Hello, everyone and happy Monday! I sincerely hope you are all doing well! I am delighted to bring you all a Coffee interview with a brand new author! I have only just ‘met’ Kelly, but I am certain I have found a new friend for life! I am posting the review on her book this coming Thursday, but you can enter on THIS post to get a chance to win a paperback copy! So please take a few moments to read and comment!
Kelly: Hi Paula Marie! Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I look forward to chatting with you and your readers today! I’m so glad you are enjoying A Love Restored. Yes, I often feel I should have been born 150 years ago. My husband on the other hand, doesn’t have as much faith in me that I could survive without servants. He teases me and says, “you might like reading about Caroline Ingalls, but you wouldn’t want to live her life.” Maybe, but I’d sure like to give it a try!
Paula Marie: Ha, your husband sounds like mine! He tells me just think about the outhouse, lol!! What are you reading for fun right now?
Kelly: I’ve been reading For Love of Liberty by Julie Lessman. She is one of my all-time favorite historical romance authors. No one writes a kiss like Julie!
Paula Marie: Oh, I love her too! The Daughters of Boston was one of my favorite series! I will need to check this new one out! Have you always known you had the writing bug (and ability)?
Kelly: Truthfully, I never saw it coming. So many writers I’ve talked to have wanted to be a writer since they were a child. Many have drawers full of half-written manuscripts. Me? Not so much. I had always enjoyed writing papers for my college classes, but I NEVER considered writing fiction. I’d been a successful in-home childcare provider for nearly twenty years, but I knew in my heart it was time to move on to something new. My husband and I began praying for God to give me a new direction, a new passion in my life I would undeniably know He’d planted in my heart. On a whim, I began tinkering with story writing and it didn’t take long for my secret hobby to become my God-given passion!
Paula Marie: That is pretty impressive, Kelly! I cannot imagine doing a major life change that way, took a great deal of courage and faith on your part, I am sure! I saw on your website that Little House on The Prairie was one of your favorite shows (mine as well), and I was wondering if you had read the books when you were younger? If not, what was your favorite reading material as a teen?
Kelly: My uncle gave me the complete Little House series, but I only read Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie as a child. I didn’t read the entire series until I was in my thirties. As a teenager, I enjoyed reading James Michener, John Jakes and Herman Wouk.
Paula Marie: That’s awesome, I love that you went back to them in your thirties! I enjoyed them as a child, myself, and still catch the show on when I can! With your busy family, when do you find the time to write? Where is your favorite place to write?
Kelly: After a lifetime of being the quintessential night owl, I’ve become a morning person. Gasp! I’m usually up between 4:45 and 5:00 a.m. I’ve been very productive writing at this time as there a few distractions. And quite honestly, I’m not getting up that early to do laundry or clean the bathroom so I tend to stay pretty focused and on task. I don’t have a particular place that I usually write, “have laptop, will travel.” LOL! In the morning, I tend to write at the kitchen table so I don’t disturb hubby who is still sleeping. Later in the morning I might be found in the recliner, the desk in my bedroom, or the back porch if the weather permits.
Paula Marie: I am having just the opposite happening lately with me, was a morning person and now I don’t want to get up til 8am, how odd. What is your favorite activity when not writing?
Kelly: Other than reading? I like to play Euro-style board games with my friends and family, take long walks with my dog, Levi, and venture to various historical landmarks with hubby.
Paula Marie: I will be googling Euro style board games when we are done here, lol! I love to hear how different authors write, some have a clear path of how the book will go, others put their fingers to the keyboard and let the characters run with it, and I know of ones who plot out each chapter with the major events then go back and “fill in” the rest. What would you call your writing style?
Kelly: I’m definitely more of a panster than a plotter, which is surprising to me because I’m a fairly organized, list-making type of gal in every other area of my life. When an idea hits, I write down any thoughts I have which usually don’t amount to much more than the story beginning. I do some character sketches where I let the characters tell me their back story. This process helps me to understand their deepest fears and vulnerabilities as well as their internal and external goals. I often do some basic research on setting then get started, stopping to do more research depending on where the story leads. If I get stuck, I brainstorm ideas with my husband and some great writing friends who live nearby.
