DEBUT SPOTLIGHT: Kelly Ohlert
Today, I’m excited to present my interview with contemporary romance author, Kelly Ohlert. Even though I write and read dark, I love reading romance as a bit of a palate cleanser from the horror, suspense, and gothic fiction I usually devour. A good romance is a breath a fresh air—a reprieve from the real world. I am so excited for Kelly’s debut, TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE, out on December 6th—a grumpy/sunshine RomCom in which the heart-warming heroine, Trixie, rescues a literal chicken from traffic! As a fellow “crazy animal person” in her own grumpy/sunshine relationship, I would likely do the same thing! I can only imagine the hijinks that ensue!
The Synopsis
Him, her, and a chicken make for one crowded house in Kelly Ohlert’s charming debut; a one-of-a-kind romcom, written in the vein of Lyssa Kay Adams and Abby Jimenez.
Trixie isn’t exactly sure what she was thinking when she stopped her car in the middle of downtown Chicago, scooped up a chicken struggling to cross the road, and drove off… but she does know that she has to find a new home for herself and her new feathered friend. The landlord at her apartment doesn’t allow pets and has caught Trixie in one too many pet-smuggling attempts in the past.
Bear likes his quiet life with his close-knit family, who own a flower business, but he’s in for a rude awakening when his meddlesome sisters post an ad to rent the spare room in his simple home, without asking his permission. Still, when Trixie responds to the ad, he agrees to let her move in, despite immediate worries about keeping things platonic.
Determined to keep her new room, befriend Bear, and give Chick-chick, her rescue chicken, the care she deserves, Trixie fights to keep her walls up and resist her romantic feelings for Bear. However, it’s not long before the pair’s proximity and chicken parenting ignite flames that have Trixie and Bear testing the boundaries of their platonic ground rules. They have to figure out how to save a family business, pay for mounting vet bills, and navigate their own emotional baggage if they want to find the love that they all deserve.
Perfect for readers of The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary, and fans of The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez, readers will find themselves rooting for every one of the relatable, but tenderly flawed, characters in this book as they follow the heartwarming antics of a rescue chicken and her human companions.
The Interview
Paulette: Hi Kelly! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me. To Get To The Other Side sounds absolutely delightful! Can you tell us what inspired you to write it?
Kelly: The opening chapter was inspired by a true story. My friend Gretchen found a chicken in downtown Chicago and took it in. She did not have to relocate, and Trixie and Bear are entirely fictional, but the moment she told me this outlandish story about her new pet, I knew it belonged in a book, and she gave me her blessing to include it. The funny thing is, I see reviews all the time saying that part of it is too unbelievable, when it’s the one piece that is true!
Paulette: Oh, it’s totally believable to me! What a fun story, though, and I’m so glad that your friend took in this wayward chicken! Stories are so great when they are inspired organically. Can you tell us a little about your writing process?
Kelly: When I have a current project, I write daily. The speed with which I drafted changed drastically the day I realized I didn’t have to have a whole hour or two to sit down and write, and that I could get a few hundred words down in 15 minutes, if I left myself a sentence reminding me where I was going with the story to make it easier to pick back up.
I’m a pantser who really wishes she could be a plotter! I’ve read craft books and tried to make myself plot. As my career advances I don’t think I’ll have a choice but to plot more, because of the nature of selling books on proposal later in your career, and having to be able to put together that proposal, which includes chapter summaries. I’ve written one proposal so far for a book that wasn’t already drafted and it was so hard for me to do I think I could have drafted 2/3 of the book in the time it took me to get down the chapter summaries. Beyond a very vague idea of where things are going, I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen next until my fingers start typing.
Paulette: All of this is so true. As someone who just sold book three on proposal (which is vaguely terrifying at the same time it is exciting), learning to plot and write synopses and proposals early in your career is beyond helpful. It gets easier with time and experience, but I can relate with the feelings of overwhelm. For me, it took writing two books to completion before I had the confidence to pitch on proposal. Now, it would be really hard to imagine writing a full draft before pitching, although I would if I had to!
Speaking of future books, are there any future projects you’re free to talk about?
Kelly: My second novel – Let’s Get Quizzical, is slated for Fall 2023 with Alcove Press. It’s a second chance romance between former high school sweethearts who are brought back together unexpectedly when they end up as teammates on a trivia game show on TV. What really makes this book special is that as a trivia buff, one of the characters thinks in fun facts, so her inner monologue is full of these fascinating tidbits, so not only is it a fun romcom, but you also walk away with interesting anecdotes to share at your next party!
Paulette: That sounds so fun! I love trivia nights. I think we writers really shine at those parties. All of those random facts we learn as we research can make us show up big on trivia night!
Now, for one of my favorite questions: What are you reading right now?
Kelly: Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey. She pitched it as sexy Mr. Rogers and it is adorable. I’m a sucker for romances where much of the communication is done over text/email/letters.
Paulette: I love those framing devices as well—epistolary format is great for romance. And a Mr. Rogers-type character as a romantic lead? Sold. We need more gentle, kind, and sensitive male leads.
Finally, do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Kelly: Find yourself some writing buddies! Having critique partners is so important. I’ve learned so much from them along the way. Beyond that, writing is a long and challenging journey. I truly believe I wouldn’t be here today without the support and encouragement of my friends. If you don’t have a writing group, it’s as simple as tweeting that you’re looking to make some friends with other writers at the same stage in their careers and with similar goals as you. That, and to write every day. Don’t take that literally. Knowing when to take breaks is important, and especially for neurodivergent folks, that may not be possible, but for me, forming that habit was a game changer. Even if I sat down with a goal of getting 2 paragraphs down, once I started writing I usually kept going.
Paulette: I agree. Having a daily writing habit has helped me a ton, although if life is too much, I will put my writing habit to the side. And yes for critique partners! I would be lost without mine.
Thanks again for joining me, Kelly, and congrats on your launch! I hope this debut year makes your dreams come true in every way.
You can purchase TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE everywhere books are sold, beginning on 12/06/22, or you can pre-order from Shuler Books here, or buy directly from Kelly’s publisher, Penguin Random House, or from Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble, as well as your favorite indie bookseller.
Kelly Ohlert is a romance author. She’s a lifelong avid reader of all genres, and as a busy mom has an enthusiastic appreciation for audio books and multi-tasking.
Kelly grew up in the Chicago area, but moved to attend Western Michigan University. She stuck around Michigan, hopping from city to city. Her meet cute involved “borrowing” that hot guy’s baseball cap, and it’s been love ever since. She, her husband(the aforementioned ball cap owner), and their two young daughters reside in the Lansing area, with their menagerie of five fur babies.
Aside from the obvious reading and writing, Kelly’s hobbies include belting out show tunes, game nights, losing her cell phone with alarming frequency, and getting outside to enjoy nature. If you meet her, approach with caution. She works from home, and in her stir crazy state, has been known to pounce on unsuspecting strangers to leach them of an ounce of adult conversation.
You can connect with Kelly via her website, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.