ALL MY TEARS - Kathy McKinsey - One Free Book

Welcome, Kathy. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

A lot, I think. None of the stories are actual things that have happened in my life, but the emotions, the questions and struggles are mine.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

It took me a while to think of something that wasn’t either kind of mean or a little disgusting.

One year, my husband Murray and I showed up at church for VBS wearing bunny ears. “You did say this was Vacation Bunny School, didn’t you?”

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I started writing down silly stories when I was about ten.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love mysteries, American pioneer stories, World War II fiction and nonfiction. Mysteries include everything from stories in the Middle Ages, archeological settings in the early 1900s, as well as present-day.

I’ll read science fiction occasionally with my husband. Philip Yancey and Max Lucado are two of my favorite authors, and To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book ever.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

That’s something I’m still struggling with. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed, I want to bury my head under my pillow.

Lately, I’m trying to start each day with, “What absolutely has to be done today?” Then if I’m able to do anything else, it’s an added treat.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I have made a list of first and last names. From friends, family, co-workers, characters in lists of books, names from the internet.

When I get ready to write a story, I look at my list and pick out the ones who fit my characters.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I give myself little credit for this, but I have five adult children who make me tear up with pride.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A dog. They are so friendly and happy.

What is your favorite food?

Hamburgers with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise.

You’re making me hungry, only my burger would be with mustard. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Writing every day. I am still working to overcome that struggle.

Tell us about the featured book.

All My Tears is a collection of five novellas about women struggling with real-life troubles and failures. My goal is to give them hope, through relationships, new unexpected doors opening in their lives, hearing from God.

I want readers to know that God is our loving Father. He is watching and waiting for us and runs to greet us as soon as we take a step toward him.

Please give us the first page of the book.

When I opened my eyes, my brother Jeff sat beside me, his head in his hands, asleep.

Where was I? I didn’t know this room. What . . . “Jeff?” My voice croaked.

He jerked awake, then looked straight at me. “Cassie. Hey.”

“Why are you here?” My eyes were heavy and my mouth dry. Turning my head, I saw the IV attached to my arm. “Is this a hospital? Why, what, why are you here?”

Jeff leaned over and put his face right beside mine. “Because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now.”

“What—what happened?” I lay in a bed, and my head was confused and groggy. “Jeff?”

“You’re hurt.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “But yes, this is a hospital, and you’re going to be okay. Just sleep now. I promise I’ll stay with you.”

Relaxing, I closed my eyes. He wasn’t going anywhere.

--

The next time I woke and found my brother sitting beside my bed, I was more alert. “Jeff?”

He closed the magazine in his hands and turned toward me. “Hey, little bird, how are you?”

I couldn’t meet his eyes. “I think I heard . . . one of the nurses said . . . I tried to kill myself. Is that true?”

He knelt on the floor beside my bed and laid his head close to me. “Yes, honey.”

“I don’t remember anything about it. That’s, that’s scary.” It was a struggle to sit up. My hands, covered with bandages, hurt when I put weight on them.

Jeff pushed some pillows to prop me in a more comfortable position. “It is scary.” He put his hands on my shoulders and gazed straight in my eyes. “But we’re going to help you.”

“I don’t understand. Why would I?” restless, I twisted, trying to sit up more.

He rested his hand on my cheek. “Shh, try to relax. The doctor said you can leave the hospital on Tuesday. Today’s Saturday.” He looked worried, and his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Sharon and I want you to come stay with us and the kids for a while, as long as you need. We’ll help you. We’ll find doctors and counselors there. You’re not going to be alone with this.”

My head pulsed. In the hall outside, a page came over the loudspeaker. “What about my apartment? My job?”

He squeezed my fingers. “Those things can wait a while, so you can get well. There’s nothing you need to be in a hurry about. I’m going to keep telling you not to be in a hurry.”

My eyes closed, and I took a deep breath. That was not how I handled life. I always kept myself under pressure, trying to stay one or two steps ahead of things at work. Biting my lip, I shook my head. After all, how well had I handled my life?

I want to know what happens next. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Kathy.mckinsey@gmail.com

https://www.kathymckinsey.com

https://www.facebook.com/kathy.brinkmann.mckinsey

https://twitter.com/kathymckinsey

https://www.amazon.com/Millies-Christmas-Kathy-McKinsey-ebook/dp/B07YTF53KT

https://www.amazon.com/All-My-Tears-Kathy-McKinsey-ebook/dp/B07P92QZPJ

Thank you, Kathy, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. It’s the next book I’m going to read.

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