Showing posts with label Kathy McKinsey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kathy McKinsey. Show all posts

Thursday, February 25, 2021

GIFTS OF GRACE - Kathy McKinsey - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Kathy. Why do you write the kind of books you do? I want to offer to other Christians the kind of grace God has shown me. That he walks beside us every day, picking us up every time we fall down, showing us new hope no matter our age or circumstances.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? When our first child was laid in my arms. I cried so much, my doctor was touched by the picture of our meeting and sent me flowers.

How has being published changed your life? Publishing a book was a dream that took nearly 50 years to come true. I’m still trying to learn how to handle this wonderful gift with the kind of good work it deserves to make it grow.

What are you reading right now? I am loving going through the Kit Shannon books by James Scott Bell and Tracie Peterson.

What is your current work in progress? I’ve had a hard time starting a new writing project. I’m working on a fast draft through February, making myself write something down every day and trying not to edit as I go along. I love stories about siblings, and this one has a brother and two sisters, all adults, sharing a house and supporting each other through their struggles.

That sounds interesting. What would be your dream vacation? A few years ago, I got together with my two grown daughters, and we visited my mother in Missouri. I am hoping to do that again soon.

How do you choose your settings for each book? In one of the novellas in my most recent book, I decided to place my story on a farm. I grew up on a farm, and I wanted to try to share the richness of that.

I’ve lived in cities for more than 40 years, so I’m most comfortable placing stories in cities. However, I don’t name them, either real city names or fictional ones. I like the freedom of simply having a general city atmosphere.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why? The author Dee Henderson. She has been such an inspiration to me as a writer. I continue to read her O’Malley series again and again. It’s like spending the afternoon with a close family member.

I love her books, too. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading? I love knitting and crocheting gifts for family and friends.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? Periodically I go through a time when I lose the motivation to write. Once I start again, I enjoy making stories so much. I am grateful that to this point, I’ve always been able to get myself back to this job.

What advice would you give to a beginning author? I wrote very little for over 30 years, using work and raising my family as an excuse. I know it can be hard to find time in a busy schedule to write, but try to write even for a few minutes most days, in a journal, about people you see during the day, conversations you overhear, ideas that flit through your mind.

Tell us about the featured book. GIFTS OF GRACE

Three novellas. Three women search with hungry hearts, and God shows them surprising answers.

Tammy needs a new goal to fill her empty nest, and she needs to find forgiveness for her heart.

Mourning the loss of her baby, Judy flees to the home she abandoned twelve years ago. The family farm. Is something new waiting for her at this old home?

Iola, who is blind, struggles to prove herself as a professional and to be the mother her sixteen-year-old daughter needs during a rough time.

Watch as God opens doors these women would never expect.

Please give us the first page of the book.

 “Grandma, you are so lucky.” C.T. looked up at me, his face crumpled, ready to sleep. “You live in a house with four men.” His eyes closed then opened again. “And a big dog. We’ll always make sure you’re safe.”

My heart warmed as I bent to kiss him. “You’re right. Who would dare to mess with me?”

He curled into a ball then buried his face in his arms. “Love you, Grandma. Have a good sleep.”

“I love you too, baby.” After tucking the covers around my seven-year-old little man, I tiptoed out of his room.

Safety was not my concern with these four men, but I did have concerns. Lord God, help us. Especially with this new man in our home.

At the top of the stairs, I stopped to listen. All I could hear was the television, with loud cars screeching, coming from Al’s room. I sighed. Al was hard of hearing, so he kept the volume loud. How would my husband and son handle that?

Not that a loud TV was my biggest worry.

My son Roland had his class tonight, but what was Karl thinking?

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/Gifts-Grace-Kathy-McKinsey-ebook/dp/B08T7ZHLMZ

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 for having your book on my blog. I know my readers will be as interested in it as I am.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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 Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

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?

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

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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 Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: