So good to have you join us, Kim. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I don’t consciously write anything of myself into my
characters, but I’m sure bits and pieces of me come through. Sometimes I can’t
resist using something that’s happened to me in real life and adding it to a
story, and sometimes pieces of family members pop up in some of my characters. The
first time my oldest daughter got asked out (which was in a very public way) I HAD
to put it in one of my books. But generally it’s harder to write about myself
than my characters.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I started wanting to be a writer when I was about ten years
old. My best friend and I made up our own magazine and sold it to our neighbors
for ten cents a copy. Back then we typed it on manual typewriters and used carbon
paper to make copies. It was a lot of work… but we had fun doing it. I wrote poetry in college, loved it, and ended
up going back to school for a Master’s degree in creative writing.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I love a good story and will read across multiple genres. Some authors that have influenced me are Francine Rivers, Jodi Picoult, and Stephen King.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I don’t know if it’s the quirkiest thing I’ve ever done, but recently I went blueberry picking with my family in Connecticut
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
Sometimes I don’t think I’m doing a very good job of
managing my stress level. I tend to be a bit of an emotional sponge and this is
especially true when it comes to my kids. I have two daughters ages 18 & 16
who have been very involved in school activities, so we are constantly on the
go. When I start to lose it, I ask God to help me get through whatever we need
to do. I also try to focus on three positives in my life. Taking long walks with our dog through the
woods and swimming also helps.
How do you choose your characters’ names?
Sometimes I use a baby book and look up what the name means,
other times I try out different names in my head and until one feels right. In
Wedding Blunder, I wanted Millie to have an old-fashioned name. At first I
thought she was a Mildred, but then I discovered she’d been named after her
father as part of her mother’s attempt to get him to stay.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I’m most proud of my daughters. My oldest is graduated with
honors from high school this year and is on her way to college where she plans
to study Civil Engineering and hopes to specialize in water systems. My
youngest will be a junior next year and is interested in the medical
profession. Both of them are kind, caring and fun to be around.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
I would be a giraffe. I have a long neck and my arms and legs
are super skinny.
What is your favorite food?
Nothing beats a tender steak, fluffy mashed potatoes and
fresh spinach. I am a migrainer, so I have to be pretty careful with my diet. I
have lots of food triggers and can’t eat great stuff like chocolate or cheese.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest
roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
I think my biggest challenge getting started as a writer was
getting enough feedback to understand where I was strong and where I needed to
improve. I also had no contacts with other writers or within the publishing
world. This changed when I met another writer in our community, Kathleen
Y’Barbo. She helped fill in my lack of industry knowledge and encouraged me to
connect with other writers. I’ve benefited greatly from attending ACFW
conferences where I have met a number of amazing, talented, and friendly writers
(including you, Lena !). I have been in a
critique group for ten years and really enjoy the friendship and feedback.
The idea for Blunder came from a
friend of mine who owns a restaurant here in The Woodlands called Dosie Doe’s.
I loved the name and immediately imagined a mother/daughter working together in
a café called “Dosie Dough’s.” I knew the heart of the story would be a
romance, but I also wanted to write about a relationship between a mother and
daughter who loved each other, but also drove each other crazy. I knew Millie
would dream of stardom as a way to get out of a small town, and I also knew
that her love of her mother would make it impossible for her to leave. I chose
dentistry as David’s profession because I wanted a hero who defied stereotypes.
Chapter
1
"He’s
your dentist, Mom. I’m not going on a blind date with your
dentist.”
Millie Hogan stabbed her knife into the tub of mustard
then
swiped
it across a piece of pumpernickel. She’d only broken up with
Karl
Kauffman a couple of weeks ago, and already her mother was
trying
to set her up.
Peering over the top of the glass deli counter, Howard
Glugan,
the
chief of police and one of the café’s regulars, strained to watch.
“Take it easy, Millie,” he said. “I’d hate to charge you
for assault and
battery
to a slice of bread.”
Millie managed to laugh. She arranged slices of ham and Swiss
cheese
on the bread, stuck a colorful toothpick through the center,
and
added a handful of chips. “Pie, Chief?”
“What kind?”
“Blueberry, pecan, or rhubarb.”
“I could manage a piece of rhubarb.”
Millie cut him an ample slice and rang him up on the
register.
“Of course you’re going out with Dr. Denvers,” her mother
stated.
“It’s all arranged.”
“Then unarrange it. Shouldn’t you be working the grill?”
Millie
turned to the town’s librarian. “The usual, Mrs. Ellison?”
This sounds like a really fun read. How can readers find you
on the Internet?
Please stop by, I’d love to hear from everyone. Many
thanks
My pleasure, Kim. You must come back for your next book.
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A Wedding Blunder in the Black Hills
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Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
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