Twenty-four mysteries and counting
The prolific K.T. McGivens talks about the gruelling but soul-filling act of writing
K.T. McGivens is a prolific author living in Florida, known mainly for her Katie Porter Mystery series. She tucks her real identity behind a pen name, but her comments tell us all we really need to know. Inspired long ago by Nancy Drew, she has created a female sleuth who investigates crimes post-Second World War; yet Katie Porter is very much a woman for the modern age.
Where are you right now with writing?
I have 24 Katie Porter Mysteries published so far. I also have two published poetry books.
Why do you write, and for whom?
Mostly for myself, although I’m absolutely over the moon when someone reads them. The mysteries, although suspenseful, are easy to read so that’s why I work so hard to publish them and put them on sale. I want folks to enjoy some peace away from reality for a while and I hope my books do that.
Have things changed for you over time? For the better or no?
Growing old has kind of taken me by surprise. My mind is telling me that I’m twenty, but my body is definitely reminding me that I’m seventy. I find this imbalance a tad unfair.
I also never expected to be alone at this stage of my life. I’m not saying that I’m lonely. It just would be nice to be able to travel with someone, or go out to dinner, or to a play. Being twice divorced, I do envy those who have lifelong companions in which to share their lives.
Other authors may read this. Do you have any words of wisdom for them?
People should not go into this with expectations of becoming rich and famous. It simply is not going to happen. And there are easier ways to make money. Shoveling horse manure comes to mind.
Writing is gruelling, difficult, and often frustrating. One should only attempt it because they just can’t stop themselves, the story in their heart just has to be told. And when everything comes together, it’s fantastic!
Readers may also read this. What is a fascinating fact about you?
I have had quite a few challenging jobs in my life, but the one that perhaps influenced me the most were the years I worked in dementia care facilities as a state-certified dementia care specialist and, eventually, an executive director.
Elderly, extremely vulnerable senior citizens came to us to spend the last days (sometime only months) of their lives, and I learned a lot about death and dying. Also, dignity and empathy. I cannot begin to count all those who died while I was holding their hands or singing to them. And each one of them took a little piece of my heart when they left this earth. There were also things that I witnessed that can still give me nightmares. It was one of the most emotionally exhausting yet rewarding jobs I ever had.
This experience has influenced my writing as I find I have little tolerance for excessive and often graphic violence, especially toward women and other vulnerable populations. Although my cozy mysteries do feature murder and other crimes, those are often “off page.” And I try to infuse as much empathy, sincerity, compassion, and love into each story as I can.
Tell us something about your books that you really want people to know.
I thought quite a long time about the creation of my main character, twenty-one-year-old Katie Porter, before I started writing the first book in the series. I wanted someone who is ethical, passionate, loyal, courageous, and with an insatiable curiosity. Above all, I wanted her to be a real human. So, she’s not infallible. Just stubborn enough to get to the bottom of things. Perhaps readers know of someone in their own lives just like her?
The debut book, The Secret at Sunset Hill, was awarded Distinguished Favorite in the Independent Press Awards 2022.
And two of my poems, which are included in my anthology, Dimming the House Lights, won first place awards many, many years ago. They are “The Stranger” (Panama City Professional Writers Competition) and my only children’s poem, “Mary and the Forty Cows” (Florida Northwest Writers Competition).
Thank you so much, K.T.
Find the author at these links:
Amazon author site: https://www.amazon.com/stores/K.T.-McGivens/author/B07XVDQV3V
Website: The Katie Porter Mysteries | Cozy Mystery Books
"X": @kmcgivens
Bluesky: @McGivens.bsky.social
Magnificent interview! My admiration for KT, her creativity, sensitivity, and ability to engage readers knows no bounds. I’m privileged to be able to know and learn from such a talented author. May Katie and her crew continue to entertain, impress, and delight readers for many years to come.
What a heartfelt interview. K.T. is one of my favourite authors. Her stories are a wonderful escape. She creates a world in each novel that feels so real, you feel like you are part of it, with sights and sounds that are so vivid you can almost touch and feel them.
The one thing I love about Katie Porter is that she and her friends and family are not static characters; they grow and change and have issues to deal with outside of the main plot, which I find is what drags me into the story.
K.T. is so creative that I find it hard to put her novels down, and I've read them multiple times.
If you ever come my way, K.T. I guarantee we will see a play together and go to dinner.
Joanne, this is such a great interview.