Interview with Imani King, author of The Cowboy’s Baby

What can you tell us about your new release, The Cowboy’s Baby?

With ‘The Cowboy’s Baby,’ I’m returning to the Corbett billionaire family that I first introduced in 2015. The brothers all had their stories told but I’ve been hankering to write western lately and the idea just popped into my head one day – why not give the Corbett cousins their own books? Set in the country, but featuring the same sexy, brooding alphas that my readers love? Billionaires don’t always wear suits and live in downtown penthouses! The Cowboy’s Baby is my version of a good old-fashioned romance, without skimping on any of the heat fans know to expect from me

What’s on the top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

Outlander, A Song of Ice and Fire Series, anything by Stephen King, Jane Eyre, The Secret History.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Stephen King! It feels like people are starting to appreciate him now, in a way they maybe didn’t in the past. He seems to have an almost magical ability to make his books ‘readable’ – the most mundane scene or everyday event and somehow he manages to turn it into a total page-turner. I’d love to ask him how he does that.

What’s on your writing desk?

Phone, mug of lemon and ginger tea, lip gloss, notepad and pen – not much else. My desk is directly in front of a window and I like to keep it clear of clutter – an organized workspace is, for me, an organized mind.

What’s a typical day like for you?

Typical weekday? Most days I get up at about 6:30 and go for a run before it gets too hot – I like that time of day, something about the dawn light and the calm before the rush hour traffic usually puts me in a good state of mind. After that I take care of errands, of which there are always many – I’m one of those people who needs to have everything taken care of and put away before I can get down to work – or fun.

Most of the morning is spent writing and/or researching, and sometimes I’ll take a short nap in the early afternoon. I live within walking distance of a few close friends and we often drop by each other’s houses unannounced for an early dinner or a walk in the local park. I really make an effort not to live too hectically, even though that’s not always possible. If I don’t see friends in the evening, I’ll go to a yoga class or just chill out by myself and catch up on whatever TV series I’m currently binging on (I’m really excited about the return of Game of Thrones right now!). It’s not the most exciting life, but I love it. If I’ve got work I love and friends around me, I find I don’t need to be bungee-jumping in my free time. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Never give up. It’s familiar to the point of banality and for that reason I think it might get overlooked sometimes, or dismissed as ‘too obvious’ when it’s anything but. Nothing comes without hard work. No one’s life is free of struggles or obstacles. All any of us can do is pick ourselves back up, over and over, keep trying, keep going.

What scene in The Cowboy’s Baby was your favorite to write?

Am I allowed to say all of them? OK, that would be cheating. I think my favorite scenes to write were the ones where Tia and Dallas are getting to know each other, realizing their preconceived notions about what a ‘city girl’ or a ‘cowboy’ are supposed to be out of the way and really starting to see the other person. There’s a lot of humor in their early interactions, and I admit I laughed at quite a few of my own jokes while writing. Of course, the final scene was also lovely to write, but I can’t say anything about that without giving it all away!

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – This is an Anais Nin quote that I read recently – it speaks to me in general but it also applies neatly to The Cowboy’s Baby and the theme of not allowing fear or past hurt to keep you closed off from like or love.

Imani King is the author of the new book The Cowboy’s Baby. 

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