Interview with Therese Kinkaide

Welcome Therese to Barb’Ed comments. Her book, Luther’s Cross, is a November release from Wings-Press. Feel free to leave a comment.

Therese Kinkaide holds a BS in Political Science, with a minor in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Education. She is a former member of the National Writers Association, as well as former president and current member of the Quincy Writers’ Guild, a local writers’ group. Ms. Kinkaide has a self-published book entitled Betrayal. She has published short stories in ezines such as Lovewords, Pens on Fire, and Crime & Suspense. Ms. Kinkaide recently had a story accepted for publication in L&LDreamspell’s anthology Mysteries, Dreams, & Darkness. Ms. Kinkaide is a member of the Illinois Poetry Society and has had poems published in The Poet’s Pen.

Ms. Kinkaide lives in the Midwestern US with her husband, children and a much loved long-haired dachshund.

For more information on her writings, including her novel Luther’s Cross which will be published in November, visit her website at http://www.theresekinkaide.com/ .

Q. What do you find the most difficult about being a writer?
A. Obviously there are times when something about the writing process can be difficult, whether it’s getting started on a new piece or facing a blank screen and wondering where the words are supposed to come from. However, I think the most difficult part of writing is working alone. I have a college education; I have a masters’ degree in education, but I’ve chosen to stay at home with my children and focus on a writing career. I feel like many people think I’m crazy to try this, and I think a lot of people tend to see writing as a hobby for me. I belong to a writers’ group. We meet once a month, September through May. It’s good to mix with other writers, but sometimes it’s not enough. Writers need feedback, and I think most of my friends and family get tired of me talking about my characters and plots. Once I get an opening, once someone asks me about what I’m working on, I can go on and on and talk until I suddenly realize that my ‘listener’s’ eyes have glazed, and I am getting the polite nod now and then. I don’t want to bore anyone with my crazy ramblings about my characters, but I crave that attention and interest.

Q. What is your hero’s biggest challenge?
A. Jay Bryant’s biggest challenge is breaking down the walls Ellie Jordan has built around her heart. Jay is a divorced, ‘summer vacation only’ dad. He’s dated since the divorce, but he’s never fallen for anyone and he’s never risked his son’s heart with a woman. When he meets Ellie, he knows she is the one. And he knows, even if she doesn’t, that she is exactly what he and his son need.

Q. What is your heroine’s biggest flaw?
A. Ellie Jordan is stubborn. She’s a woman with a past, and she is determined that the life she lives now is punishment for the past. She believes she loves Jay enough to let him go, but it is fear that holds her back. She’s afraid to be happy, because she believes being happy will make her the shallow, selfish person she used to be.

Q. What prompted you to write this story?
A. This story started with a character. Several years ago, I was at a Cardinal baseball game with my husband and his parents. I am a people watcher, love to observe people and catch bits and pieces of conversations and wonder what makes a person tick. There was a couple in front of us that caught my attention. They were cute, obviously very much in love. I based Jay Bryant on the guy.
I wanted to write a story about learning to cope with a personal loss, a huge personal loss such as Ellie experienced. I love the complexities of human relationships, so I really wanted Ellie to find herself tangled in Jay’s family. I needed her to be so tangled in their emotions and they in hers, that she didn’t have a prayer of running away.


Q. What is your least favorite genre? Would you ever consider writing it?
A. I have always been a big reader. I read romance, women’s fiction, mysteries and crime novels. I enjoy young adult fantasy. I read horror sometimes. I don’t know that I have a least favorite genre to read. I haven’t read a lot of science fiction, and I don’t read much chick lit, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it when I do read something in either genre. A year ago I would have said I would never attempt to write fantasy or science fiction, but I have toyed with it. I have ideas for a young adult fantasy trilogy; I’ve written a few chapters but I admit I haven’t worked on it recently.

Q. Who has helped you the most?
A. My readers. I’m just getting started with the publishing experience, but I’ve shared my writing in one form or another for several years. I get comments from friends and family and emails from people I’ve never met, who might live half way across the world. Every comment, every email touches me. Sometimes I’m having a bad day with writing, feeling like the work in progress is too much trouble, but then I’ll get an email from someone who has read something and it makes my day. And I’m not just saying that, ask my husband. Knowing someone lives and dies with my characters is a huge thrill for me.

Q. Do you have a favorite theme? Eg: love conquers all; good vs. evil; How do you use it?
A. I don’t know that I have a favorite theme. Right now my writing interests are all over the board. I have a suspense novel I am working on; I would say it is good vs. evil. I just finished a young adult manuscript, which focuses on the friendship between a fourteen year old boy and a fourteen year old girl. I have plans to write another young adult book, which might be considered good vs. evil and might be considered a study in friendships. I think my work is mostly character driven, so the theme works outward from who my characters are and who they are involved with.

Q. What have you learned about yourself from your writing?
A. I’m a very reserved person; shy, conservative-whatever you want to call it. But I do think I’ve learned about myself and others through my characters. I’ve learned that it’s okay to be reserved. It gives me more time to study others and to understand the dynamics of relationships. That insight enables me to write stronger dialogue, and writing that dialogue makes me think more about what I say to people in my life.

Q. Why will your reader think your book is different?
A. My writing style is a bit different, or so I’ve been told. I read so much, and I admire so many authors. I think I’ve developed my own voice, which might be a blend of a few of my favorite writers. I’ve grown so comfortable with that voice that I often hear it narrating events in my real life.

Excerpt:
“You don’t wanna love me, Jay,” she whispers.
“Little too late,” he answers. He leans toward her and touches his lips to hers. She tastes like summer and rain and the chocolate brownie they’d shared as they’d snuck out of Maeve’s, by the side gate on the yard. She kisses him back, still uncertain, but with more confidence than she’d had that first night. He slides his fingers around her neck and up into her silky hair. A soft groan escapes his lips and melts in her mouth when she touches him. Her small hand climbs his shirt again, until her fingers scrape up the front of his neck and then cup his chin and splay wide over his cheek.
“Why’d you kiss me at Maeve’s?” He breaks the kiss, but he presses his lips to her cheekbone.
“Few reasons,” she answers him.
“Like what?”
“Joe. I don’t get your deal with Joe.” She looks up at him. “I guess I wanted to remind you, I’m your friend. Not his.”
“What else?” He fishes for more words that will make his throat and heart burn like he’s swallowing whiskey straight from the bottle.
“I wanted to,” she admits with a little grin.
The finale is lighting the sky, but he doesn’t care that he’s not watching it. He wishes this moment with Ellie would last a lifetime. “Do you have a star where even people who don’t want to can fall in love?”
“I’m not gonna fall in love with you, Jay.” Her words don’t mean as much as the fact that she can’t look at him when she says them.