A Pawsome Mimsey Interview with May the K9 Spy!

Hello Gentle Readers, 

It's such a pleasure to be able to interview authors, and shed a little light on their awesome work. Give a warm, four-footed welcome to  KC Frantzen, author of the May the K9 Spy series!

Tell the folks at home a little about yourself?

May and I are so glad to be with you and your readers! Thanks for asking.

Let’s see:

•     Mom to 6 children, all four-footed. We have 2 horses and 4 rescue dogs, including the real May who will be 14 in people years this June.

•     Married to a wonderful man for almost 20 years; only child of fantastic parents who live several states away

•     Travel? YES! When and where? Just need enough time to pack and let’s go!

•     Author - only for the past 12 years or so. Love it, though it’s a lot of work (but isn’t anything that’s worthwhile?)

What got you interested in writing?

Way back in elementary school, I won a contest with a story on deep sea fishing. Been hooked (*ahem*) ever since.

What’ve been some challenges?

Regarding writing - Many, but it’s still worth it. One of my biggest ones is making time to write with a plan. I used to make up the story as I went, but found the editing process was extremely difficult. Much easier to write from a plan, but that involves planning my plan. I tend to research, a LOT, which leads me on some pawmazing rabbit trails (May loves this) but I also need to plan the story too. Trying to balance these aspects of writing a novel is something I find challenging.

Also, letting the first draft be terrible. Yuk. Unlike some others, I write, edit, polish, finish one book before starting another. Going from a beautifully crafted story (at least as beautiful as I can make it) to a messy draft is hard. I have to make myself put away the virtual red pencil and just WRITE. Then I allow myself to edit, which I find is pure fun. For me, that’s where the magic happens. But first, I need something on the page to work with.

What advice would you give folks who are interested in writing?

Write.

(No really.) Writers write! We must sit down and write. BICHOK (Butt In Chair, Hands on Keyboard) It helps to have a plan, perhaps use the “Snowflake Method” like I do, but write. Find a way to log in the time, daily if you can discipline yourself, and write.

Did I say you need to write? :) The more you write, the easier it gets… in some ways. Also:

•     Learn from experts.

•     Take a course or two or three…

•     Attend conferences in your chosen genre(s) or general workshops.

•     Find a mentor who is ahead of you on the journey and take to heart what s/he tells you.

•     Join an in person or on-line writers group.

•     Choose an audience and write your story TO a person in that audience.

•     Read those who write with excellence, whether in your genre or not. Then re-read with a pad and paper. Notice HOW they did what they did. How can you apply that to your own work?

•     Once you’re in the editing phase, ruthlessly cut cut cut. If you can read the page and cut words, sentences or paragraphs (or gasp - chapters) and the story still makes sense, do it. Readers don’t have a lot of time. Say what you need to say as powerfully as possible, with brevity. (Please don’t use this answer as an example!) As someone said, “Make every word on the page fight for its life.”

What has been your favorite moment as an author?

Just one? ACK!
I guess holding my print book for the very first time, hot off the press. (My dear husband sent me up to the plant to watch the process!) I literally burst into tears. Poor guy who was running the machine was so concerned. I blubbered, “It’s all good! It’s just been four years since I started this and I’m so happy… *sob sob* ”

An overall favorite thing would be how May’s stories resonate with readers of many ages. We have received phone calls, emails, letters, photos, even original artwork from appreciative fans. That has been a real pleasure, to know our words are impacting people pawsitively.

 What should readers know about your books?

Though written for middle graders, most of our fans are adults! This still surprises us but it’s absolutely true. Seems people of any age enjoy good stories, full of twists and turns, that lead to a satisfying ending. Because of our fans, we have now started the 4th. Also, I’m a Christian and write from that worldview, but the books aren’t “Christian.” We’ve been told they are good stories with a pawsitive message. To find out more check out our website where you can read and hear Chapter One of each book. That’ll give you an idea.

Questions for May:

Hi everypawdy!

/backflip/

Thanks for asking Mom and me here today!

What made you decide to be a K9 spy?

Opportunity!

