Meet Awesome Romance Author Kris Bock
~ What to Do When You Find a Dead Body ~
Multi-published awesome romance author and prolific writer of YA and romantic suspense, Kris Bock, talks about her inspirations, her many books, and how she approaches her writing. She is also the author of several nonfiction writing books. If you like thrillers set in the Southwest, she is the author for you.
Welcome Kris…
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Twenty years ago, I started writing for children, using the name Chris Eboch. I have eight middle grade novels (for ages 9 to 12) published under that name. I also write a lot of educational nonfiction under the name MM Eboch.
Around 2008, I was starting to feel restless and wanted a change. I realized I had mostly been reading adult romantic suspense novels, so I started writing those under the name Kris Bock. I have over 50 published books now, but that includes fiction and nonfiction, for children and adults. The variety keeps me interested!
Do your travels influence your writing?
My first novel, The Well of Sacrifice, is for ages 9 to 12. I loved books such as Julie of the Wolves and Island of the Blue Dolphins growing up and wanted to do a similar young adventure story. The novel is set in Mayan times, inspired by a summer I spent traveling through Mexico and Central America.
More recently I had an idea for an adult series about treasure hunting adventures in the Southwest, so I read up on some lost treasures. In The Mad Monk’s Treasure (99 cents, free with KU) two friends search for the Victorio Peak treasure – a heretic Spanish priest’s gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider. Their experiences in the desert are based on my experiences hiking in New Mexico, though they get more danger and drama.
In my romantic suspense Whispers in the Dark, my heroine is an archeology Masters student working at the fictional “Lost Valley” monument, which is closely based on Hovenweep National Monument, where I once spent a week camping. In Counterfeits, the heroine inherits a children’s art camp, which I based on a camp near Jemez Springs, New Mexico, where I’ve attended many writing retreats.
Sites mentioned in the book such as Battleship Rock and Soda Dam are real. I hiked through the mountains and took notes for one scene where Jenny has to escape from some bad guys. Using real locations helps me bring the settings to life even if I did not, for example, fall into a ravine while fleeing from a bad guy.
I blog about my Southwest travel and inspiration more here.
Is there an event in your life that affected you as a writer?
In most of my books, the connection to real-life experiences isn’t obvious. But What We Found was inspired by 
helping to uncover a true case of murder. Two friends and I were exploring the mountains, when they smelled something horrible. A glance in the right direction showed a dead body hidden just out of sight of the path. (Read about the whole experience of finding a dead body here.)
Someone in law enforcement said that people often don’t report crimes they stumbled across. I started thinking about all the reasons someone might want to cover up their discovery, even if they had nothing to do with the crime. And that inspired What We Found. The book also includes falconry, based on experiences I’ve had hanging out with a falconer.
What project are you working on now or what book will be next?
I’m polishing a mystery about a former war correspondent who returns to her childhood home after an injury and uncovers a mystery at the Alzheimer’s care unit where her mother resides. It’s intended to be the first in a series with the same main character.
Do you have any websites, blogs, or books about writing that you would recommend?
You can check out my writing tips at my Write Like a Pro! blog. I don’t post new material very often, but the sidebar down on the right-hand side links to past posts on various topics. I particularly like to talk about cliffhangers!
I’ve also published two books of writing advice. Advanced Plotting is designed for the intermediate and advanced writer: You’ve finished a few manuscripts, read books and articles on writing, taken some classes, attended conferences. But you still struggle with plot, or suspect that your plotting needs work. This book can help.
Read the book straight through, study the index to find help with your current problem, or dip in and out randomly — however you use this book, you’ll find fascinating insights and detailed tips to help you build a stronger plot and become a better writer.
My other writing book is You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers and is available for the Kindle, in paperback, or in Large Print paperback.
When you write for children, you have the most appreciative audience in the world. But to reach that audience, you need to write fresh, dynamic stories, whether you’re writing rhymed picture books, middle grade mysteries, edgy teen novels, nonfiction, or something else. Note: If you order the print or large print version from Amazon, you can get the Kindle version as a free add-on. You Can Write for Children includes many links to additional resources; in the Kindle version you can click to go directly to the websites or blogs listed. If you don’t have a Kindle, download a free Kindle app for your computer.
Thanks for giving me a chance to talk about writing.
About Kris Bock
Kris lives in New Mexico, where she enjoys hiking, watching the sunset from her patio, and hanging out with her husband and their ferrets. Her home office looks out on nature, complete with distracting wildlife such as roadrunners and foxes. Her BFA in photography is used mainly to show Facebook friends how lovely the Southwest is.
Kris writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris Bock’s romantic adventures. “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog
Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.
Kris writes for children under the name Chris Eboch. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced Plotting. Learn more at https://chriseboch.com/ or her Amazon page.
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The Southwest Armchair Traveler
Thanks for your comments! Vicki, I wonder how Island of the Blue Dolphins would hold up now. I’m a little afraid to try it again.
Your stories sound very good! I too like to write about different things.
It’s ‘suspense’ [knocking myself on the head]. Sorry about that.
I enjoyed reading about your writing processes, Kris. I enjoy romantic suspend’s, and yours sound great. Good luck in all your endeavors.
Cat
Hi, Kris and Zara! So wonderful to read about your writing career. I loved Island of the Blue Dolphins when I was a girl.
Thanks for hosting me!