Writing a novel is difficult. From conception to putting pen on paper to proofreading, the whole process is daunting. But imagine writing five novels. Especially two in roughly the same time period.
After a decade in the making, Kym Brunner releases two novels in 2014. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
That’s what Kym Brunner did, and both are expected to hit bookshelves in the coming months. Brunner, daughter of Sun City residents OB and Rita Obrachta (N.37) said she has always been an avid reader but was bitten by the writing bug 12 years ago.
“I wasn’t sure how to actually write a novel, so I looked online for advice, read a few ‘how to’ books and joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators,” she said. “Once I started going to a monthly critique group, the encouragement and advice I received from others made me want to keep trying to improve my craft.”
The first of two books, titled “Wanted: Dead or in Love,” has already been released on e-book. The book revolves around a teen girl, in love with the legend of Bonnie and Clyde, who cuts herself on a spent bullet extracted from Bonnie Parker’s dead body and gets more than she bargained for when the outlaw begins speaking to her from inside her own head. Brunner said she got the idea for Wanted after hearing about The Barefoot Bandit.
“I thought, ‘what if a girl was tanning on the beach and meets a cute boy who, unbeknownst to her, was wanted by the authorities?'”
The second book, titled “One Smart Cookie,” has a July publication date. Brunner described it as a humorous but heartwarming young adult romance centered on the adorably inept Sophie Dumbrowski, a teen living above her family-owned Polish bakery with her man-hungry mother and her spirit-conjuring grandmother who, together, attempt to find Sophie the perfect boyfriend.
Brunner and her parents OB and Rita Obrachta. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
While some may dabble in short story or prose before taking the leap, Brunner started sprinting once the gates opened.
“Maybe not the easiest task in the world, but I didn’t know any better, so I wasn’t put off by the immensity of trying to write 75,000 words,” she said.
When Brunner first mentioned to her parents a few years ago that she wanted to share with others some of the stories she had in her head, Rita Obrachta said they were somewhat skeptical because of the extra time and work that being an author would entail.
“She was off like a shot, combing her love of writing with her equally demanding roles of wife, mother to three young teenagers, chauffer and, last but not least, a No.1 teacher,” Rita Obrachta said.
It took Brunner about a year to write the first book. Rita Obrachta said for many years, she would get up at 4 a.m. in order to take advantage of “the quiet before the storm” of husband and children getting ready for work and school.
“During the ensuing years, we have marveled at her determination to succeed as an author. Writing a book is only the beginning in the process,” Rita Obrachta said. “After the book is written, an agent is needed, who in turn, searches for a publisher to take an interest in printing the book. This not an easy task, but she continued to strive to attain the goal of published author.”
Brunner said it took her about 10 years before receiving her first “yes” from Merit Press.
Brunner is currently working on her sixth and seventh novels, though did not go into great detail about their plotlines.
“Now that my arteries are filled with ink as well as blood cells I plan to keep on writing (and hoping and dreaming) until someone yanks the laptop out from under my bent knuckles,” Brunner said. “Telling stories is time-consuming, but it’s also really fulfilling and completes me. I can’t imagine a life without books in it.”
She has so far only written young adult novels, but could picture writing a humorous adult book someday, as well. “Suspense, as well as humor, drives my writing,” Brunner said. “I want readers who can’t stop turning pages but also want to have a couple of laughs as they take the journey through my books. I hope they’re left at the end of my novels wishing the story would go on.”
Rita Obrachta is currently wearing the hat of chief book promoter. She has arranged for Brunner to make a presentation to the two book clubs in N.37 on Oct. 23 for “Wanted.”
“Wanted” is currently available in e-book format and available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
