Interview with Kristen Morgen

Kristen Morgen is a licensed architect and contemporary romance writer with a second novel in the works. Her debut novel, Behind the Glass, tests Michael and Rebecca's love and virtues as they discover that meeting "the one" doesn't come without strings attached. Her work is praised for its relatabily and originality as it awakens the hopeless romantic in us all. 

You’ve mentioned in another interview that you’re working on a new book. How has this been going?
It’s going slowly but surely, but I’m hoping to release it toward the end of 2020. It’s another contemporary romance with all the feels called Off the Wall. I’m really enjoying escaping into writing it as often as my busy life allows. I’m also working on another book along with that one, more in the genre of chick lit. It’s a lighthearted story of 3 friends and their crazy but true stories of dating. I’m very excited about both projects!

Does your work and expertise as an architect influence your writing?
I have been told my many people that it does! As an architect, I have a keen sense for details and vivid descriptions of settings in my writing. I find that I have a strong need to paint a picture of the places in the book, because for me as an author, a sense of place really sets the mood I’m trying to create for the scene. I’m definitely a very visual writer.

​As a creative spirit, how do you feed your creativity outside of writing?
I’m always designing and creating something every day. Whether it be a house design I’m working on, graphic design for my social media advertisements for Behind the Glass, website design (I’ve designed both websites for my two businesses) or simply interior design in my own home. I love DIY projects and finding ways to repurpose things. Right now, I’m collecting wine corks for a project I’ve been thinking about for months. And I love wine, so cheers to that!

​Readers praise Behind the Glass for its emotional complexity, chemistry, and sensitivity. How did you go about setting up the many layers this novel has? 
It was a very long process with a lot of planning, but ultimately, the story really came together as I wrote it, kind of on its own. I started with a storyline and themes that were very important to me to explore and I found that each chapter developed as I went. Even with the best planning, I found that the story grew organically and naturally. At the end of the day, I try to write what I want as a reader as well.

How did you come up with the title Behind the Glass? What does it convey to you?
The title of the book had always been in my head from the beginning and was actually one of the main driving forces for me throughout the entire process of writing this book. I always knew that I wanted a bookstore café called Behind the Glass to be central to the story, but I also knew that the title had to be a metaphor for what the main character, Rebecca, was struggling with throughout the book as well. Coming out from “behind the glass,” from behind her protective emotional shell, was her main journey and ultimately what leads her to happiness and true love with Michael. 

Do you have any favorite romance characters or motifs? Friends as lovers, Cinderella-like tales, etc? Have they influenced your work?
I’m a huge Nicholas Sparks fan and I’ve always enjoyed reading relatable stories, things that we all struggle with in the romantic realm. I do enjoy escaping into stories that are truly fantasy and sometimes pure silliness too, but the stories that stick with me tend to be those that I can relate to on a personal level. I also love stories that torture the audience a bit. I love keeping the characters from being together and building up that need for an HEA at the end. I find it so much more satisfying as a reader and as a writer. The struggle has to be worth it.

Writing can be such a solitary endeavor. How important is community to you? Has it helped you on your journey?
I have to say, this has been probably the single biggest surprise to me as a writer! When I wrote Behind the Glass, I was completely solitary, telling no one about my writing, sharing nothing with anyone, other than my editor. I didn’t have a writing community to lean on, simply because writing was my “hobby” and it never really occurred to me to find other writers. In the past year, I’ve met the most amazing online community of writers via social media and I’m simply blown away by the support, kindness, comradery, collaboration and sense of family that I’ve found. It’s the most positive community I’ve ever been a part of, and I honestly lean on my “literary family” on a daily basis. They are wonderful people!

​Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?
For me, writing has always been something I enjoy doing. I’ve been drawn to it for as long as I can remember. When I sat down to write Behind the Glass, I did it for me. I set out to write the book that I wanted to read, and I honestly didn’t think beyond that. I figured, if someone else likes my book, wonderful, if not, I was still fulfilled simply by writing it and accomplishing that personal goal. But I’ll admit…. hearing someone tell me how they connected with my book, or how it helped them in their life somehow, or that my book is now their favorite book….. it blows me away. It’s something I never expected and the feeling it gives me is indescribable. It has made this “hobby” of mine into a serious second career and something I never want to stop doing. So, thank you to each and every reader who has taken the time to read and review my book, it means more to me than anything!

Pick up your copy of Behind the Glass here.
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