COVEpod | Carganilla Online Variety Entertainment Podcast | Storytelling, Interviews, Poetry, Music, Arts & Inspiration

Krista King | 'The Write One' at 'The Write Time' | COVE Podcast 34

• Paul Carganilla / Krista King • Season 1 • Episode 34

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When a blueprint transforms into a story that others can hold in their hands, it's not just ink on paper—it's a voyage of dreams becoming tangible realities. This week, COVE Podcast host Paul Carganilla is joined by a long-time friend who has danced from the vibrant avenues of fan fiction to the bold terrain of published authorship. It's one thing to create art in the solitude of your own mind, but to share that art with the world requires a courageous leap of faith. Our guest opens up about the complex navigation of apprehension and yearning that accompanies the release of one's creations into the wild. An enlightening interaction on a movie set, coupled with the guiding hand of mentorship during the unpredictability of a global pandemic, were the sparks that ignited a journey from private scribbles to the invigorating exposure of publication—testimonials to the profound impact of community encouragement and the unexpected directions where creativity can lead.

This episode isn't just an exploration of one creator's path; it's a clarion call to all the dreamers on the verge of stepping into their own creative realms. We swap tales and impart wisdom for those teetering on the edge of their own artistic expeditions, underscoring the richness that unfolds when one dares to traverse into the unknown. With every shared story and piece of advice, we aim not only to motivate but to provide a beacon for those navigating the tides of their passions. Join us for this uplifting session, where the synergy between creativity, friendship, and the support of a vibrant community shines as the guiding light for all aspiring artists.

KRISTA KING on AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1Z5G296

EPISODE VIDEOS: www.covetube.com
COVE DIRECTORY: https://linktr.ee/covepod
COVE PATREON: www.patreon/covepodcast
CONTACT: covepod@gmail.com

DRAMATIC READING CAST: Craig Jackman, Amanda Benjamin, Amy Naluai, Paul Carganilla
VOICE-OVER INTRODUCTION: Jonathan Freeman ( 'Jafar' in the "Aladdin" animated films )
SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM: Craig Jackman, Emily Thatcher, Christina Marie Bielen, Dary Mills, Amanda Benjamin
PATREON CURATORS: Jamie Carganilla, Emily Thatcher, The Faeryns, Charity Swanson, Krista Faith King, Kelsey B Gibson, Angelica Bollschweiler, Anna Giannavola, Gina Dobbs, Merrill Mielke, Susan Kuhn, Josefa Snider
INTRO MUSIC: “Papi Beat” [ KICKTRACKS ]
CREDITS MUSIC: “Fat Banana” [ KICKTRACKS ]
HOST, CREATOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, EDITOR: Paul Carganilla

Speaker 1:

I could publish one of my stories. I could take one of these blueprints and I could turn it into something that could be published, and then I wrote one in it and I published it. No-transcript. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Carganella Online Variety Entertainment Podcast. Here's your host, paul Carganella.

Speaker 2:

Hello, and welcome to Cove.

Speaker 4:

This is the online variety show in which we aim to both entertain and inspire our podcast listeners and our YouTube viewers through a variety of art forms, including music, poetry, storytelling, special guest interviews, travel blogs, dramatic readings, a whole grab bag, a whole variety of buffet, if you will like, a cruise buffet full of entertainment for the whole entire family to get you through every week, while you're washing the dishes, going on your jog, driving to work, lunch break at work, I hope you know, every Tuesday we're here on your doorstep, knocking on your podcast queue with something new and entertaining, like a box of chocolates for your ear holes to enjoy. And, as we do every week, we want to, of course, introduce everybody to. Well, not every week, it's not every week we get to meet somebody special, someone entertaining. Sometimes we gather as a group, a special entertaining group, and sometimes we just focus on one person, but today we are going to focus on a very good friend of mine who I'm very inspired by her journey, her creative journey, if you will, and we'll talk more about that right after we catch up with our producer behind the scenes.

Speaker 4:

Ladies and gentlemen, let's pull the cart back in front of the horse, maybe even trip it with the wheels of the cart. If we slam on the brakes real fast, we're going on the cart without the horse and I don't know how it's going without the horse, because the horse is behind it. But let's get the horse back in front of it and bring in producer Craig Jackman.

Speaker 2:

Producer Craig Welcome, hey, hey, hey, a horse is a horse, of course, of course.

Speaker 4:

We've been very fortunate to meet a lot of new friends along the way in season one of Cove Podcast, and we started off with some familiar friends. I just made up a new word. We started off with some familiar friends that we go way back with, and we've been meeting new ones along the way, but this is another one that we've known for many years between, of course, the two of us, and I'm excited to have her on because she has written a book and has another one that's about to drop.