Paula Marie: I bet you carry around a notebook or sticky pad, don’t you? I keep a notebook with me at all times for when inspiration hits! What was your inspiration for A Love Restored?
Kelly: A Love Restored is based on my true-life love story with my husband, Mike—all of our ups and downs, including our emotionally devastating break up. Like my full-figured heroine, Ruth Ann, I’ve struggled with weight issues my entire life. That struggle plays an important part in our story. My own journey to self-acceptance, as well as what a loving God will do to grab a stubborn woman’s attention, are pivotal to the story line.
Paula Marie: I struggle with weight issues myself, my doctors cannot understand it either. They tell me I have the “numbers” (blood pressure sugar, cholesterol, etc) of the healthiest 25 year old though! What is one thing about you that your readers would be shocked to know?
Kelly: I haven’t said much about this on social media so here it is for your readers to find out first. They might be shocked to learn that I have lost nearly 100 pounds. I cannot believe I just typed that. In the fall of 2016, I was diagnosed with the complete trifecta of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. I cried. Not sure how I’d allowed myself to put on so much weight, I felt completely hopeless. You see, I’d lost weight on many occasions only to gain it back and then some. I’d sort of resigned myself to living life as an extremely overweight person. But God had other plans for me. He has been teaching me a great deal about faith and believing in myself and more importantly, in Him. I still have a ways to go, but I’m confident that the progress I’ve made is permanent. And BTW, the doctors are so happy with me, they’ve already lowered my medications and are talking about taking me off a couple of them! God is so good! Amen!
Paula Marie: Oh my gosh! That is amazing! I am so glad that you were able to do that, and that the medications are already being lowered! Since you are a fan of historical times, can you name one modern convenience you could live perfectly fine without – AND – one you could NOT live without?
Kelly: If I traveled back in time I could easily part company with my hairdryer as I’ve learned to embrace my natural curly hair (it only took 53 years) but I sure would miss our gas furnace that keeps our house toasty warm in winter!
Paula Marie: That is so funny, more we have in common! I am 53 and seriously just learned to embrace my wild curls as well! How can your fans keep in touch with you and your news?
Kelly: Signing up for my newsletter is probably the best way to find out what’s coming down the pike for me and my writing. When readers sign up, they’ll receive a copy of my husband’s sugar cookie recipe that inspired the baking scene in A Love Restored.
Readers can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Paula Marie: Well, sign me up, I need that recipe! Finally….Coffee? Tea? Cream? Sugar?
Kelly: Hope this doesn’t get me banned from a return trip to Fiction Full of Faith, but I’m totally tea all the time. I don’t like the smell of coffee, let alone the taste. Earl Grey is probably my favorite tea, but I also enjoy Constant Comet, Cinnamon, Mint and well just about any black tea blend. No cream or sugar, just stevia. If I meet a friend at the local coffee shop, my go to drink is chai tea latte with skim milk, hot or iced.
Paula Marie: Ha! I don’t know, Kelly, I may have to think about letting you back…….just kidding! I love tea as well, but could not live without coffee!
I love the books Little H house and the shows . I enjoyed your interview, and would love a copy of your book sounds very interesting.
Hi, Amanda! Thank you for sharing, weren’t those great days watching Little House? I still try the old episode on TV sometimes!
Thank you for the chance to win! Now my favorite cookie is oatmeal raisin. But I can eat about any kind of cookies.
Hey there, Dorothy! Great choice – I always pick oatmeal cookies when I say I am eating “healthy” LOL!
Thank you for being here, good luck in the draw!
Oatmeal Raisin cookies are yummy. My Mom and Grandma used to make a chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookie. I’ve seen them in the grocery store bakery but they aren’t nearly as good.
