Get ready to learn more about the book Curtain Call in this discussion with sapphic author Kim Pritekel.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Kim Pritekel about Curtain Call, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the New York category in the 2026 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Curtain Call?
Funny story for how this book came about. I wrote this novel back in 2020, but it came from a series of short stories, written back in 2006. So, here’s the story.
I had a friend back then who’s 8-year-old niece was part of a dance school, and they were having a Christmas dance event. My friend invited me to go, and let me tell you, I did NOT want to go, but I did. What I didn’t realize was, there were also older dancers, and when the 18, 19-year-olds came out on stage, I was totally transfixed. Those young women were so beautiful and graceful. Sitting there watching them, the entire story fleshed itself out in my mind.
So, I wrote the initial two shorts then a reader commissioned me to write two more shorts, as she loved the story so much. So, in 2020, I pulled all four shorts together and rewrote them to turn into the two novels it is now – Curtain Call and its sequel, Encore Performance.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
My favorite character in this by far is the love interest, Christian. No, she’s not much like me – though the MC, Gray is! – but there’s just something about her. Her quiet strength, and the mystique that is so enticing with her. She’s very layered and very complex. And, she’s simply stunning!
What part of Curtain Call was the most fun to write?
Honestly? Writing the MC, Gray was the most fun. She’s quirky, funny and has such an interesting way of looking at things. It was a lot of fun to just let myself get inside her head and heart and just go with it.
How much research did you need to do for Curtain Call?
I know absolutely zero about dance, so I had to research a lot about that and how the theater world works. I’ve always loved watching dancers, so it was fun learning a bit more about their world.
What is your writing process like?
I’m a bit of a combination of a plotter and pantser. I always have a solid plot in mind, often with key details or even key scenes planned out. HOWEVER!!!! lol My characters don’t always agree, so they end up turning me into a pantswer at times. I’ve learned over forty years of writing – began when I was nine – to just let them have it, because in the end, I’m certainly not going to win.
Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I write in my “office”, a space I’ve made in my house that I only use for writing. Most the time I listen to music with earbuds to help me focus.
Is there a particular genre you would love to write but only under a pseudonym?
I think it would be fun to write some good old-fashioned smut under a pseudonym. Yes, there are sex scenes in my novels, but it’s not the plot. So, to do some fun, plotless erotica, I think it would be a blast!
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
What helps me is that I’m extremely focused and incredibly organized in my thought process. This makes me extremely fast. My record for writing a novel that I was completely in the zone for, was eight days. My average is sixteen days.
When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?
I don’t do anything externally to “set the mood”, but I have to get myself in the right headspace. I feel everything my characters do, good or bad, so I have to be emotionally open in order to get it right. There have been times that I’ve had to hold off a day because I know I’m just “not there”.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
I am an exceedingly picky reader. I don’t read often, but when I do, I tend to go back to books I enjoyed when I was younger – Dean Koontz, for example. I do love a really good lesbian novel, but again, super picky.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
Most definitely. V.C. Andrews. Like every good GenX kid, I grew up reading her books, starting when I was ten. By that point, I was already writing, but her books taught me characterization. Also, the complexity of relationships and family dynamics, and how that can affect the entire plot. I was very young, but it was the exact type of writing I needed at the time to learn and evolve.