Speaker 2:

And you know what, Paul here's the other thing you are one of her inspirations for the book because of a previous podcast that you were involved with.

Speaker 4:

Nah, I don't know if I was an inspiration, I think I just like to shove people off cliffs and say, try to fly.

Speaker 2:

And that's what it was.

Speaker 4:

Yes, firing, that can be. But, ladies and gentlemen, our guest today, she is not only a creator of her own right, but she also helps to keep this show going and growing. She is one of our Patreon curators, so that is something super special that I'm stoked about. And I talk about a Patreon while we're rolling the credits pretty much every week. But here at the start I just want to say thank you to all of everyone in our Patreon community and if you don't know what I'm talking about, head over to patreoncom as soon as you're done listening to this. Of course, don't leave us now. But there are a few different levels. You can subscribe to and back the podcast on. Of course, every Tuesday you get a free episode on our YouTube channel and on your favorite podcast platform. But every member of the Patreon cove community gets a bonus episode every month filled with music performed not just performed by our friends in the cove community here, but requested by our Patreon community, performed by our cove community. And it's an exclusive livestream every month for all of our backers and you can back the show at just as little as $3 a month. You can start and stop at any time, but as long as you are a backer, you're going to get that bonus episode. At the $3 level You'll also get I'm going to say thank you, give you a shout out on an episode of Cove. I'm going to send you a letter of thanks for joining, signed by my whole family, and let's see. At the next level, which is the $6 level, the Cove crew members also get access to the recording sessions of all of our episodes. So, for instance, this episode that we're recording right now is live, is going out live to our live audience. But as soon as it's over, it's going to go away for a while and it's going to get edited and chopped up and then in a few weeks or a couple of months it'll come out all polished and beautiful. But if you wanted to see the live broadcast and hear everything that goes on between and before and after there's a whole archive of that you can get. At that second level you also get quarterly virtual hangouts and this is where we hang out on Zoom and play Jackbox games A lot of fun.

Speaker 4:

And every year, on your anniversary of becoming a Patreon backer, I'll give you another shout out on the show After your first one. Thank you, and as your anniversary, um backer Perk. And then our top tier is at $12 a month. We have 12 curators right now it's the Patreon Cove curators. They really are amazing and have all been here from the very beginning. There are a couple of spots left. That's an exclusive tier. But along with everything else that I've mentioned already, you also get your name in the credits of every video, as long as you're a curator, and a monthly shout out in the credits. So thank you so much.

Speaker 4:

And first dibs on merchandise Whenever we have new merchandise coming out, you're going to see it first and get access to it first. And monthly letters I send out four letters a year of updates of how the podcast is doing, how I'm spending the Patreon money and full transparency on everything that's going on behind the scenes. And those are the three Patreon levels you can join. But again, I can't stress enough, for just you know that $3 entry level. You get an extra episode every month and that's really, if you're enjoying the four, that you're already getting a month for free. Why not throw in three bucks for five episodes a month? That would be so great to have you here in the community. On Patreon there's also you know, it's like a Facebook group, basically, and there's a we post things and you can reply and chat and everybody in the group can see what everyone else is saying about stuff. So it's super cool. Go ahead and check it out after the show if you have a moment.

Speaker 4:

But, as I mentioned, our guest today has been a curator from the very, very beginning. She's been encouraging me to make this podcast since I first mentioned that I was thinking about it and wanted to and have wanted to, and she credits me for supporting her and encouraging her. But she does just as much for me and has done it for years. She and her husband both and I cannot thank them enough and I'm so happy to have her on the show and talk about her creative journey. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the Cargain and online variety entertainment podcast. Our guest this evening, miss Krista King. Hi, welcome to the show.

Speaker 1:

Thank you so much and yes, patreon, 100% worth it. So much fun, all the perks, all the extra stuff, absolutely worth it.

Speaker 4:

Love you and so excited that you are here and just want to jump in and say you've heard an episode before, or two, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think I've caught one kind of yeah in passing, driving to work or something.

Speaker 4:

So you know how we torture our guests with the 60 second icebreaker introduction challenge, correct?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and you think I would have been prepared for it and rehearsed and have it down to exactly 60 seconds, but I didn't remember it until today.

Speaker 4:

Hey, how long did mine take?

Speaker 2:

Six minutes, something like that, six minutes yeah.

Speaker 4:

Craig was like four or something like that. There's never any pressure and you know I don't stop people, but we want to hear everything about you that you can possibly fit in to what you think is 60 seconds. Are you ready for the challenge?

Speaker 1:

Go for it. I got three, two, one. Okay, I am married. I just celebrated 20 years being married. I love Disney. I love Belle from Beauty and the Beast that she's right there. I love music. I love musicals. I love to bake and give out baked goods. Somebody said it's my love language recently. I like traveling, cruising and I love to travel. I like cruising, I like Catalina and going on like even day trips just get me there regenerates my soul. I'm boring. I like TV and reading and music and supporting my very, very talented friends. I don't know if that was a minute.

