Ask the Author - Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill

gali · Post by **gali** » 01 Jan 2016, 11:14

The author is a member of our site. What would you ask Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill?

Post by **bookowlie** » 01 Jan 2016, 12:43

I am always interested in the author's inspiration behind a story. Was it your main focus to tell a story about a woman's broken spirit (from a bad marriage) and then the slow healing through a romantic, although dangerous, adventure? Or...did you mainly want to write a time travel romance with a Native American backdrop, and then fit in Suzanne's backstory as an added detail?

khudecek · Post by **khudecek** » 01 Jan 2016, 15:16

That's a great question.

I've always loved a good romance and my favorites have been between Native American men and White women. I read a lot of books by Madeline Baker, who writes that genre. I love time travels and wanted to see if I could write one, too.

Suzanne was inspired by my mother, who was a battered wife. My parents divorced when I was around eight years old and our lives changed dramatically for the better. I have to say that I never saw my father put his hands on her but I heard all about it from my older siblings and her sister. I heard it from her, too.

I went into the "what if...?" mindset. What if my mother had met someone who showed her some kindness and had helped her through the adversities? What if a man like Cody had come to her aid, even if he had issues of his own? Would they have turned away from each other or stick it out?

I developed the characters together with the intent of a "happily-ever-after" ending. I was hoping to portray their different worlds, lives and the strength of the human spirit to withstand just about anything, even in such unusual circumstances. I do believe love conquers all. Suzanne and Cody are a testament to that.

Post by **bookowlie** » 02 Jan 2016, 10:29

How interesting! The Native American tie-in certainly was a standout with the time travel theme. I am sorry to hear about your mother's past situation, but she took steps to get out of it.

khudecek · Post by **khudecek** » 02 Jan 2016, 12:44

It was actually his idea to get out but he did us a favor. She struggled and worked hard and I'd say she did pretty well. She passed away in 2009 and I hope she knows how proud I was/am of her. It took a lot of guts to do what she did.

gali · Post by **gali** » 02 Jan 2016, 13:14

Thank you for sharing. Well done to your mother! I am sorry to hear about your past situation and your loss.

khudecek · Post by **khudecek** » 02 Jan 2016, 14:25

Thank you.

Post by **bookowlie** » 02 Jan 2016, 20:33

khudecek wrote:It was actually his idea to get out but he did us a favor. She struggled and worked hard and I'd say she did pretty well. She passed away in 2009 and I hope she knows how proud I was/am of her. It took a lot of guts to do what she did.

I am so sorry for your loss. In a way, the book is a tribute to her.

KristinaS · Post by **KristinaS** » 03 Jan 2016, 12:04

How long you were working on this book?

khudecek · Post by **khudecek** » 03 Jan 2016, 14:19

It's hard to pinpoint an exact time with it. Let me tell you why.

I wrote this book in 1996. I did some editing on it and shelved it. I don't really know why. I got married in 2001, moved to Kansas, had a couple of kids...you know, did the "life" thing.

Fast forward to 2015. My son and I are going through some boxes a year and a half after moving into this house and he pulled out a pile of paper bound in a rubber band.

He looked at it and said, "Hey, Mom. What's this?"
I looked at it and my jaw dropped. "It's a manuscript! Wow!"

I have to confess that I don't remember writing it. As I read it, nothing seemed familiar but I knew I'd written it because I'm the only writer in the family. I didn't remember Cody or Suzanne. I didn't remember anything about it.

I knew it had to be put on my computer, like the rest of my novels and short stories so I started retyping it.

As I retyped it, I added some things, took some things away, renamed it, added a little spice to it, changed the ending and was ready to put it back in the closet. It didn't get that far.

I think the time it took to retype it was maybe a month or so. Editing took much longer. Weeks. Editing always takes longer. Writing the first draft is always the easiest part and the most fun. Editing is a grueling but necessary process. I edited it three times before I submitted it to Scott for his edits. Then it was back and forth for awhile.

I signed my contract on May 24 (keep in mind, the story was already written) and the release day was October 26, 2015.

Thank you for your question. I hope I answered it for you.

falloutlunartic · Post by **falloutlunartic** » 03 Jan 2016, 16:36

How do you decide what details to keep in a story and what details to take out?

Post by **bookowlie** » 03 Jan 2016, 19:10

What an interesting tale of the long and winding route from the initial manuscript to publication. That's funny that you didn't remember writing it! Truth is stranger than fiction.