Kimberly Beckett’s not-so-perfect characters, brought together by their shared love of horses and bolstered by their horses’ unwavering trust in them, courageously overcome devastating loss to find true love and happiness.
As long as I can remember, I have loved horses. I wore out four rocking horses before I was 5-years-old. My parents thought my horse craziness was a passing phase, but I’m over 50, and I haven’t outgrown it yet. As soon as I got my first attorney job (I became an attorney so I could afford to own and board a horse of my own) I bought my first horse. Since then, I have always owned at least one horse. I now own a Canadian Warmblood gelding named Clifford and compete as an adult amateur at dressage. In 2016 I earned my USDF Bronze medal.
I have an artistic side as well. I was the first Music/Pre-law major Ohio Northern University ever graduated, and though I majored in clarinet, I also played saxophone and flute in the jazz band, and French Horn in marching band. I also can play a little piano, and I sang choir in college. I have not performed or played music in quite some time (my riding takes up most of my spare time), but I love music.
My day job is something completely different. I have been a civilian attorney for the Department of Defense for nearly 30 years. I’ve served as labor and employment lawyer and a government contract attorney, both of which can be challenging and rewarding, AND I make enough money to own my own horse. :>)
In 2012, my life completely changed. In the fall of 2012, my parents passed away 11 days apart, and as the oldest child, and the lawyer in the family, I became the responsible party for all aspects of the settlement of their estates, their trust, and keeping my family together – all while working full time and keeping my dressage horse in training. One day, mentally and emotionally exhausted, I needed an escape, and reached for my favorite romance novel from my teenage years, Shanna, by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I remembered how much I had enjoyed reading romance as a teenager, and promptly re-read every Kathleen Woodiwiss, Johanna Lindsey, and Julie Garwood book available, then moved on to binge read some of today’s most popular authors – Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Mary Balogh, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth Hoyt, Loretta Chase, and Grace Burrowes.
It was a friend who suggested maybe I should write. I remarked during lunch that I read nearly 1 romance novel a day. She suggested that maybe I should think about writing a romance novel, especially since I’m approaching retirement, and could actually make some money doing it. Coincidentally, at about that same time, Grace Burrowes was offering a writer’s retreat to Scotland. I decided to go, and Grace read my preliminary attempts, gave me some really valuable advice, and my first pitch to a publisher resulted in a contract.
I look forward to hearing from readers!I live in southwest Ohio, but the web lets me hear from anyone. Please contact me via my site or social media.
A Little More About Me
- Find out more about my personal background, what inspires my writing, and advice for aspiring novelists in Janet Irvin’s From the Write Side 2022 Author of the Month interview.
- I talk about how horses have influenced my life, why I write equine-facilitated happily ever afters and more in this Go Pets Blog interview.
- In my interview in Uncaged Books I talk about my favorite authors and influences.
- Check out my interview with author Seelie Kay discussing how our jobs as lawyers influence our writing, worst dates, secret vices, the nature of love, and more!
- Read my interview on the Eight Ladies Writing blog with the story behind the audio edition and the cover for Dressage Dreaming.
