Inspiration is a funny thing. It can come to us like a lightning bolt, through the lyrics of a song, or in the fog of a dream. Ask any writer where their stories come from and you’ll get a myriad of answers, and in that vein I created the WHAT (What the Hell Are you Thinking?) interview. 

Today’s guest for the WHAT is Khristin Wierman, author of Buck’s Pantry

Ideas for our books can come from just about anywhere, and sometimes even we can’t pinpoint exactly how or why. Did you have a specific origin point for your book?

For me, the ideas come at random moments—usually when I’m focused on something else entirely. For this book, the first flash came when I was taking a nap. For one of my other books, the first inkling came when I was in the shower.

Once the original concept existed, how did you build a plot around it?

I just started writing scenes. From there, I began to get a sense of what fit in the story and what did not.

Have you ever had the plot firmly in place, only to find it changing as the story moved from your mind to paper?

I haven’t had a real reversal, but I’ve certainly felt surprised about where and how the story ultimately went. 

Do story ideas come to you often, or is fresh material hard to come by?

Not often, but they do come—often when I’m thoroughly enjoying something else entirely. 

How do you choose which story to write next, if you’ve got more than one percolating?

It’s so interesting you ask that because I’ve got two sort of bubbling in my mind. I’ve started writing scenes from both, and I think I’ll just have to see which one takes flight first.

I have 6 cats and a Dalmatian (seriously, check my Instagram feed) and I usually have at least one or two snuggling with me when I write. Do you have a writing buddy, or do you find it distracting?

Rocco, my cat, is the best writing buddy. But he’s my only one. I do have wonderful relationships with my editors and a small group of beta readers, and those help as well. 

Khristin Wierman spent twenty years rising through the marketing ranks of Fortune 500 companies, building a career that was lucrative, ego-boosting, and a little bit soul-crushing. So she quit. And had no idea what to do with her life. Writing novels ensued. She was born and raised in a small East Texas town—which means she came into this world a Dallas Cowboys fan and ardently believes “y’all” is a legitimate pronoun. Some things she enjoys are playing golf with her husband and stepson, poker, yoga, chocolate, the Golden State Warriors, and the daily adventure of life with an adorably imperfect cat named Rocco. She lives in San Francisco, California.