, 2012.
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4. What special projects are you working on now and what books do we have to look forward to in
the future? I’m currently working on the second installment in the Threads series, which will ultimately
consist of three romantic suspense novels. This book will be titled Buried Threads and will take my band
of merry-making treasure seekers to Tokyo in search of a priceless gem that’s been lost in the Sea of
Japan.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? Flaherty’s Crossing book sales continue
to benefit cancer research and I thank readers everywhere for their much-appreciated and needed
support.
Please share with us any blogs that you might have: http://kaylinmcfarren.wordpress.com
Author Kaylin McFarren’s Websites:
http://www.flahertyscrossing.com/home.php
http://www.kaylinmcfarren.com/home.php
Please Visit Kaylin McFarren Author’s Page At Books In Sync
http://www.booksinsync.com/kaylinmcfarren.html
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