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"Mia King is a winner when it comes to creating memorable characters readers will love."
Jill Marie Landis,
USA Today Bestselling Author
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FAQs
Everything you've ever wanted to know about Mia King, her books and more.
Author FAQs | Writer FAQs | Hawaii FAQs
Author FAQs:
How similar is Deidre’s (from GOOD THINGS) life to your own? Are you two alike?
Deidre’s life and mine aren’t that similar, but one thing we do share in common is that we both now lead more simple lives. You can read my bio learn about my journey.
What about Marissa in SWEET LIFE? You and your husband made the move to Hawaii. Is any of it autobiographical?
That's always the challenge when you write about where you live, and a few details overlap! Yes, we did make the move to Hawaii over 8 years ago, but we came without jobs and completely on a whim. I was 7 months pregnant at the time, so no young precocious children (yet!) to influence our decision. We came on vacation, felt the call to Hawaii (we'd been to every island several times except the Big Island; obviously we saved the best for last!), and made the move from San Francisco a couple of months later.
What I did take from my own experience is the challenge of moving to a new place, and the unexpected friendships that form. I love the town of Waimea (Kamuela), so I used that as the setting for SWEET LIFE and added some colorful details as well. We do homeschool our kids, and sneaking that into my books keeps it interesting. That's one area where Marissa and I are alike—I wouldn't have believed you if you told me that I would one day homeschool my kids! Read more about my homeschool journey by clicking here.
If you always knew you wanted to be a published author, why did it take you so long to finally do it?
Life is great at offering distractions and detours, and I took most of them. I had some trepidation and self-doubt, too, and I played the self-sabotage card for a while, but truthfully I knew in my heart that publication would eventually happen—it was just a matter of time. When I turned 37, it became very clear to me personally that the time had come and I needed to make a commitment to follow through. So I did.
How do you find time to write with three kids and a golf school?
Let me start off by saying that I’m not writing nearly as much as I would like (okay, some months not at all!) Carving out time to write is very difficult for me—my children are very young and our business can be demanding, so keeping any sort of writing schedule doesn’t work for me. I tend to write in bursts—I'll go weeks or even months without writing very much and then, in a moment of desperation or panic (or both), sit myself down and power through. I have to coordinate with my husband in order to make it happen since we don't have a babysitter or nanny to watch the kids (anyone interested?). He’s a published author on top of being a mental golf expert (which means lots of coaching, traveling, and public speaking), so we’re pretty aligned with our priorities in work, writing and family.
I’ve read that you homeschool your children—is this true?
Sometimes I can't believe it myself, to be honest. Before moving to Hawaii I knew only a handful of people who homeschooled, and never considered it as an option for me (sure, it was fine for them). To be completely honest, I was skeptical if not critical of homeschooling. I mean, come on! Homeschooling?!!
What changed our mind was seeing so many successful homeschool families raise great kids. The kids were not only smart, but engaging in activities or subjects that played to their strengths. More importantly, we saw great family relationships between siblings, parents, and the kids themselves. Strong inner cores. It was inspiring and the next thing we knew, we were giving it a go.
Now, after three years, I can say that we love it. Not all of the time, because (if this part wasn't self-evident), you are with your kids a lot more than if they were in school. A LOT. And yes, while it may drive you crazy to be with your kids all the time at first, it does get better, I promise.
With our busy schedule, homeschooling gives us a chance to spend time together in a way that is very fulfilling. We make it a point to travel when we can, especially abroad. I expect that there will be some years that we may consider traditional schooling (or not, we're pretty big homeschooling fans), but again it'll depend on the child. In the mean time, we’re taking it one year at a time.
There's a lot of funny but sometimes demeaning press out there about homeschoolers and homeschooling families. I think that's one reason why I find a way to include a mention of homeschooling in my books, because I'm passionate about people making their own best choices for their families and because I think homeschooling is wonderful and becoming more mainstream. My husband went to UCLA (psychology major) and Northwestern University (Kellogg School of Business) for his MBA. I went to Wellesley College and Rice University (I was a political science major) and I also graduated from a prep school in Connecticut called Miss Porter's. We both have corporate backgrounds and have lived and traveled abroad. We don't belong to any specific religious group. We just think homeschooling is great for kids and great for families, and we want our children to see the world as their classroom.
Is there going to be a sequel to GOOD THINGS? I want to know what happens with Deidre!
As the saying goes: one good thing leads to another … and yes! The sequel will be published in 2009, and is entitled TABLE MANNERS.
Deidre McIntosh is back, and she’s got a full plate. Her new show, Seattle Revealed, is a hit, her new line of branded baked goods is off to a sweet start, her romance with one of Seattle’s top bachelors, Kevin Johnson, is in full bloom and now there’s even a wedding to plan. After a year of hard lessons sprinkled with many good things, Deidre’s life is finally back on track.
But there’s still the awkward situation with Marla Banks, Kevin’s older sister and Deidre’s on-camera nemesis, who is intent on undermining Deidre’s relationship with Kevin. And if she can take Deidre down in the process, it’s all the better.
It’s an odd coincidence when Kevin’s ex-fiancée, Sabine Durant, suddenly appears in Seattle, stirring up old emotions for Kevin and trouble for Deidre. A crisis at one of the cake plants threatens Deidre’s credibility and the backing of one of her most staunch supporters. But perhaps what’s most concerning is a visit to Jacob’s Point and Lake Wish, where Deidre finds a much changed and withdrawn Lindsey Miller, owner of The Wishbone, who has received some heartbreaking news. As overcommitted as she is, it’s clear that Deidre is the only one who can help her friend come back to the people and life she loves.