Speaker 4:

That was 50 seconds.

Speaker 1:

All right, I'll take it.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, great job. I'll add some follow-up questions. You mentioned you like TV, reading and music. What are the top three things you're watching on TV?

Speaker 1:

Currently we're rewatching the West Wing. Okay, all of our shows are so delayed because of the strike, so nothing's really come back quite yet. We are bouncing between West Wing and Resident Alien, which is absolutely fantastic, hysterical, very good. What else have we been watching lately?

Speaker 4:

Top three what's your favorite TV show of all time?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's probably going to be West Wing and Friends. I'm fluent, I did leave that out. I'm fluent in Friends. I can speak a full thing in Friends quotes. In fact, there's a couple vague hidden in the first book, so yeah, we're going to talk about that first book, but let's finish the trifecta.

Speaker 4:

What are you reading right now?

Speaker 1:

I'm rereading the first romance I ever read the Promise by Daniel Steele.

Speaker 4:

And what is your favorite musical group?

Speaker 1:

Musical group.

Speaker 4:

I can tell you my favorite Artist, singular, solo artist.

Speaker 1:

From the very beginning of life. Rick Springfield, rick Springfield. Eighties, eighties, child, eighties, child. First real concert I ever went to was Rick Springfield.

Speaker 4:

Wow, what's that?

Speaker 1:

You ready? Universal amphitheater, which is now Waterworld.

Speaker 4:

Oh, okay.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 4:

Did you grow up in Southern California? Tell us about Young Krista King.

Speaker 1:

Young Krista King. I did. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. All over different places in the San Fernando Valley, young Krista wanted to be a dancer and a teacher when I was a kid. As I grew up, that didn't quite stick.

Speaker 4:

So what did you want to teach?

Speaker 1:

I wanted to teach kindergarten, first grade. I want to teach the little ones.

Speaker 4:

All right.

Speaker 1:

But yeah.

Speaker 4:

Did you always want to be a writer?

Speaker 1:

Here's the way I'm going to answer that I always wanted to write.

Speaker 2:

Okay.

Speaker 1:

I don't know that until much later in the game I had ever even thought about publishing and being a writer.

Speaker 4:

Okay, so we're going to get to that later in the game moment. Sure, but what happened between Young Krista King and later in the game?

Speaker 1:

I went to school at Birmingham High School in I think they're calling I'm not sure if they're still calling it Van Nuys, it might be Lake Balboa now. There's a weird little thing around that area. So it was Birmingham High School. When I went there I worked as a receptionist a lot and did some customer service work and found out that 21st century auto insurance in Woodland Hills worked four and a half day work weeks. At 1.15 on Friday they closed and everybody went home and I said that's where I want to work. I want Fridays off.

Speaker 1:

And so I worked and tried and tried and I finally got a job there in 1995, right after the earthquake which nearly took them out. I got a job there in the call center doing customer service and it was awesome, for every Friday afternoon I was out, I went to the movies, I went, got my nails done. It was great. I had all this free time and I stayed and accidentally tripped over an IT job. I was invited to represent the call center in a new system that they were building and somebody said you'd make a great QA tester, come on over to IT. And I switched over to IT and have been in IT ever since.

Speaker 4:

And you still work for the auto insurance company.

Speaker 1:

Well, 21st is pretty much out of business. Farmers purchased them in 2009. I left for a year and then went back to farmers. On paper they have that I've been employed with them for 24 years. Yeah, 24 years is the last thing I heard. So I've been there since 95.

Speaker 4:

So you're like a boss or something.

Speaker 1:

I'm a lead. I can't say and I say what my actual title is. Some people tease me a lot. What's your actual title? I'm a Scrum Master.

Speaker 4:

Scrum.

Speaker 1:

Master, yes, Scrum Master. Scrum Master. It's a we're Agile, so an Agile IT house is instead of delivering the whole car in one delivery, we're delivering pieces of it, so you can make sure that everything is good before we hand you the whole picture. So that's kind of what we do, and there's weird titles and stuff like that.

Speaker 4:

I picture a Scrum Master working on a pirate ship.

Speaker 1:

Well, that's a good one.

Speaker 4:

Or overseeing, like illegal cockfights.

Speaker 1:

I have been told that it reminds someone that I am like keeping the piece over a rugby game. Oh, it's a Scrum that they're in when they start there.

Speaker 4:

I'm not cultured enough to get them.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I'm just learned, all right.

Speaker 4:

Well, so that all happened. But at some point you said later in the game you started to think oh, I got stories inside me, I can share them. How did that happen?

