A BEAUTIFUL HEIST is the first in a three-book series called THE AGENCY OF BURGLARY & THEFT by Kim Foster. You may recognize the author's name and yes, this is the same Kim Foster who makes the doctor's rounds in YMC with her health blog Wicked Health! I had the opportunity to nab a copy of A BEAUTIFUL HEIST and question Kim about the novel and her writing experience. Read on to find out more and enter the prize pack draw for a copy of the book plus a Starbucks gift card!

1. From conception to realization, how long did it take you to see A BEAUTIFUL HEIST published? Did you have a writing schedule?

I had the initial germ of the idea when my firstborn was about 1. He just turned 8. But the path to publication was long and convoluted (as I suspect it is for every writer) because over those years I had another baby, went through two literary agents, and in fact wrote two entirely different versions of the story.

I had to readjust my writing schedule many times in those years, too—through various stages of motherhood, maternity leaves, and work changes, and also because we moved from Vancouver to London, England for six months, and then back to Victoria, BC. Currently my writing schedule starts at 5 am and I write until 7 am, when my regular day as a working mother begins. Recently I’ve been writing in the evening, too, after the kids are in bed...and then on the weekends, whenever I can sneak out to the nearest Starbucks. (Blogger note: A BEAUTIFUL HEIST is set in Seattle, WA which is famous for many great things including the first Starbucks!)

2. You’re a physician, so it wouldn’t be a big stretch for you to write a novel from the perspective of someone from the medical field. Why did you choose to write about a jewel thief? Is Cat, the protagonist in A Beautiful Heist, your alter ego? ;-)

Yes, they say “write what you know." But writing fiction is play for me—it’s fantasy and dream time. In the past I did try to write stories about medical characters and storylines, but it always felt too much like work, too much like my day job, too much like doing what I’m supposed to do...like being made to eat my veggies or something (which, PS, I do recommend. Eat your veggies, kids.) Once I ignored the “write what you know” mantra and let my imagination stretch—that’s when I became truly inspired. And yes, Cat’s world is a completely different world than my own. At least as far as you need to know. ;)

3. Part of Cat’s motivation is driven by an event from her past. She feels the need to atone for her perceived involvement in her sister’s death. What drives your everyday life and what motivates you to write? 

If I had to boil it down, what I really want is to make a unique contribution to the world.

I think a key moment for me was attending my first autopsy, as a first year medical student. Before we started, the pathologist was reviewing the chart and informed me that the man lying naked on the cold slab table had been, in life, a doctor himself. And it hit me then, very hard: we all end up like that. No matter who you are or what you do.  

So you have to follow your bliss. I’ve gone through my fair share of existential crises, and many people have asked me why on earth I’d want to write when I’ve worked so hard to be a physician. But writing is something I love to do. It’s not a replacement for my career in medicine—medicine is wonderful, but the truth is I need a little more poetry in my life. I’m motivated to write because, basically, I can’t help it.

4. What did you learn from the whole novel writing process? Is there anything you would do differently for your next books?

A BEAUTIFUL HEIST is the third complete novel I’ve written. The other two are...well, they’re not good. But every writer needs those drawer manuscripts. I’ve learned tons, every time I go through the process, and I continue to learn. I’ve discovered that the toughest part for me is the first draft stage. I love the dreaming/planning phase, and the revision stage is my favourite—shaping and molding is so much fun. But getting the lump of clay out there, the first draft, is rough going.

For my next books, I’m not going to spend so much time worrying if I’m doing it the “right” way—because everyone has their own right way, and I’m continuing to develop mine. I would, however, like to become a better outliner. I suspect it would save me time, and now that I have a contract I’m suddenly writing to a deadline—something I never had to worry about before.

5. What plans do you have for Cat in the next 2 stories in The Agency of Burglary & Theft series? No spoilers obviously, but maybe share a little somethin' somethin'?!

I have big plans for the next two books. Book two is well underway, actually, I’ll be handing the manuscript over to my editor in a couple of weeks.

In book two, you’ll see Cat’s adventures become even more international—the story is set, in large part, in Paris. The heists in the next stories get even bigger (she goes after a very famous target in book two—and it’s something you’ve all heard of) and the personal stakes get deeper. She comes face to face with some of her deepest fears and has to struggle with those, while attempting to pull off an impossible job. And in terms of Cat’s love life—well, things are going to get very complicated in that department. Book three sees her questioning everything, especially about her dichotomy of good and bad behaviour, and her chosen criminal lifestyle.

I gotta say, I’ve had so much fun writing Cat’s story, and I hope people enjoy reading it just as much!

A BEAUTIFUL HEIST: EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER ONE

Everyone breaks the rules eventually. It’s just that some of us make a career out of it.

Lingering by the bar, I sipped my Veuve Clicquot and, with the utmost subtlety, tugged at the short neoprene wet suit concealed beneath my cocktail dress.

The warm September evening air swirled with lush jazz; the chime of crystal mingled with the laughter of socialites and millionaires. It was a graceful affair. But I, for one, was far from relaxed. My eyes roved the party restlessly and my nerves sizzled with anticipation. And fear.

My safety that evening hinged on my skills of deception. On my ability to conjure the illusion that I belonged at this party. Whether I got my assignment done, however, depended on an altogether different sort of talent: the particular skill-set I happened to be born with.

As always, I needed to keep my fear in check and stay focused on my goals. Do the job, Cat. Make it out of here alive. Don’t get arrested.

You can read the rest of Chapter One on kimfosterwrites.com and purchase the full copy by visiting the book cover below!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kim Foster is a medical doctor who has been a lifelong lover of fiction. She’s a mom who decided that midnight feedings of her newborn were a fine time to get serious about writing. And she’s a novelist who, in spite of sound advice to “write what you know,” simply couldn’t resist crafting a story about a professional jewel thief.

Online, you can find Kim blogging about her left-brain, right-brain mash-up on kimfosterwrites.com. Kim is a practicing physician and a Yummy Mummy Club health blogger: Dr. Kim Foster: Wicked Health. Kim can also be found performing regular TV, radio, and speaking appearances. You can find Author Kim Foster on GoodReads, follow her on Twitter @DrKimFoster, and like the Author Kim Foster Page on Facebook.

VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH PARTY

On June 6th, 2013, you are invited to a Virtual Book Launch Party For A Beautiful Heist on Facebook! Drop in between 8:00–11:00 pm EDT and join the conversation with Kim Foster plus there will be prizes up for grabs!

BOOKALICIOUS BOOK GRAB GIVEAWAY

Kensington Publishing and Kim Foster have a prize pack to give to one lucky Bookalicious reader! The prize pack will include a digital copy of A BEAUTIFUL HEIST and a $20 Starbucks gift card! To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment in the "Click Here To Spill It" bubble below. You have until June 14th, 2013 to enter. You must be a YMC member, and please be sure you've registered your email address in our commenting system so we can contact you if you win.

Yummy Rules and Regs

You must be a YummyMummyClub.ca member to win. Click here to sign up. It's free and filled with perks. One comment per member. Entries accepted until June 14th, 2013. Contest open to Canadian residents (excluding Quebec). Winners will be picked using www.random.org. See full contest rules.

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Relish reading,

Wanda Lynne Young

Kim Foster photo credit: Tamea Burd Photography