My favorite cookies are butter cookies!
I loved reading the interview! Kelly sounds like an author I would like to read and meet! I would love to read A Hope Restored
Hi Paty, Thank you for visiting today and for your kind words. If you’re on FB, perhaps we can meet there! Butter Cookies–YUM! Have you ever had snickerdoodles? Those are another favorite of mine!
Congratulations on your weigh loss! And yeah for a tea drinker!! LOL
Oops, didn’t say my favorite cookie is ANY cookie, LOL. I love chocolate chip, oatmeal, I call myself a cookie monster!
I am picky about my cookies, Terry! LOL
Thank you for sharing!
Hi Terry, I just love ANY kind of cookie too. My first draft had people eating cookies with coffee about five times. One of the first readers of that version told me “enough with the cookies already” LOL!
HI Terry, I’m with you–ANY cookie is delicious and hard to turn down. Now I eat them more sparingly although the other day I had a run-in with a white chocolate macadamia nut cookies I sort of regret! LOL!
i like a lot of cookies, but I crave old fashioned peanut Butter cookies – the ones you criss-cross with a fork before you bake. hmmm
I still do those for my hubs! Appreciate you stopping by, Janet!
Oh yes, peanut butter anything is delicious! Plain, with Hershey kisses or Reese’s Pieces–YUM! Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Can I cheat and say chocolate chip cookie DOUGH? LOL, I eat gluten free and they never taste as good once cooked. I am also really fond of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and monster cookies too!
Hahaha! No, cookie dough is not cheating, I love it myself! Thanks for sharing, Katie!
Yaaaassss! ✋🏼🤚🏼✋🏼🤚🏼 Preach about that cookie dough! Soooo good.
Hi Katie, you’re a girl after my own heart! I love cookie dough as much or more than the cookies themselves!
My favorite cookie is chocolate chip.
I can never pass up anything chocolate, Sheila!
Hi Sheila, why mess with perfection! Chocolate chip is an American classic!
Enjoyed your interview. My favorite cookies are a toss up between Chocolate Chip or Raisin Oatmeal.
Yay for another vote for chocolate chip! Thanks, Nancy!
Hi Nancy, thank you for visiting today. Oatmeal cookies are hubby’s favorite (well besides his sugar cookies). Have you ever added oatmeal to your chocolate chip cookies? Makes them chewy which Ilove!
Sugar Cookies! Next would be Chocolate Chip.
Woo hoo for the chocolate chip! Geneva, you must check out Kelly’s husband’s sugar cookies! They sound amazing!
Geneva, My husband makes the best melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies! He actually keeps a copy of the recipe in our fireproof lock box with the marriage and birth certificates. True story. Thanks for stopping by today!
Chocolate chip, or cookies with white chocolate! Thanks for the great opportunity to enter a print giveaway! So grateful! Would love to win a print copy of A Love Restored from Kelly! Thank you, again, and God bless!
Lual Krautter My email is: krautter12ATbresnanDOTnet
Lual, thanks for helping me up the vite in chocolate chip cookies! Hahaha! I always appreciate your input!
Hi Lual, I think chocolate chip cookies are winning the day and all this talk of them is making me hungry!!! LOL! Thanks for commenting today!
Russian Tea Cake 🙂
Thank you for the interview!
Blessings <3
Oh, Natalya, those are my hubs favorite! We call them snowballs in my Italian family! Thank you sharing!
Haha! @Natalya — I looked up Russian Tea Cake. That cookie has been one of my long-time favorites, but we called them Butterballs (rightly so, I suppose). They’re especially delicious when they’re still warm. Yum!
@Paula, I love the name Snowballs for them! That sounds better than Butterballs. I think I’ll adopt that name for them now. 🙂
That’s so cute! I have also hear them called Mexican wedding cookies…I guess it’s a great cookie in any nationality! We just have to put our name in it, hahaha!