Speaker 1:

Well, I started writing before I knew what I was really doing. I would watch a movie, I would hear a song, I would watch a TV show and decide that it wasn't over, and so I would sit down and I would finish it. I'd finish the story for them.

Speaker 4:

That's called fan fiction.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I didn't know. I didn't know what it was, and the summer before or between junior high and high school, I took a creative writing class and found out that what I was doing was creative writing and the teacher at was summer school. He spent the first 30 minutes of every class giving us a lesson and then he said write whatever you want. Some of us were writing novels, some of us were writing screenplays, some of us were doodling and whatever we needed to do. I wrote 66 pages of the very beginning of a novel, like it had a beginning, middle and end. It didn't have all the fancy stuff, but it was 66 pages of character development and I thought this is the greatest thing there is. I have a creative side and this is what I'm going to do to feed that creative side. So I did.

Speaker 1:

I wrote a lot like all the time, and found myself with anywhere from 10 to 15 manuscripts in different ways of being done. There were just character development, some were just a scene or two that had popped into my head and I never. At the time they explained you have to have a literary agent, you need to have editors and you would need to have publishers, and I thought that's all too complicated. I'll just write for myself. Nobody ever needs to see it because I thought that was all I could do. Enter Paul Carganella. Hang on, hang on.

Speaker 4:

Before we get to that. I was just about to explore this idea that you would just do it because you loved it, and I think that is paramount. It is so important for anyone, so many people. When you say, oh, I'm thinking about a career in this creative field, I'm thinking about a career in this creative field, the business-minded people say, but how are you going to make money? But the people who are thinking about that career don't consider that as much as, like, this is what I do. You just said I do it all the time. It started as we had to do it as an assignment in class and then I started doing it all the time and that's what I wanted to do in my free time. And as you grow older, once you've picked a career, I think and we've explored this topic on the podcast before it's so important to feed that creative nature and that heart's fire in your free time.

Speaker 4:

I have a full-time job in which I work for a government agency, but in all my free time I'm doing this. I mean hanging out with my family and doing this because I love it and I love producing the show. I love editing the episodes and putting them out and seeing how people are perceived them or are affected by them. It's just something inside you that you can't explain to people who maybe have never felt that. They're just sad or just feel it in different ways. If it's not creative, maybe the business that watching their numbers grows brings them that joy. But can you speak to? What is it? Do you think or how could you describe? This might be a really difficult question to field, but describe having free time and just wanting to sit down and write.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I don't know how other writers feel about this. I don't know how other creatives feel about this, but there will be something that will enter my mind, a scene, a character, something I have to write it. If I don't, I cannot think of anything else. I have to write it. I have to sit down. If I'm not near a laptop, I need to write it down. I'm like you're finally content, everything is perfect, it's out there, the universe has got it. Now you can just relax. It's just a thing. It's just this need that you have to. Somebody compared it to creative OCD. You just have to put it in place, then you're fine. You don't have to do anything with it. It just needs to be out there. That's just how the stuff bubbles up with me with these stories.

Speaker 4:

The next time you sit down and you read it, you feel compelled to work on it and make it better and polish it and spend more time on it 100%. After you sat down and wrote and got it on the page and felt that achievement of getting it out there, did you have to have other people read it to justify or verify, or was it fine for you that you had created that and it was there?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I had zero intentions of letting anybody ever read it. It was never my plan. I think in all the years that I wrote the stories that were just on my computer and for me, I think I let someone read three pages from one story because I wasn't sure of the flow. I think a couple of people, I let them read a page, then that was it. It went well. It wasn't like it was a negative experience. The one person I gave three pages to gave me this incredible compliment and said, oh my gosh, I could totally see him do that Whoa in three pages. You know what he's going to do. I thought, oh well, okay, that was fun, but nobody else can read it. I'm done. Nobody else can read it. Leave it alone. It's all mine. That was my plan is. It was just going to be my thing. That was going to be that side.

Speaker 4:

It's a paradox a lot of creators experience, in that they feel the need to create, this fire, to create, but they're too nervous about sharing it with people and having it judged. It's something we talk about often, but it's such an interesting thing to be an artist. What you want to do is express the deepest, darkest secrets, sometimes from the corners, the shadows of your mind or your heart, and put them under a spotlight and show them to people and ask them to judge them. Tell me how good this is.

Speaker 1:

Why do we do these things?

Speaker 4:

Why do we do these things? All right, what took you from writing for yourself to writing for other people?