Deidre must find a way to help her friend while juggling the immediate demands of her own life—her own imploding business, a looming wedding ceremony for 300 guests, and recapturing the heart of the man she loves.
Are you working on any new writing projects?
Since we just sold the sequel to GOOD THINGS, I'll be working on getting that done first. I have been gestating book #4 (among other things) but will save that until the sequel is complete and baby #3 has a chance to get his bearings.
I’ve heard that Mia King is a pen name. Is that true?
Yes, it is. My real name is Darien Hsu Gee. I chose to write under a pen name because my husband, Darrin Gee, had his first nonfiction golf book, being released a month after GOOD THINGS (how’s that for coincidence?!). Since our names are so similar (Darrin and Darien—our friends and the electric company can't even keep it straight), I thought writing under a pen name would eliminate any confusion, but Darrin still gets complimented on writing contemporary women’s fiction. Oh well.
Writer FAQs:
I have a manuscript and I think it’s pretty good. Do I need an agent or can I approach a publisher directly?
If it’s fiction, you need to seriously consider finding a literary agent. If you live on the Big Island, you can take one of my workshops or arrange for a consultation. Surf the web for more information and think about attending a writer's conference. There are several good books on finding an agent: Guide to Literary Agents and Writer’s Market, are two titles that are updated annually. Michael Larsen and Jeff Herman also write several titles that cover more specifics about what literary agents do. Read the acknowledgments of books similar to yours and find out who their agents are—it’s important to find an agent that has a track record in your genre.
If it’s nonfiction, you still may want to consider finding a literary agent. Do your homework: determine which publishers are most likely to publish your work—smaller publishers sometimes work with the author directly (their submission guidelines are usually posted on the website) while larger ones may require an agent. If you are thinking about self-publishing, Dan Poynter is an excellent resource and should be your first stop. Also, John Kremer's 1,001 Ways to Market Your Book is an excellent resource.
I also want to mention two books that I love: Brenda Ueland's If You Want to Write and Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird. They'll remind you as to why you got into this writing business in the first place.
I’ve been in a writer’s rut for the past year—at this rate I’m worried I’ll never finish my novel, much less get published. I’m completely stressed out. How do you get past writer’s block?
I wish I could say to power through it, but that advice never worked for me. If I could have powered through, I would have, but for some reason I couldn’t. I’m a big believer that you’ll do what you need to do, when you need to do it. So if your writing’s not flowing and you’re feeling despair and stress, STOP. Give yourself some time off from writing, and then choose a date in the future you’re going to jumpstart your writing again. Kick it off by taking a writing workshop, or a publishing workshop, attend a writer’s retreat, or join a writing circle. Find a writing partner. Go to Starbucks and do a writing prompt for 10 minutes – don’t worry about your novel or any other writing that’s in progress. Just write. Guilt and fear are terrible motivators, and not very effective for me. If you really feel stuck, visit Byron Katie at The Work for a different perspective.
Do you go to writers' conferences? I heard it's a good way to network but they can be brutal with critiquing your work. They're also expensive.
I don't do a lot of writers' conferences, mostly because it's hard for me to get away. I also have a geographical disadvantage for most large conferences. But for aspiring writers I think it's worth looking into, because you'll get a real education about the realities and the business of writing. I've found in the 20 years I've taught writing that this is the area that a lot of writers are unprepared for.
Also, good teachers (which are not necessarily the same as good writers) will help you develop your craft. I do think that some conference environments are competitive and can be hurtful, and I personally don't share my work with many people so I can't speak to this. All I can say is that there will always be people who love your work and those who don't. You have to have faith in yourself and in your writing, and take it all with a grain of salt. If you are serious about publication and don't know where to start, I'd recommend looking into a writers' conference for the sheer education of it (I think it is inspiring to block off a few days just for you and your writing), but it's by no means a necessary part of being a successful writer or published author.
We're planning a trip to Hawaii and I'd love to have it coincide with one of your classes. Do you publish a calendar?
I use my newsletter to announce upcoming writing and/or publication workshops, both in Hawaii and on the mainland. I also offer online/distance workshops and include those details in my newsletter as well. To sign up, just enter your information in the box on the left menu bar. I don't spam and I don't share your information, and unsubscribing is easy. You can also email me if you have a specific date in mind and I'll do my best to get to you as soon as I can with a response.
How do you write with young children?
I don't always have the luxury of being able to write a full thought and it can be frustrating (okay, it is frustrating). But several seasoned authors (who are also moms) told me straight out that you just have to choose: wait until the kids are older or just make it work. I chose the latter, mostly because I didn't want to wait any longer than I already had (to read more about that, click here). But it's not easy and there are times where I'm jealous and resentful and all that good stuff. And then I get through it and somehow manage to finish what I'm working on. I would probably get a lot more done if my children were older or in school or if I didn't have them at all, but what would be the challenge in that? ;-)
Hawaii FAQs:
My family is planning a trip to Hawaii. Any advice on where to stay and what to do?
Oy! First, which island are you planning to visit? I live on the Big Island, and can’t really give you advice for any of the other islands (Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Lanai are the main tourist destinations). A great resource is the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. That’s a great place to get started. Another great resource is 101 Things to Do (and you get to choose your island!). And if you golf or are thinking about taking up the game, you have to visit us at The Spirit of Golf Academy, the golf school my husband and I own that focuses on the mental aspect of the game.
Here are some of my favorite things about Hawaii: Big Island Candies, Volcano Rainforest Retreat, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Sunset walks on Hapuna Beach. Whale watching. And, of course, chasing rainbows in Waimea, home of Marissa Price and SWEET LIFE: A NOVEL.
