Author Interview: K.E. Brown

• What inspired you to write your latest book?

Honestly, Whiskey Violet began as nothing more than a bar name that stuck in my head, and once I sat down to explore it, the characters and story basically wandered in the door and wrote themselves. I wanted a little romance, a little mystery, a little murder, and a little mess. I'm very excited about my debut novel.

• What is your favorite book/genre to read?

I read almost everything, romance, women’s fiction, thrillers, a little suspense, historical fiction, anything with characters I can fall into. I love a good love story (honestly, who doesn’t?), and I’m always drawn to books with messy, real people trying to figure their lives out. The only genre I haven’t been able to get into is fantasy/romantasy. Nothing against it at all, it just doesn’t click for me the way grounded, character-driven stories do.

• What themes do you find yourself returning to in your work?

I’m really drawn to writing second-chance stories, that soft, hopeful space where people get to rewrite their lives or rediscover parts of themselves they thought were gone. A lot of my work leans into those cozy, Hallmark-y vibes. The next two books I’m releasing definitely carry that Gen X undercurrent, each one following a woman on her own path, figuring out who she is now and giving herself permission to want more. I’m already obsessed with both of them, and I can’t wait to see them come to life in an actual book.

• How do you handle writer’s block?

When I hit writer’s block, I’ve learned not to force it. I’ll leave the project alone for a couple of days and shift to something else. Honestly, that’s probably why I always have multiple books on the go; if one stalls, another one starts sparking. I like having a few creative fires burning at once. Giving myself space to regroup and come back with fresh eyes makes all the difference. Sometimes the best fix for writer’s block is simply stepping away long enough to remember why you were excited about the story in the first place.

• What do you hope readers take away from your stories?

I hope readers walk away with that warm, cozy feeling, the same feeling you get from a really good movie, where everything lands exactly where it’s meant to…eventually. And I hope they’re reminded that real life can be rebuilt, even when it feels messy or uncertain. My characters aren’t perfect; they’re just doing their best, which is honestly what most of us are doing. If someone finishes one of my books thinking, ‘Okay, maybe I can start over,’ then that’s everything to me. Bonus points if they close the book feeling a little lighter than when they opened it.

• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a writer?

The best advice I’ve gotten is to just keep going. Get the story down, even if it’s messy. You can fix anything on the page; you just can’t fix a blank one.

• If you could meet any character from your books, who would it be and why?

If I could meet any character, I’d probably say Jaxon. Let’s just say he’s… very easy to picture, if you know what I mean. But honestly, I think I’d want to spend time with Tessa and Marley. I love their energy and their friendship, and I feel like I’d fit right in as the “slightly” older friend who gets to enjoy their banter up close.

• Where can readers find your books? Where can they follow you online?

 Readers can find my books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark…or on my dining room table… lol. You can follow me on Instagram and TikTok under the username author K.E. Brown. 

And you can also subscribe to my YouTube channel, author K.E. Brown 1973, where I post video teasers for upcoming books that haven’t been released yet.