KM Golland is a Melbourne mother of two making a name for herself in the erotica genre. After selling hundreds of thousands of copies of her self-published e-book Temptation it has also been published in print by Harlequin.
We were able to find out a little more about Kelly and her books in this recent interview.
Hi Kelly, welcome to Beauty and Lace.
What made you decide to be a writer?
Thanks for having me. Honestly, deciding to become a writer was kind of an on-the-spur moment; one made at home while watching my daughter play outside. I had a story in my head and figured, well… ‘I’m just a tad bored today so why not type it out.’ That might sound a bit strange, but that’s how it happened. Three hours later, I had written a chapter (albeit a small chapter but a chapter nonetheless) and that was the point I decided to become a writer. It was exciting and just came naturally to me.
Temptation was first published digitally, was it self published and can you tell us what led you to self- publish?
Yes, it was self-published via Amazon and Smashwords.com, and I can give full credit for the decision to do so to my best friend, Kate. I had mentioned to her about considering the traditional route of publishing and she not so subtly said ‘Why not publish it as an ebook yourself?’ So I looked into it and the next thing I know is that I’m speaking to my cousin about designing me an ebook cover. I did a little research and the rest is history.
How did you get the word out and market your book?
A wonderful platform called Facebook. The very first thing I did was post a status with an attached link to the book on my private Facebook page. Then it was just word of mouth. I soon had to set up a Facebook profile under my pen name together with a fan page. I also joined Goodreads.com and uploaded Temptation to their Library. Apart from expanding my social media outlets and a small blog tour shortly after publishing, I mainly just interacted with fans on Facebook.
What was your reaction to the sight of hundreds of thousands of downloads?
Shock, excitement, shock, gratitude, shock and the realization that I now had to write the sequel.
Can you tell us a little about how you came to be signed with Harlequin for a 4 book deal and are they all part of the Temptation series?
Sure! As I said earlier, I had considered the traditional publishing route before even contemplating self-publishing. Ebooks and self-publishing were new to me. In the past, when I was told by a friend that I just had to read a particular book, I had always gone to the store to buy it in paperback. So I think it was kind of imprinted into my brain that if you write a book and want it displayed on a store shelf, you need it traditionally published. With that mindset, I researched which publishing companies I wanted to submit to together with their individual submission guidelines. I chose a couple of publishing houses that I thought suited me and my book and submitted. Harlequin was one of them. They requested the entire manuscript and soon after expressed interest in not only Temptation but what I had planned for the rest of the series.
Temptation has just been released in print for the first time, can you tell us what is was like physically holding it in your hand the first time?
I was sent a proof of Temptation via mail. I had been so busy with reworking three full length novels, a novella and writing the final book in the series, that I hadn’t had a chance to really enjoy all that was happening around me… until the mail was delivered that particular day and I opened it to find my proof copy. To say that I smiled like the Cheshire Cat and performed a rather embarrassing happy-dance, would be an understatement.
Can you tell us a little about the book?
Of course. Temptation is set in Melbourne and is essentially about a stay-at-home mum who decides it’s time to return to the workforce and rediscover her life’s balance. During that process she discovers a whole lot more… independence, love, deceit and temptation (as the title suggests). It’s a little like Indecent Proposal meets Pretty Woman meets Bridesmaids.
When is your favourite time of day to write and have you got a favourite writing spot?
I often get asked ‘How do you find the time to write?’ and my answer is simply… because I have breasts. It’s that simple. Now you’re probably saying to yourself, ‘what is she going on about?’ so I will elaborate, of course .
It’s all to do with multitasking and being a female. I swear it forms part of a woman’s genetic makeup. If you are blessed with ladybits then you can guarantee you are also blessed with the natural ability to perform and conduct multiple duties and tasks simultaneously.
We ladies have a superhero power that allows us to wash the family’s clothing, cook the dinner, mentally plan the following night’s dinner, sort out a phone bill discrepancy in a language that is not our native tongue, help our eight year-old with his incomprehensible homework, praise our four year-old on her ability to pirouette without injury, all in unison and with a faux smile on our face. It’s call being woman.
Once the children are tucked nicely into their beds and are peacefully dreaming of Barbie’s Malibu mansion and whether Batman could kick Superman’s butt, I switch from mummy-mode to romance author-mode and delve into my creative fictional world. I require peace and quiet to write. And I mean ABSOLUTE quiet, to the point where I have removed the batteries from the ticking clock that sits on my wall and that once taunted me. I even have a pair of industrial ear muffs for emergencies. So when all members of my household are fast asleep and cannot interrupt me, I write. I sit comfortably on my couch with my laptop and I write. I write until my eyes blur and I can write no longer.
What are you reading at the moment?
I’m currently reading the Driven series by Kristy Bromberg and I’m absolutely loving it. This series was recommended to me by many of my readers. They were virtually screaming at me to read it because they just knew I would love it. And I can see why. Our premise, although different, is similar. Our writing, although different, is similar. If you love my series, you will love Kristy’s, and I think it’s safe to say vice versa.
After I’ve finished reading the Driven series, I will also finish the Lexi series by fellow Aussie author and friend, T. Gephart.
Oh, and I’m also currently listening to an audio version of Temporary Bliss by BJ Harvey. This is my first audiobook experience and although a little strange to me at times, I’m enjoying it.
If you had to pick one favourite book, what would it be?
Fox in Socks by Dr Seuss
What does being a woman mean to you?
I’m guessing it’s the same as what being a man means to a man. *insert winky face* No, in all seriousness, I don’t tend to differentiate genders all that much. Personally, it’s more a question of What does being a person mean to you? And my answer to that is: it’s the gift of having the ability to be the best you can be and do the best you can do with the life you are given. Which brings me to quote my third book Fulfillment (due for release on September 1st) “I’ve always said life is what you make of it. That you rule how your existence in this world plays out; that no one else controls the decisions you choose to make. When you think about it, it’s quite simple really. The direction in which you head is determined by your own conscious decision to go there and no one can take that away from you.”
Thanks for your time Kelly.
For more about KM Golland and her books you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and her Website.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!