Writer’s Desk: Christen Krumm

Christen Krumm is the author of the YA romcom, It Happened at Christmas and her adult fiction debut On the Golden Cliffs. She probably drinks too much coffee and creating stories is her favorite. During the day she runs CK Productions — a virtual assisting business specializing in author assistants and podcast production. Her favorite color is green (or black). She likes big glasses, happy mail, and pretends she likes to run (she doesn’t). She lives with her husband and three wildings in a small Oklahoma town.

Connect with Christen on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Bookbub, and sign up for her newsletter here.

More about On the Golden Cliffs

One wrong post has sent influencer Lyla Taylor’s social media empire crashing to her feet. To save it, she’ll have to escape to rural Montana. Six weeks in a high-end spa won’t hurt…except, she’s not booked into a spa, but at a rustic Amish B&B. Suddenly, her roommates are raccoons, and her daily activities include hanging laundry. Thanks, but no thanks. Lyla is ready to hit delete and head back to civilization.

Amishman Reuben Milner has a secret…one that could destroy his world. For now, however, he’s kept his life as a novelist under wraps, focusing on providing for his family after the tragic passing of his father. Renting the dawdi house seems the right move—until the wrong woman moves in. However, she comes up with ideas to help improve their B&B, and that, along with her feisty personality, is something Reuben can’t ignore. Even if the elders want him to focus on joining the church and finding a wife.

When going home isn’t an option, Lyla decides to help the Milners spruce up their rental. It does help distract her from her problems online. The more Lyla works on the rental with Reuben, the more she wonders if returning to her former life is worth it. However, is it the simple life that Lyla’s heart longs for—or a particular guarded Amishman with secrets of his own?

And when those secrets are discovered, what will it cost them both?

Get your copy of On the Golden Cliffs here.

Q&A with Christen Krumm

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

CK: In college, I always wore flip-flops — no matter the weather. Now it’s Birkenstocks. I wear the same pair until they are falling apart and my husband reminds me that I need to buy new ones.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for On the Golden Cliffs?

CK: I originally pitched On the Golden Cliffs as Sister Act meets an Amish community, but with lots of romance. Once we dug into the plot, we decided that it erred more on the romantic suspense side of things instead of Amish romance. I toned it down just a bit and ended up with what On the Golden Cliffs is today.

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

CK: Don’t be like me and procrastinate so long that your deadline is so tight that you have no choice but to get all the words down as fast as physically possible. You end up productive, but it’s a little more painful.

Instead, pick a word count (mine is currently 1,000) and write that every day. Maybe you’re working on a project on deadline, maybe you’re working on something new, or maybe you’re just writing to discover what you’re writing next. Whatever your word count, do your absolute best to always hit that number.

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

CK: There’s generally some form of coffee always around (generally that’s black and hot) and water. As far as snacks go, I really like popcorn, but also try not to eat at my computer while I’m writing — when it’s time to eat, that’s generally a good time to take a much-needed break.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

CK: I talk it out. My poor critique partners have hours of me rambling only to talk myself out of the corner that I’ve written myself in.

And sometimes my writer’s block just means the project I’m working on isn’t ready to be written yet and just needs to simmer a little longer (for those projects that aren’t on deadline).

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

CK: I’d love to be able to edit as I go, however, most of the time I procrastinate so long that by the time I sit down to write, there’s only time to write — and then edit at the end — before I turn it in.

TG: What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

CK: Don’t freak out and delete everything you’ve written because you think it’s bad. Most of the time, you’re just too close to it (and your deadline).

TG: What is coming up next for you?

CK: I’m currently working on two more Big Sky novels to release next year!

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