Today, I am honored to feature an interview with Krista Holle, author of The Wind Whisperer!
Krista has been writing since she was nine-years-old when she scribbled out her first adolescent work entitled Merish, the completely illogical but heartfelt story of a girl who was part mermaid, part fish. As a young mother, Krista added to her repertoire some middle grade readers and picture books she’s wary of mentioning.
In 2004, Krista began an intensive four year period working part-time as a critical care nurse while homeschooling her four children. During this hectic time, courses of writing were taught and learned, and rules of syntax were scolded to memory. Ironically this period of study equipped Krista with the tools she needed to enter the next phase of her writing experience. Now equipped with the mysteries of the comma, Krista was ready to tackle a much bigger project—a full fledged novel.
After the kids were enrolled in public school in 2009, it occurred to Krista that there is an insatiable audience of women and girls who want to read books filled with stories about true love. Convinced that there was an unfulfilled audience waiting for what Krista loves to write—romance, she sat down in the family’s dungeon, a.k.a. the basement, and began to furiously type. In no time, her first novel was drying on crisp white paper.
Krista currently resides in Midlothian, Virginia with her husband, four daughters, and an eccentric cat with an attachment to the family’s socks. She continues to write obsessively every chance she can.
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Tell us something unique about yourself.
I’m a home care nurse by day and author by night. I’m obsessed with my sleep, and I collect seashells from all over the world.
What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve been writing on and off since I was ten, but I really stepped it up after the success of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight novels. It occurred to me that there is a huge audience of girls and women who enjoy a good love story like me.
What inspired your novel, The Wind Whisperer? What makes it special?
I wrote The Wind Whisperer while living on land once owned by Pocahontas. Everywhere I looked, I saw the region where Pocahontas lived. She was a big inspiration to me. The Wind Whisperer is unique because it’s both paranormal and historical. A lot of the inspiration comes from the local Powhatan tribe.
Could you tell us a little about your main character, Anaii? What was it like writing her story?
Anaii is an extremely spoiled chief’s daughter with the courage of a lion. When I started writing the story, I intended a Romeo and Juliet type story between two warring tribes. What I ended up with was a love triangle. This happens when an author falls in love with a character who is supposed to die.
If you could date any one of your characters, who would it be and why?
I’d date Elan. He is Anaii’s best friend and is comfortable to her as an old shoe.
Do you have any other books in the works? What are your future goals?
While The Wind Whisperer can stand alone, it does have a sequel that has already been written. In addition to promoting The Wind Whisperer this year, I’ll be getting A New Whisper ready for editing.
What advice would you give an aspiring author?
Find excellent beta readers that aren’t afraid to hurt your feelings. Also suck it up and be prepared to have your feelings hurt.
Where do you like to write?
On my living room sofa with a pair of sound-silencing headphones.
Which do you prefer: longhand writing or via laptop?
Ha, ha. Are there any writers who still use longhand? I type on my laptop.
What is your favorite genre to read?
Historical Romance and Paranormal Romance. Every read has to have at least some element of clean romance.
Cats or dogs?
I love both, but I currently have a sock stealing cat.
Warm weather climates or cold weather climates?
Give me the tropics any day.
Dinner or dessert?
Definitely dinner.
Ice cream or cake?
Skip both and have seconds of dinner.
What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
Winning the man of my dreams and giving birth to four beautiful daughters.
Thank you, Krista!! 🙂 Check out Krista’s latest novel!
The Wind Whisperer
At fifteen, Anaii is the most important member of her tribe—and the most mysterious. Ever since Anaii can remember, the spirits of the wind have whispered of fertile hunting grounds and imminent enemy attacks. But when her people are ambushed by a brother clan without any apparent cause, the spirits remain eerily silent.
As the village prepares to retaliate, Anaii is pressured by her best friend, Elan, to marry him. It’s an old plea—Elan has spent a lifetime loving her, but Anaii only sees a childhood playmate out of an imposing warrior. Stifled by Elan’s insistence, Anaii escapes into the forest where she meets Jayttin, the beautiful son of the enemy chief.
Enamored by Jayttin’s carefree spirit and hope for peace, she repeatedly sneaks away to be with him, but when her deception is discovered, Elan is devastated. Pledging his lifelong affection, Elan gives her a passionate kiss, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light.
While Anaii is tormented over which man she must choose, the wind whispers of a new threat that could destroy both tribes. Only a union will afford a chance at survival, but the reality of that union is based on one thing—which man Anaii chooses to die.
Kelsey Ketch 