Episode 201: Revising Your Book, and Getting It Right — Interview with Kimmery Martin

by Gabriela Pereira
published in Podcast

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am so excited to have debut author Kimmery Martin on the show!

Kimmery is an emergency medical doctor and, like me, a life-long literary nerd. On top of being a doctor, an author, and a mom, she writes book reviews and volunteers with the library foundation in her home of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Her debut novel, The Queen of Hearts, has been named one of the most anticipated books of 2018 by Southern Living, Elite Daily, and Writer’s Digest. Set against the backdrop of hospital rounds, Kimmery’s medical knowledge and quirky sense of humor makes the story pop right off the page.

Listen in as we chat about this amazing debut novel, and get an inside look at Kimmery’s revision process.

In this episode Kimmery and I discuss:

  • Translating your real life experience to a fictional world.
  • Tips to bring your minor characters to life.
  • Why you need to find the revision process that works for you.
  • Finding the right voice for your novel.
  • How to restructure your life to prioritize (not find) writing time.

Plus, Kimmery’s #1 tip for writers.

About Kimmery Martin

Kimmery Martin is an emergency medicine doctor, born and raised in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. A lifelong literary nerd, she reviews books, interviews authors, and works extensively with the library foundation in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she resides with her husband and three young children. The Queen of Hearts is her first novel and is now available.

To connect with Kimmery check out her website at kimmerymartin.com.

The Queen of Hearts

Meet cardiologist Zadie and trauma surgeon Emma. Best friends since summer camp, the pair has journeyed through medical school and residencies together. Years later, they have settled in Charlotte with families and successful careers. But when a face from their past appears at the hospital where Emma works, it threatens to topple both women’s carefully constructed lives and tear a gash in their friendship.

As chief resident, Nick Xenokostas was the center of Zadie’s life—both professionally and personally—through a tragic chain of events in her third year of medical school that she has long since put behind her. Nick’s unexpected reappearance during a time of new professional crisis shocks both women into a deeper look at the difficult choices they made at the beginning of their careers. As it becomes evident that Emma must have known more than she revealed about circumstances that nearly derailed both their lives, Zadie starts to question everything she thought she knew about her closest friend.

Alternating between the friends’ med school experience in Louisville and present-day careers in Charlotte, Martin captures the all-consuming nature of medicine and its effect on the women’s personal lives.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

(Right-click to download.)

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

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