J.T. Kunkel is…On the Writing Block!

Sherry Ickes
Aug 5
2 min read

Summer is the perfect time to visit the beach, with a book in your hands. And this next author, has a great read for your vacation.

I have been a career Chief Financial Officer but have always had an artistic side. I’ve been a musician my whole life, playing guitars, keyboards and woodwinds. I’ve been a songwriter since I was twelve years old.

I didn’t start writing novels until I was in my fifties and I now can’t imagine life without it. I now have fourteen books published, soon to be twenty-one.

I have always used a traditional publisher, believing the quality of my product would be better than self-publishing.

The thing I enjoy most about being a writer is meeting readers. I love to get feedback.

What is your ultimate goal as an author?

My goal ultimately is to entertain the reader and sometimes to inspire or educate. But usually entertain.

Who are two authors that have inspired your writing?

Stephen King and Dean Koontz are my most inspiring authors. Which is why my author name begins with a ‘K.’

Do you have a writing schedule, or do you write whenever you can squeeze it in?

When I’m writing, I usually write around an hour or two or a minimum of 1000 words a day. Sometimes more but rarely less. It’s usually early evening. I work full time, so that’s what works for me.

How much research do you conduct for your storylines?

It depends on the story, whether I’m familiar with the location. The less familiar I am with the location, the more research I do. I want to be as realistic as possible.

Bonus Question: Any advice for other authors?

Always stay true to yourself and never give up on your process. If you don’t want to self-publish, you will find a publisher eventually. Never give up.

What is Under the Surface about?

Cordelia Corbett’s new life in Point Pleasant Beach is anything but quiet. After moving into her late grandmother’s lakeside home, Cordelia has been building her investigation business with the help of Shelby Irons, her quick-witted live-in sidekick.

But when a young woman’s body floats to the surface of the lake behind their house, the peace of the small town is shattered. As Cordelia and Shelby dig into the case, they uncover a web of secrets that stretches across the idyllic New Jersey shore.

Teaming up with her on-again, off-again flame, Detective Clint Daniels, Cordelia is determined to find out how and why the woman dies. Was it a tragic accident or is something darker lurking beneath the surface?