Speaker 1:

I hadn't written in quite a while. I had decided that it was fun, but I was an adult and I had things that I had to go adult. It had probably been a good three or four years and I ventured on a movie set, a small short film that you were shooting. My husband was doing the camera work and I thought, well, wouldn't that be interesting to go and see how this happens, how this all comes together? That's so creative and different and I need to figure it out. My foot crossed the threshold of the front door and you said do you know computers? Yeah, follow me. I became your media manager for three films from there that one, the other short film and then the feature. I thought, oh my gosh, people are saying Paul's words. He wrote stuff and people are reading it and I thought, huh, that's interesting, that's an interesting concept. Maybe I should share some of this stuff, but I don't know how. I'm not even going to mess with it, don't worry about it.

Speaker 1:

Enter COVID, paul's online variety show. Paul introduces Dylan White. He's a triple threat, he's quadruple threat. He's amazing. Oh, by the way, he's a published author. And I went wait, what? He's a what? Now? I said well, he's somebody I need to talk to.

Speaker 1:

I, poor Dylan, I just started bombarding him with hey, you're a publisher, how'd you do that? How'd you do it? How'd you get on Amazon? And how do you do this? And how do you? And Dylan, being you know the think that he is is just like all right, hang on, let's go one question at a time. And he told me exactly how to do it and I went I could publish one of my stories, I could take one of these blueprints and I could turn it into something that could be published and I thought, oh, that's awesome, I could totally do that. And then I wrote one in it and I published it and I forgot that other people were going to have to read it. I was like, oh, look at, I wrote a book. Oh gosh, people are reading it and leaving reviews and sending me texts and messages, yeah, so that's what it was.

Speaker 4:

You published a book and you forgot people were going to read it.

Speaker 1:

Well, and I had to have people start reading it before we hit publishing. I have content readers, I have proof readers and I was like, oh, I have to send it to people and asking them to judge it. Hey, does the flow work? Hey, does the character? Do you hate the characters? Do you like the characters you know? Oh yeah, by the way, I get in a writing bubble and I know what the words are supposed to be on the page, but that's not actually what my fingers do. So can you take out a red pen and circle stuff, because I don't notice it? So yeah, that was super, super challenging to be like okay, here, read it and judge it.

Speaker 4:

But how did it feel when you did?

Speaker 1:

I was so scared the first time I did it. I almost didn't do it. I almost decided you know what? We got this far. Look at us. Now let's step back and we'll get back up there again. And I thought, nope, we just got to do it Because you said Paul's inspiration jump off the building and see if you can actually fly. And if you can't, there's a shorter building next door. Go jump off that one and see if you can fly from that one and then try again. So it was.

Speaker 1:

I gave the first draft of this book to three content readers. My goal was hey, tell me if the flow works. Tell me if you hate the characters. Tell me if you like the character. Tell me Three content readers. One content reader came back and said yeah, I don't think the door is going to work the way that you said it's going to work. I said okay, and the rest of it? Oh, no, the rest of it's great. I just think that you don't understand the mechanics of this door that you're trying to lock and unlock. I was like okay. And the other two content readers are like oh my gosh, it's great. I'm like no, no, it can't be great, it's the first draft. Tell me what. No, it's great. Okay, that was, I was surprising and I just went. Okay, people can read it. Just getting through that first time was great.

Speaker 4:

After congratulations, by the way, Thank you, After getting over that hump and getting it out there and people reading it. Did you ever get any negative feedback?

Speaker 1:

I didn't. I kept waiting for it. I kept waiting. I have 17 reviews for the book on Amazon. The thing here is, the community around me is very strong. I sold 124 books of the first book. I didn't know. I didn't do any marketing, I didn't take out ads. I used Facebook, I told people and I have 17 reviews, which is for 124 books is pretty incredible, and my reviews, I think, are at 4.9 out of 5 or something like that 4.8 out of 5. Really no negative comments. In fact, one of my content readers was so taken with the book that she said it can't be over. This can't be the end of these people, you need to keep it going. Her name is Kristen and she's the one who said it's got to keep going. So I ended up turning this into a three-part series because of her.

Speaker 4:

Okay, well, you derailed me twice in that one answer, but so my question was going to be how do you deal with negative feedback? But you haven't gotten any. That's.

Speaker 1:

I'm sure it'll come, but it's just, I haven't yet.

Speaker 4:

How do you suppose you will deal with them? But so then the second one was all right, so you have another one coming out. When you sat down to write the right one, were there plans for more.

Speaker 1:

Never. There was not. I wrote the book as a standalone and I sent it out to content readers and my friends said I can't have it in there, I need to know what's next, I need you to carry it on. And so the biggest mistake I made is I started paying attention to rules and there I belong to a couple of writing groups and I've listened to other authors and I started listening to rules and I got very caught up in the rules of writing a book, of writing a series, and I thought, okay, well, I don't know the rules, what are the rules to write a series? And I finally decided I really didn't care about the rules and I just decided that I would just keep, for it's going to be three books total. I just kept the same couple, kind of going through the top of all three books and there's stuff that's happening kind of underneath that weaves into that couple. And that was just.

