Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Harmel.
Hi Kristin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS, THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES, THE WINEMAKER’S WIFE and THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE. My books have been translated into 29 languages and are sold all over the world. I was born in Massachusetts, raised in Worthington, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida, and now, after having also lived in Paris and Los Angeles, I live in Orlando with my husband and son. I’m also the co-founder and co-host of the popular web series Friends & Fiction.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The publishing industry is difficult, and I was certainly not an overnight success. In fact, I worked another job while writing my first seven novels just to pay the bills. I’ve been a full-time novelist for a decade now, and I know how incredibly fortunate I am to be in that situation. But each new book brings new challenges, and with each new story, I experience a new wave of self-doubt that I have to work through before I can put pen to paper. There are always challenges beyond my control, too, such as the supply-chain issues that have plagued the publishing industry over the last year and a half, often resulting in delayed shipments of books. I think what I’ve learned over the years is that I can’t worry about the things that are out of my control. And as for the things that ARE in my control, I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and striving to improve my own writing and storytelling.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
That we need community more than ever — and we can build community wherever we are. At the start of the pandemic, I founded a group and weekly web show called Friends & Fiction with four author friends. Our purpose was to reach readers and to help support independent booksellers. It blossomed into something none of us could imagine, and now, 100 episodes later, with more than 50,000 members, we’re still going strong. We’ve all found such solace and connection through this group, and I think we’ve been able to do some good for local businesses and to share some fun, exciting, behind-the-scenes stories with book lovers. It showed me that even in crisis–maybe especially in crisis–we need to rely on each other, and connecting is sometimes as easy as simply opening your heart and your mind.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.KristinHarmel.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinharmel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristinHarmelAuthor
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristinharmel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FriendsFiction/
- Other: http://friendsandfiction.com/
Image Credits:
Phil Art Studio, Reims, France
