As part of my search for more incredible indie/self-published authors, I’d put out a call on Threads to connect with these humans. Kat Summers was one of them. Her debut series—Nashville Songbirds—follows characters who play in the fictional baseball team and the relationships they find themselves falling into.
As someone who comes from a country that plays cricket, baseball has always been fascinating AND, I love sports romances. So I picked up Behind in the Count and was completely immersed in the love story between Carina and Robby. Which only made me want to dive into more from Kat!
Stepping Up to the Plate is the second in the series, and the third one, Scoring Position, is slated for a February 27th release. So if you haven’t started this series yet, what are you waiting for? They’re all available on Kindle Unlimited!
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
I’ve always loved writing. I had a blog for several years, but after taking a break, I realized I like the writing part of it but not the influencing/putting myself out there as much. After reading hundreds of romance novels, I decided to try my hand at that to still fill that creative desire. For as long as I can remember, I told myself stories to get to sleep–something I didn’t realize others did until TikTok–and now I have turned those into books!
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
The best part is getting my story out there to other people and telling it all the way through. I love crafting the world and emotional journey of my characters. The worst part is editing. I thankfully work with an amazing editor so that part isn’t painful, but having to make cuts to plot points and lines I love is – even if it is for the betterment of the story.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
I chose to self-publish because it was accessible and on my timeline. I have a lot of stories I want to write, and enjoy the flexibility of having control over when and how they are told. There are certainly benefits to trad that I would totally consider doing some books or even a series that way, but by and large, I like the control I get from self-publishing.
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
I spend a lot of my time reading which helps fuel new ideas and betters my craft. As a self-publisher, I spend a lot of time doing my own graphics and social posts, which takes a good deal of creativity. My day job is in marketing, so that does as well.
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
Don’t compare yourself to others, especially those who have been at this longer than you.
Write the stories you want to read. You’ll attract readers like yourself.
Just start. The first step is always the hardest.
One step at a time. The entire process can be overwhelming. Look at it in bite-sized pieces vs. the end goal.
Take your time. There is no time limit on how long it takes you to write, edit, and publish your book. Work on a timeline that is right for you.
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
I love love, and everything about it, from meet-cutes to grovels. I write romance because all the stories I tell myself are romance. My favorite thing about the genre is the redemption. Not just post-fuck up when they have to better themselves to get their relationship back, but the way love can transform characters for the better.
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
Probably self-development. That is where I jumped back into reading as an adult. I don’t think I could write another fiction genre other than romance. I’m the girl who won’t watch a movie (aside from documentaries) that don’t have a love storyline in them.
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
My favorite tropes are fake dating and grumpy/sunshine. I have always been attracted to grumps, especially burly ones. My least favorite trope is definitely second chance romance which is ironically the basis for my first novel. I am also not a big fan of single mom, love triangles, or bully romances when the bully is too mean. I like having my feelings hurt, but I am a soft bitch by nature.
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
Fake dating and grumpy/sunshine are high on my list. I also plan to write an age gap, surprise/accidental pregnancy, enemies to lovers, and brother’s best friend.
What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?
I can’t think of much off the top of my head, especially in terms of sensitive topics. I read as a form of escape so even though I enjoy the emotional roller coaster, I don’t want too much of the “real world” coming into the book world.
If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?
I write open door romance because it is what I like to read! I also find that there are some emotions and vulnerability that you get in those spicy scenes that you can’t get in other places. Mainly though, I just like them.
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
I have always been a writer and wanted to continue that with fiction. I read enough books that I thought I could create something worthy of being read by others, so I took the chance. I come up with my stories and plots in my head when I am daydreaming and then fill them in during the writing process.
I was initially nervous to write about romance because of the cultural whatever people have about it, but then I remembered that I can. I live in a time where I can write and publish any story I want. For most of history, that hasn’t been the case, especially for women. I think about all the authors and readers who came before me in times when they had to use a pen name because female writers wouldn’t be published or who couldn’t tell the stories they wanted because of their gender, and that is what really gave me the kick in the pants. I write to honor the memory of those who paved the way to make it possible that I can.
Can you briefly tell me about your books?
My Nashville Songbirds series are sports romcoms. They follow professional baseball players and the women they fall in love with. I have eight books planned for this series. However, they are part of a larger universe that encompasses several series (a la Meghan Quinn) that are very loosely connected. Behind in the Count and Stepping Up to the Plate are out now, and Scoring Position comes out on February 27.
Behind in the Count is a second chance, sports romance that follows an MLB pitcher who reconnects with his college sweetheart while rehabbing an injury in the minors. Stepping Up to the Plate is a spicy sports romance that follows newly single Lola as she overcomes past baggage and learns balance, letting her new love take care of her and living for herself. Scoring Position is the typical one-time to get it out of our systems turned FWBs into lovers with a twist you won’t see coming.
Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?
So far, Miller and Lola from Stepping Up to the Plate are my favorites because I poured more of myself/what I admire in a partner into them. Don’t get me wrong, I love the others, but I don’t relate to them as much. Plus, Brady Miller is my dream man. I will say, I just finished a short story to submit for an anthology that has characters I adore and my current WIP has an FMC I am quickly falling in love with.
If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?
I base all of my characters on a real person for aesthetics sake, though they aren’t always actors. It gets a little tricky because I am writing characters a few years younger than me but in my head, I am a 30-year-old teenager. I’ll have to update these, especially when I write the prequel to Behind in the Count. But for the characters I have written so far, Raven is based on Madelaine Pesch, and Kent is based on Henry Golding. The others are:
Lola: Sarah Hyland
Miller: Tom Wilson
Robby: Jason DeGrom
Carina: Lily Aldridge
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
For them male characters, not very much. For female characters, I like to add a few personality traits or attributes to them, but I want my characters to be all be individuals so they can’t all be like me! For Carina, it was doing her nails to destress. For Lola, it is a love of fun-flavored lattes. For Raven, it’s a love og HGTV.
What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?
I really just want to tell stories about love and relationships and how they can persevere. I wouldn’t say there is one thing I really want to tell. Character growth is important for me to showcase in a story.
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
One thing all my books will feature is an MMC who is totally into his FMC, even if it takes him a minute to realize it. My books will pretty much always be a he falls first, but definitely always be a he falls harder. I also love writing sassy heroines who don’t need saving.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
Next on the slate is supposed to be the first book in my “rockstar” romance. It’s a best friend’s brother, forced proximity story that is set on tour of what is essentially the country version of the Jonas Brothers. After that, we’ll return to the Songbirds before we get another brother’s story.
But, while I waited for edits of Scoring Position, I squeaked out a short story that will eventually turn into a novel for an anthology submission and started a novella for another sports romance but for a different sport.
I plan to write four total series in Nashville before setting out in a new city. I am also considering working on another story specifically for Kindle Vella.
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
Everything! I want my readers to clench both their hearts and their thighs. I personally love the sting a good romance can give you and the flutter that occurs when the wrongs are righted. I also hope they have a chuckle or two
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks
Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense
Single or Dual POV
Standalones, series or standalones in a series
Open door, ajar door or closed door romances
Music or silence when writing
Plotter, pantser or plantser
Water, tea, coffee or….wine? Diet Dr Pepper
Cold or warm weather
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?
Illustrated or photo cover?
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