Speaker 1:

I decided okay, book two. I don't know when I'm going to write it, I have no idea. One is out there. I moved on during post production to another story and I'm not writing book two. And when book one got published and was out there, the feedback was oh my gosh, when am I getting book two? I was like, okay, I can do it, and I am heavily influenced by music, heavily influenced by music, and I was stuck on book two. I was stuck. Book two is really two romances kind of at the same time and I was stuck and a song, an 80s love ballad, and it broke me through book two. And now it's done and should be out in the next two to three weeks.

Speaker 4:

So was that song the right stuff by new kids on the block?

Speaker 1:

It was not.

Speaker 4:

Oh, that was perfect.

Speaker 1:

Yes, it would have, but no, it's not.

Speaker 4:

All right, well is, we'll talk about a little bit more about book two before we say goodbye tonight. But, as you know, as you are a Patreon cove curator and a fan of the show and you listen, you know that when we have authors on, we have authors read part of their book for the audience live, and I offered you an alternative for tonight. And now would you like to have some friends on to help read a section of the book?

Speaker 1:

Yeah you said yes, please bring on my friends.

Speaker 4:

All right, so let's bring on some friends that are going to help myself and producer Craig read through a section of the book. Ladies and gentlemen, please say hello to Amanda Benjamin and Amy Nalwai.

Speaker 1:

Amanda Yay.

Speaker 4:

We remember Amanda Benjamin from so many episodes here on season one of Cove and of course she is the host hostess with the mostists for every Wednesday night most Wednesday nights, but every week at least here on the Vodacity Network with Amanda on Demanda. And this is Amy's first time on the cove. Is it your first time on Vodacity Network?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, it is.

Speaker 4:

I was thinking about it and I was like maybe she participated in a group song during COVID.

Speaker 3:

Oh, I may have done one. Yeah, she was yeah.

Speaker 2:

Okay, well, not officially performer on the show.

Speaker 4:

Definitely first time here and cove First time live right, I'd pass yes. And first time live. Yes, thank you for joining us. And, krista, we are going to be starting on page 10. Can you tell us what is going on at this point in the book of your very first published book, the Right On what?

Speaker 1:

Things for Kate are about to change. Kate is our hero, our heroine in this. She has been very content and comfortable with her life as she has had it set up, and things are about to change and she's about to receive a large challenge that is going to send her in a direction that will change her life.

Speaker 2:

Kate walked down the hall to the third office, robert Young was printed on the window next to the left of the door. She smiled a small smile as she approached. He saved her life when she came to the city. He was a good friend and a good boss so far. Hello, she said walking in the office. Rob's blonde head didn't lift from the screen. She joked about his blonde hair. He looked and acted like a full-on surfer Longish, blondish, shaggy hair, great tan, and he actually did surf often. But she still teased him about looking like a surfer. Hey, how are you.

Speaker 5:

I'm good. How are you?

Speaker 4:

Good.

Speaker 2:

He answered still staring at the screen. She sat on the chair directly in front of him and waited, and waited.

Speaker 5:

Uh, Rob, did you want me to come back? My boss gets annoyed when I just sit around.

Speaker 4:

Oh no, uh sorry, kate, I was trying to finish this up before you came in. Oh, how are you?

Speaker 5:

Good.

Speaker 2:

You, she said, smiling at the fact they had already done this part.

Speaker 4:

Oh you know, things are crazy as usual.

Speaker 5:

How's Becca.

Speaker 2:

Becca was Rob's very pregnant wife, ready to pop anytime.

Speaker 4:

She's gonna hurt someone, I swear. This lady innocently stepped in front of her when she was reaching for ice cream at the store. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Becca lost it, just for a few more weeks to keep her out of prison.

Speaker 5:

I bet you called this morning what's up.

Speaker 4:

Oh yeah, um, you know, martha Anderson right.

Speaker 5:

The Lovin Romance writer.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, she's going out for some surgery. She's going to be gone for about a month. Her column is weekly and while she's out I need someone else to write it. We're going to need to brainstorm and see what kind of an idea can spread over, say, four weeks, and something simple enough for you to pull it off.

Speaker 5:

It's not a topic that I think about often and, as you know, I don't know a lot about. Wait, did you say something easy for me to pull off?

Speaker 4:

Yeah, I need you. Her column is pretty popular and I need to give it to someone I can trust.

Speaker 5:

But, rob, I am not romance, in fact, I am anti-romance.

Speaker 4:

That's not true. You just decided to ignore it.

Speaker 5:

Are you kidding? You are quite clear on my romantic history.

Speaker 4:

You're a good writer, come on, you can make anything work.

Speaker 5:

I would have no clue where to start.