You know, my first story May on the Way: How I Becomea K9 Spy will tell you this exact thing! It’s pretty much true, just how Mom and I wrote it. It’s told in first dog, which means I’m telling it of course. (Since I have no thumbs, Mom is officially the transcriptionist. BOL! I sit in her lap and give her the story ideas, she types and edits and such. It works well for us.)

But since you asked… I get rescued from a really bad situation and adopted into the home of a grouchy Labrador. Soon after, my family and I move out to the country. One day, I’m out where I’m not supposed to be, and see something I’m not supposed to see… which starts my adventure to become a K9 Spy. It’s quite a tale!

In our 2nd novel, I’m in K9 Spy boot camp and an exercise goes awry. Uh oh! I’m DOGNAPPED and end up in Paris where I team up with a feral cat who lives in a cemetery… Pawsome! We go on a mission together and save the day. But of course!

For book 3, I am finally a full-fledged K9 Spy so the mission is classified. All I can tell you is (shhh) enemy dolphins, nuclear submarines…

There have been quite a few adventuring pups. Who’s your favorite?

No favorites really. Mom and I both adore history so you’ll find my stories are mostly all true, with me as a K9 Spy character (not so true). But we sure have fun weaving in current events and real people and places. But back to your question, there’s a book by Miss Maria Goodavage entitled Soldier Dogs: TheUntold Story of American’s Canine Heroes. Reading about these REAL heroes makes me aspire to do even greater things!

 Order yours. Caution: May cause feelings of happiness

Which of your adventures should readers pick up first, if they want to dive into your mishaps and wacky antics?

Each novel is a story unto itself but readers say they are glad to start reading with the first book. Begin at the beginning as it were.

Book 1: May Begins!

Did you enjoy Paris?

Oh my yes! I’ll never forget it. Not so much how I got there mind you, but the smells, the food, the FURiends I made… Mom had an especially good time researching THAT book, I have to say! She really went (and left me behind - hurumph) with only a backpack. She was on the ground in France less than 30 hours but she and I mapped out where she needed to go ahead of time, so she got everything in we needed for the book, except for a visit to the sewers. But no problem. That information we found on the Internet. BOL!

 May goes to Paris! 

No word if she Oui Ouieed on the Eiffel Tower.

What makes a dolphin decide to be an enemy?

That’s a terrific question - I don’t really know! I didn’t dare ask the ones who attacked as I was floating on a buoy off the coast of Vancouver Island. I’m fluent in most languages but had great difficulty with cetacean, even with the American dolphin, Nolly. It’s something I need to work on.

LIGHTNING ROUND:

Coffee or Tea: Tea for KC, Water for May

Beef or Chicken: Chicken

Paris or London: Both are super, but probably London…

Playing fetch or riding in the car: May here. Definitely playing toss & fetch with my toys!!!! For KC, either one…

Lassie or Rin Tin Tin: Do we have to pick?

Superman or Batman: May here. Batman is way too dark for both of us. Superman’s all about freedom and the American Way, just like me!

Surfing or Skiing: We have K9 furiends who surf! KC loves to snow ski, May hasn’t tried either one. Hmmm. Maybe book 4… ;)

Bubble Bath or Chocolate: Neither for May (bath?! EWWW!) Freya chocolate from Oslo, Norway for KC, oh. my. yum.

And finally, what’s your theme song? “It Might Be Hope”   by Miss Sara Groves. It’s a good one!

Thank you so much for having us. Loved meeting you and your readers. 

Mom and I (and my crazy little brother Cass when I'm on a mission) go to festivals and fairs in the region. We show with our FURiends at Joshua's Pet Treat Bakery... They make the bestest all-natural, no added sodium pet treats. YUM. My favorite is chicken!

We also visit schools for FREE! All we ask is for transportation funds and the opportunity to sell our books, at a discount of course, to students and faculty. Mom usually teaches a writing lesson to augment what is being taught in the classroom. We love meeting our fans! You can see photos on our website www.maythek9spy.com and also in our photo albums on Facebook. Check it out and let us know when we can come see you!

 Jay Mims writes books, blogs, and knows a thing or two about mysteries. Jay lives with The Mimsus, a passive aggressive Dalek named Steve, and a cat named Eartha Kitty. Jay is far funnier on Facebook then in real life. He is terrible at Twitter.