Wednesday Writers-Interview with author Kathy McKinsey

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Author Interview with Kathy McKinsey, Book Excerpt from Gifts of Grace, Braille drawing, Gifts of Grace, Kathy McKinsey, Short story collection, Wednesday Writers, Women’s Fiction

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today I’m interviewing author Kathy McKinsey. We’ll be talking about her new book, Gifts of Grace, and learning some interesting things about Kathy. She also has an excerpt from the book for your reading pleasure. So without any further ado, let’s welcome Kathy to the blog!

Welcome, Kathy! I see that your new book, Gifts of Grace, is a collection of three novellas. Please tell the readers a bit about the book.

I wanted to challenge myself with this book. I grew up on a farm, and I had fun setting one of the stories on a farm. I am blind, and I wanted to have one of the main characters be blind. This wasn’t as easy as it might sound, but I found this task an excellent project to stretch my writing skills.

You’re blind? How does that work with writing and editing your work?

I use a screen reading program with my computer. With audible speech, it reads to me what I type, other people’s documents, emails and internet articles, etc. I can listen by page, line, word, individual character.

Wow! That’s interesting. I know about dictation to text computer programs or those that read to you. I use one of those programs to listen to what I’ve written, but the programs I’m familiar with don’t show punctuation. What a great tool!

So, how did you come up with the concept for Gifts of Grace?

I have found that God’s grace last much longer than the day of our salvation. He walks with us through every situation every day, covering us and helping us with his grace. I want to show stories of how God continues to pick us up when we fall and strengthen us with his grace throughout our lives as Christians.

Your web page indicates that you’ve written in several genres. Am I correct is saying Gift of Grace is women’s fiction? If so, is this your first book in this genre?

My first book, All My Tears, is also a collection of women’s fiction novellas. My second book, Millie’s Christmas, is a children’s Christmas story.

Do you have a favorite genre in which to write and, if so, why?

I write mostly women’s fiction. I like to write stories that I would want to read.

How did you get started writing?

I started writing stories at about ten and continued to write throughout my teens. Then I didn’t write much for more than 30 years, through college and work and raising a family. When I had to stop working due to health issues, I took up writing again as a new career.

Let’s get some personal info on you:

What is the farthest place from your home that you have visited?

In about 2005 or so, my husband and two of our sons and I went to Los Angeles where my sons participated in a braille competency contest.

The most fun place?

A few years ago, my two adult daughters and I went to Missouri to visit my mother on the farm where I grew up. I think that’s probably the most fun vacation I’ve ever had.

Tell us a little bit about your hobbies outside of writing.

I enjoy knitting and crocheting. I also enjoy making drawings from braille. I follow patterns which use braille symbols to draw pictures of animals, people, vehicles, holiday decorations, many, many things.

Braille drawing? Can you share a little bit about that?

In braille drawings, the pictures make an image which can be seen by sighted people as well as felt because of the braille.  Here is a site which explains this more: https://www.perkins.org/library/for-kids/braille-drawings

That’s cool! I’ve never seen a braille drawing before. Thanks for sharing. Next question—Name three interesting things most people don’t know about you.

I enjoy baking yeast bread; dogs give me so much joy; and, I love to sing.

What would I see if I peeked into your writing office?

You would see my arm chair in my living room, where I sit with my computer on my lap.

Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?

I no longer work outside the home. Besides writing, I proofread and edit for other writers.

Is there anything about Gifts of Grace I haven’t asked that you’d like readers to know?

I want Christians to know that God is always looking to welcome us back, if we’ve moved far away from him, if we turn to come back.

It’s been a pleasure having you here today, Kathy. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy? (a quote, a Bible verse, a precept you live by or have tried to instill in your children?)

Psalm 86:5   “O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.”

Thanks for being with us today, Kathy. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you.

Now, here’s a peek at Kathy’s book.

Gifts of Grace

by Kathy McKinsey

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

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

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.

Excerpt:

“All right, my family.” Chris clapped his hands. “Let’s get this tree decorating party going.” He pulled the lid off a box. “Here, we have a plethora of stars to choose from to shine at the top.”

“A plethora, huh?” I wound my way through the clutter on the floor to join him. “That means we probably have some that’ll go in the throw away pile too. Evan, go tell Sony to come down and join the party.”

Esther screeched.

“Oh no, I stepped on the kitty’s tail.” Stooping, I grabbed her up and gave her a squeeze. “It’s your own fault, cat. You know better than to get in the way of my feet.”

“Here’s something that’ll cheer the kitty up, a whole chain of bells.” The ringing concoction sailed across the room as Chris tossed it, and Esther hurried to jump out of my arms.

“I hope it wasn’t something we wanted to keep.” I grinned. “We’ll never see it in one piece again.”