Speaker 4:

Well, lately she's been writing about engagements and whatnot, so I thought maybe you could find a location that's pretty popular for weddings and go there. Maybe you could follow a few couples maybe four to cover all four weeks and write about their experiences. How's that sound?

Speaker 5:

Hello people through the process of getting married.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 4:

I know You're really you're not really the best choice to report on this and it's been a while since you've done a lot of this sort of thing and you hate weddings, but I need your help.

Speaker 2:

Kate sat nodding at his list of reasons. This was a small nightmare.

Speaker 5:

I guess I mean, if I'm basically reporting their wedding, I don't really need to add anything like romantic stuff.

Speaker 4:

Kate, is it gonna be okay? You can do this. Maybe it'll help you open yourself up to a little romance again.

Speaker 2:

When she and Rob met he was engaged to Becca, but since they got married he wanted every non-married person to be married and as happy as he was. But because he knew her story, he never pushed it with her.

Speaker 5:

Okay, it's just another assignment. I'll start doing some research and I'll see what I can come up with.

Speaker 4:

Thank you, Kate.

Speaker 2:

He said as she reached the door I'll get back to you. She walked out of his office. She barely acknowledged anyone on the way back to her office. Cammie wasn't at her desk, so Kate left a note to come in when she got back. Romance Weddings how is this going to work? Kate once believed in all of that, but after having to cancel her own wedding the morning she was supposed to get married, happily ever after, didn't even compute anymore. Just then Cammie walked into the office.

Speaker 3:

Hey, why did Ricky, the photo guy, ask me to clear your schedule? Wow, what's with the face? Were you actually in trouble?

Speaker 5:

No, martha Anderson is going to be out for like a month or something. Mr Young wants me to write a four-part wedding piece for her column while she's gone.

Speaker 3:

Really you. I mean, I know, you can write anything, but I'm just surprised. I guess Me too.

Speaker 5:

He wants me to treat it more like reporting on a wedding of four couples at some popular wedding location or something.

Speaker 3:

Woohoo Road trip to Vegas.

Speaker 5:

I don't think that's what he wants. I just got the feeling he wants something off the beaten path.

Speaker 3:

Oh well, when does she leave?

Speaker 5:

In a week. So I need a location, travel arrangements, a couple or two, and an article concept within the next few days or so.

Speaker 3:

It's okay, kate, let's order in lunch today and lock ourselves up until we find a location.

Speaker 2:

Kate agreed and they got to work. They spent hours searching the internet. All of the common locations kept popping up. They decided that they wanted a waterfront location, but where, after four hours, a dreaded suggestion finally came up.

Speaker 3:

Okay, now don't get mad at me or anything, but what about Woodview? You've shown me pictures and this hotel right on the water, where everyone wants to get married, keeps coming up. It sounds perfect. Why not go there?

Speaker 2:

Cami said, ignoring the growing look of horror on Kate's face.

Speaker 5:

Are you out of your mind. So not only would I need to write a column about a subject I struggle to believe in, but I have to do it at the scene of the crime. I think you're nuts, and we have obviously been at this too long.

Speaker 2:

Kate said standing and walking around her desk to stretch.

Speaker 3:

Is this because of Jason and Chase?

Speaker 2:

Kate looked at her, pausing to answer with just the right way. Duh Was all she could come up with.

Speaker 3:

Didn't you say that Jason reached out recently trying to reconnect and you can just ignore Chase if you even run into him.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, jason and I texted a few times, but how can I focus with all of that just floating around? Look?

Speaker 3:

it's not a bad idea. This place is ideal.

Speaker 2:

Cami said, pointing at the computer screen.

Speaker 5:

I know, of course it is, but but see, there really is no reason.

Speaker 3:

In fact and I know this seems like it makes no sense, but this might make this whole thing easier being on your home turf, you already know everybody. Why not Kate?

Speaker 2:

She said breaking the silence in the room.

Speaker 5:

You're right, I know you are. It's been five years, so it's all in the past, right, it'll be fine. Okay, cami, I'll start working on the details with the hotel and getting some couples.

Speaker 3:

Great, I'll get your travel stuff taken care of. Do you want to stay in that hotel?

Speaker 2:

Cami said opening the door. Yeah, it offers the least complications, she said, bringing a giant smile to Cami's face.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Cami left the room by the end of the day. She had made all of the arrangements with the hotel and the couples and Cami had set up a flight for her. Woodview was a mid-sized town about an hour out of Portland. She would fly but would still need to drive another hour, so she rented a car too. When she called Rob to fill him in and share the concept, he was thrilled and said she could do whatever she needed to do. He had coverage for her at the office. Jason popped into her mind. She wanted to tell him she was coming back, that she would be around. She wasn't sure why it mattered, but she wanted to. She sat at her desk holding her phone, trying to figure out how to word it.

Speaker 3:

I'm heading out. Do you need anything before I leave?

Speaker 2:

Cami said popping in.

Speaker 5:

Do it without you.

Speaker 3:

Not true, but thanks.

Speaker 5:

Good night, have a good evening.

Speaker 2:

Cami left and Kate was left alone with her phone again. She didn't know what she was nervous about. It was a text for the love. He couldn't get her through the phone. The four attempts, the only decent version she came up with was hey, it's Kate.

Speaker 5:

Anyways, I just wanted to drop a note to let you know that I'm coming up there To Oregon, to Woodview, In a few days. It's for work and I'll be there for like a month or something. Just wanted to let you know if we happen to see each other. You'll know it's me. Anyways, I guess I'll see you, or not?

Speaker 2:

She shook her head, dropped her phone on the desk and walked over to the window. She and Jason had been friends for so long. It's hard to believe she would ever struggle sending him a text. She also had a tough time believing he would ever be involved in betrayal, humiliation and the worst day of her life either. She jumped when her phone vibrated on the desk. She walked back over and stepped back away from the phone like it was poison. Jason was calling. Why was he calling? They hadn't gotten up to the talking phase yet. She had no idea what to do. Finally, kate Brooks, she said, acting like she had no clue who was on the phone, and that she wasn't in a panic. Katie, jason's warm and friendly voice, asked Jason.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, sorry to call. I know we haven't talked in a while, but I got your text. You're coming home.

Speaker 5:

Well home. I'm coming to Woodview to work. Х Happy 있는.

Speaker 4:

But you're gonna be here, be around.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 4:

That's great. Maybe we could meet for coffee or something we can talk.

Speaker 2:

She looked around the room. She wanted that. She wanted her best friend back, but not all the pain.

Speaker 5:

I'm working while I'm up there, but sure, at some point.

Speaker 4:

Where are you staying, the Lennox?

Speaker 5:

A lot of my article is pretty much set there, so I just thought it would be easier.

Speaker 4:

Oh, when are you coming in?

Speaker 5:

Wednesday.

Speaker 2:

Neither said anything for a minute.

Speaker 4:

I'm looking forward to seeing you.

Speaker 2:

Kate didn't answer.

Speaker 4:

Well, I guess you have a lot of things to take care of, so I'll let you go. Yeah, thanks, I guess I'll see you soon.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, she hung up and put her phone down.

Speaker 4:

I guess I'll see you soon.

Speaker 2:

She hung up and put her phone back on the desk. She stood and went back to the window, cursing Cammie for ever coming up with the idea of going back to Woodview.

Speaker 4:

Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, that's just a small snippet from pages 10 through 20 of the Right One, written by Krista King.

Speaker 1:

Let's hear it for her. Thank you, guys. That was awesome, so much fun.

Speaker 4:

I can't wait to find out what happens next as we finish the book.

Speaker 1:

This book is available right now, where Krista King it is on Amazon, currently working to get it on a couple other platforms, but right now definitely Amazon.

Speaker 4:

The easiest thing to do just search the Right One, Krista King, on Amazon that's the way to get it and tell us about the sequel. Is it called the Right 2?

Speaker 1:

It's called the Right Time.

Speaker 4:

And when can we expect that?

Speaker 1:

We are in serious post-production at this point. I have my third proofreader finishing up right now, but it is formatted for the most part. We're also finishing cover design and then it only takes about a week, so hopefully by first week in February, that's the plan Wow, that's coming up.

Speaker 5:

That's real soon. I can't wait to do it.

Speaker 4:

If you're listening to the podcast it might already be out, so check it out on Amazon as well. And of course, we want I'm not saying goodbye to our performers, but I do want to get a big round of applause for Amanda Benjamin, amy Nalawai, craig Jackman and, of course, the writer herself, krista King.

Speaker 1:

And Paul Carganilla.

Speaker 4:

It was a pleasure, krista. We will leave our audience with this. If you have any advice for anyone out there considering wanting to start a creative journey, a creative process, take a leap or get shoved off a building as you felt like you kind of were. What would you say to those people? Do it?

Speaker 1:

Don't wait, jump off the mountain, take whatever ideas you have and just do it.

Speaker 4:

If you're interested in more, please subscribe or follow on YouTube or wherever you're listening to us. You can also go above and beyond and become a cove backer on Patreon. For as little as $3 a month, you'll get fun, exclusive perks like monthly bonus episodes, shout outs in the credits stickers in your mailbox, and there's much more to explore. And yeah, it's three bucks a month. Think of the value. With the bonus episode, you're getting five episodes of this show every month for the price of a cup of coffee. So please give us a quick visit and consider supporting the show at patreoncom. Slash cove podcast. Thank you.

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Paul Carganilla

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