top of page

Exclusive Interview with

A.R. Kingston

BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

When did you start writing?

I use to dabble in fanfiction back in High School but stopped writing after I had kids since they sucked up my time when they were younger.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

What makes writing your passion?

It's just something I enjoy. I find it a creative outlet where I can be myself and nothing else matters.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

How long have you been writing?

I've been actively writing for five years now.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

What was the feeling when you published your first book?

Excited and terrified. I've got more confident with each new book release, but I still worry about the inevitable criticism.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

What’s the story behind your choice of characters?

Some are figments of my imagination, some are my RPG characters, and some are based on real people.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?

Trying to market my books to the right reader. Unfortunately, there is no manual on how to have a successful book so it's just going through trial and error while rolling with the punches.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

How do you get over the “writer’s block”?

I push through it. I force myself to write, usually by using my notes and eventually I get through it.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?

I don't know, I guess at this point I'm just too stubborn to give up. There are days I feel like a five-year-old who was told "you can't do that" so now I'm sitting here with my arms crossed saying "watch me."

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?

Don't give up writing, no matter what, and don't listen to the haters.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?

I do. I find a lot of them helpful in showing me what I need to change and what I need to improve. The bad ones happen to everyone, so I don't take it personally. Some are helpful, but most are just nitpicky. You have readers who will spot the typos the proofreader and beta-reader missed. You have those that will hate your characters no matter what. Some will hate your story. I get it, I've read books I've hated too, so I know it's usually not an attack against me personally. Then you have those reviews where the reader clearly skimmed through the book because their review makes no sense if you actually took time to read the material. Those bother me a little, but there is nothing one can do about them, so I shrug them off and move on.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

What is the feeling when you get a good review?

I won't lie, it makes me really happy. As a writer I want people to enjoy my story, I want to make someone happy, so when I achieve that it, in turn, makes me happy.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?

There is a lot of that in my novels, you just have to dig to find it since a lot of it is not happy and I try not to make it obvious.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?

A lot of my characters have something from me in them, but the one that is based the most on me is Alexandra from Dark World: Genesis/Oblivion/Revelations.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?

Yes, and it always frustrates me to get the cover right, so normally they undergo a lot of changes. I finally switched to a new cover artist who seemed to ask all the right questions to update my horror cover so I hop it works out in the end.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?

Depends. Generally, I prefer to keep to myself and express myself through writing, but if a reader wants to connect, then by all means I am more than happy to do so.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?

Hasn't happened yet, but I will let you know if it does.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

Who is your favorite author? Why?

Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, and Dan Brown. I love the way they write and I can only hope to be half as good as them.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?

My dream is to own a large sanctuary for pigs, so I guess I'll have to make it as big as one of my favorite authors, or sell my soul to a Netflix Original.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png

Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?

I have plans to rewrite my first book. I'm not happy with it, it can be a lot better and I expect more from myself these days. My rule of thumb is, if I can still read my own work month/years after it's published, I leave it be, if not I need to rework it.

A.R. Kingston
BooksShelf-Interview-Icon.png