“Mama? Daddy?” Evan’s feet raced down the stairs. “Sony’s not here.”

“What? Of course, she’s here. I just saw her half an hour ago.” I scrunched my nose. “Maybe an hour.”

“Check in the basement.” Chris made his way to the tree. “I’ve found the perfect star. Ev, she’s probably doing laundry.”

“Sony, Sony, Sony.” Evan screeched his way down the basement stairs.

“I didn’t hear her go down.” A prickle of fear touched the back of my neck.

“She’s not there.” Evan slammed the basement door. “Sony, where are you?”

“Chris?”

“I’ll check her room.”

He was back in an instant. “Her wallet’s gone. Her keys. The shoes she wore today.”

Want to read more? You can find Gifts of Grace at Amazon

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About the Author:

Kathy McKinsey grew up on a pig farm in Missouri, and although she’s lived in cities for more than 40 years, she still considers herself a farm girl.She’s been married to Murray for 33 years, and they have five adult children.Kathy’s had two careers before writing—stay-at-home-Mom and rehabilitation teacher for the blind.She lives in Lakewood, Ohio with her husband and two of her children. Besides writing, she enjoys activities with her church, editing for other writers, braille transcribing, crocheting, knitting, and playing with the cat and dog.

Connect with Kathy on her website

Wednesday Writers-Interview with Alice K. Arenz, author of A Question of Survival

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A Question of Survival, Alice K. Arenz, book excerpt, Christian fiction, faith, hope, interview with Alice K. Arenz, spousal abuse, suspense, Wednesday Writers, Women’s Fiction

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is author Alice K. Arenz. Today I’m talking with Alice about her latest release, A Question of Survival. Be sure to read to the end for an excerpt from this Women’s Fiction Suspense.

Welcome, to the blog, Alice, and congratulations on finishing a book that was 40 years in the making. I recently read A Question of Survival, and although it deals with spousal abuse and other heavy issues, I feel it is a well-written, thoughtfully constructed story that can help bring these issues to light. It certainly touched my heart.

Hi, Catherine! Thank you so much for having me on your blog today. AND, for the compliment. You’ve made my day!

1. I know from reading other blogs about your book that A Question of Survival started with stories of your family’s exploration of the snowy Colorado Rockies where you stayed in the car with your 6-month old and waited for their return. Having read the story, which, by the way, kept me up way past midnight, I’m wondering, given the many starts and stops you’ve described, which part of the book came first: the winter storm story or the heroine Jessica’s domestic abuse story?

Sorry about keeping you up—though that, too, is a compliment! 🙂

You’re right, there were a lot of starts and stops through the years—but the answer to your question is an easy one: the original novella started with Jessica snowbound on a mountain pass with the why of how she got there told in flashbacks. I always knew the story wasn’t as complete as it should’ve been, and that haunted me. But, no matter how much I wanted to “finish” her story, something held me back. I believe it was God telling me it wasn’t the right time. Till now.

• From my own experience in writing dramatic scenes I can easily weep at the typewriter. You deal with some heavy social issues in the book—spousal abuse, suicide, miscarriage, and betrayal—how did those affect you while you were writing them?

There were a lot of tears, frustration, headaches, and even more prayer. Every time I tried to return to Jessica’s story, I thought I’d prepared myself for the onslaught of emotions. Needless to say, I never succeeded. It wasn’t until last January when the manuscript came out of the closet once again, that I really listened to God’s leading in finding the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. And with the COVID pandemic, that wasn’t always easy. But He reminded me that until Jessie’s story was completed, she remained in limbo. And, in many ways, so did I.

• You write across the spectrum of genres: Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries, Suspense, Romance, Romantic Suspense. How hard was it, aside from the long writing time, to switch gears and write a Women’s Fiction about abuse?

To be honest, I don’t really think about it. I fully believe that God just takes over. I get hints now and again, like a person’s name, maybe a location (almost always fictional), but that’s about it. When I’ve tried to “go it alone” so to speak, I don’t get very far. Even when signing up to be part of a novella set, I wouldn’t commit until I felt His leading. Most people would think I was nuts for saying this, but it’s true. Hopefully, not the part about me being nuts…

Okay, let me give you an example. When I was about two-thirds into The Case of the Bouncing Grandma, I wanted to know how all the mysteries were going to wrap up, how the manuscript would end. I kept praying for the answer, kept writing what I was given each day, but really, really wanted the answer. I didn’t have a clue! After a day of rapid-fire typing at the computer, I asked God for a hint, something that would show me the end of Glory’s story. In the middle of my shower that night, He finally answered—with one sentence: “And then he kissed me.” A month and a half later, it was, indeed, the end of the book!

You know, when I first started writing Survival, I’d never heard the term “Women’s Fiction.” There was a story that demanded it be told, a young woman whose life was in shambles, and the perfect setting. The moment I saw the vista from that backcountry location in Colorado, shut inside my brother-in-law’s Bronco with my six-month old daughter, I KNEW something powerful had taken hold of me.

• One more question about the book, before I ask some more generic questions. I’m dying to know if you did any tromping around in the snow so you could accurately describe the heroine’s winter snow experiences.

I spent a lot of time on sledding hills in Alaska when I was a kid. 😉 Later, as an adult, I tromped through plenty of snowdrifts, chasing after my kids in Missouri. Once you’ve navigated knee high—and higher—snow with varying degrees of “hardness,” the experience stays with you.

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• Keep reading because Alice has an excerpt at the end of the interview. You won’t want to miss it! Now on to some fun questions–What snacks, if any, are in your office right now?

I write in the kitchen, so that’s kind of a loaded question. However, if I were in my old office, there wouldn’t be any food around. Only water. Food’s a distraction.

• Are you a morning writer, afternoon, evening, or midnight oil writer?

Any and all of the above. It all depends on how urgent the need to write happens to be.

• What’s the first book you ever remember reading as a child?

I had what I called record books, where you listen to the record—actually a vinyl 45—and follow along with the Little Golden Book. I loved Cinderella when I was very small. Once I learned to read, I devoured anything I could get my hands on.

• What’s the book you are reading now?

Actually, I’m not reading anything. Taking a break. I’ve watched a lot of Hallmark Christmas movies, though.

• Name three interesting things most people don’t know about you.

I love lighthouses, butterflies, and the idea of a unicorn.

1. Is there anything I haven’t asked about your book that you’d like the reader to know?

Um… the subject matter is difficult, yes, but there’s something upon which I focus more attention. I look at A Question of Survival as a story of hope in a future beyond a damaged past. Faith, hope, and determination are all part of Jessica’s story.

I imagine that’s what everyone who deals with a damaged past hopes for, too. Thanks for being part of the blog today, Alice.

Now on to the excerpt!

A Question of Survival

by Alice K. Arenz

Excerpt

Chapter 1

He knew exactly how to hurt me so it wouldn’t leave any marks—at least on the outside. Would I ever be capable of doing the same to him?

I asked myself that question every time he abused me. It didn’t matter whether it was through careless words or deeds… or with his hands. Oh, the hands stung more, but the words stayed with me long after the redness of the slap or the bruises faded away. The comments were like barbed wire poking and sticking me, a constant reminder of all the ways I could never measure up to his level of perfection.

The rhythmic tick of the ceiling fan and clicking of the pull chain from each revolution pierced my brain in much the same way as the harsh hundred-watt bulbs in the light—all things to his specifications.

Too much illumination, too much sound, too many thoughts, too many emotions…

Huddling in the corner where I’d sought solace, Domino, my one true companion, inched forward on her belly. Even my little dog knew to fly under the radar when Jonathan was in one of these moods. Something that happened more and more frequently.

Domino crept onto my lap and whimpered. It was a soft cry, barely audible, something only we could hear—a cry from the heart between the two of us.

I hugged her to me, holding back tears that threatened to fall. Jonathan hated when I cried. Since it would only make him angry and more disagreeable, what was the use?

Burying my face into her soft fur, I thanked God for my little dog and her companionship. I’d never been allowed a pet, wasn’t allowed friends that weren’t preapproved by Jonathan. But even he couldn’t dismiss a gift from my formidable grandmother.

Drawing a deep breath, I peered around the dresser and wished for a way to be absorbed into the wall behind me. A nice thought, but imagination didn’t count when dealing with Jonathan. Once you were in his reality, that’s where you remained.

He’d gone into the bathroom to shower after the … encounter. He’d expect me to be ready by the time he was finished.

You can find A Question of Survival at Amazon.

A note from Catherine:

As someone who has read several of Alice’s books, if feel this is a must-read novel from this author. She handles not just one tough subject, but several, with great care and in a clean, non-graphic manner. Even though I was certain the heroine would find her way out of her situation,  Alice’s writing drew me into the story and had me rooting for Jessica as she suffered and grew and learned how to deal with her fears and trials. I became so emotional invested that I wanted to reach into the pages and throttle Jessica’s abusive husband. Although the story may be hard to read at times, the hope that lies in the book makes it worth the read.

About the Author:

Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries, Suspense, Romance, and Women’s Fiction–writing across the spectrum with a Pinch of Humor and a Twist of Faith.

Alice K. Arenz has been writing since she was a child. Her earliest publications were in the small, family-owned newspaper where her articles, essays, and poems were frequently included. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Arenz is a Carol Award winner and two-time finalist. She writes “clean” fiction as well as Christian fiction in a variety of genres and lengths.

Follow Alice at: Amazon: BookBub: Goodreads