Mexican wedding cakes, yes. I had that in my original comment, but neglected to type in my name and had to redo it (and forgot to mention it again).
Hi Natalya,
Oh those were a special holiday treat when my mom was alive. I haven’t had them in years. Like Paula, mom called them snowballs. Thanks for visiting.
I suppose if I had to pick just one cookie, I would go with gingerbread. We only ever make them at Christmas and it is a whole family affair (which is probably the main reason they’re my favorite). Loved the blog today. God bless.
Tabitha
Oh, thank you so much, Tabitha! I love the reason behind your favorite cookies!! I appreciate your sharing with all of us!
Hi Tabitha,
Although I’m not a huge fan of gingerbread, I love the tradition you’ve established with your family. What a blessing! Thanks for commenting and good luck in the drawing.
Love seeing Kelly here on the blog! We share the same publisher, and we have much in common. Thank you for the opportunity to learn a lot more about what an amazing person she is. I have the ebook version of Kelly’s book, so you can count me out of the giveaway. I am planning on reading it during a getaway next month. 🙂 One thing I wish I had was the naturally curly hair. I’ve spent hours and lots of money to curl my hair, and I doubt I’ll ever completely embrace my straight hair. Blessings, ladies!
Oh, I mentioned one of my favorite cookies in a comment to Natalya’s post (above). I love what we call the Chinese New Year Cookie. They’re even no-bake cookies, surprisingly enough. Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanuts (for the salty), and chow mein noodles straight from the can (for the crunchy). Stir them together on the stovetop and drop onto wax paper. When they firm up a bit (doesn’t take long), they are absolutely scrumptious!! 🙂
I am so glad to have met her! It’s funny how we are never happy with what hair we have, I spent so many years trying to tame it, now I just “Let it Be”…..
I love those cookies too! So easy to make!
Hi JoAnn, you are such a sweetheart. Thank you visiting today and those no-bake cookies sound deliciously tempting!
I enjoy your books very much and want to thank you for offering one of your books to be given to one lucky fan.
My favorite cookie is Gooey Butter Cookie.
Ooo…gooey sounds right up my alley, Barb! Thank you for your kind words!!
Hi Barb, What is a Gooey Butter Cookie. Anything gooey must be delicious by definition, but still I’m curious! Thanks for commenting and good luck in the drawing!
A fellow chunkalicious lady, yay! And girl, tea is good too! No one will hate you for it. 😊 My favorite cookie is a classic: chocolate chip cookies. When baked at home (scratch or pre-made), they are the best! Peanut Butter cookies are a close 2nd.
Yum, now I want cookies…lol! Thank you for sharing!
I know, right? Craving home made chocolate cookies now!
Hi Crystal, Chuckalicious! I can embrace that! LOL! Thanks for visiting today!
My favorite cookie has to have chocolate and nuts in it.
The hubby’s favorite cookie can be anything with peanut butter in it.
Hi, Janet! So do you have a recipe for peanut butter chocolate chip nut cookies to make you both happy? Lol!! Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Janet! Hubby and I like pecans in our chocolate chip cookies but two of our kids don’t like nuts much. I love peanut butter anything! Thanks for visiting!
Thanks for the fun interview ladies! I also read The Little House series when I was younger (like you Paula Marie) and loved them (glad you were able to read them later on Kelly)! The actress Melissa Gilbert lives here in MI, but is moving back to NY with her husband Timothy. They were going to have an estate sale that I was hoping to stop at, but it was cancelled. How fun would that be to go to though?! Congrats on your major weight loss. My doctor is hoping for me to lose a bunch as well, but so far it hasn’t happened. Maybe this year I can buckle down and do it. My favorite cookie is white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies. Delicious!
Hi, Laura! I am so glad you enjoyed the interview! Thank you for sharing with us! I can only imagine what goodies you might have found at her estate sale, too bad 😩!
We have a winner for the print paperback Giveaway! Congratulations to Janet E!! Look for the email from us to get your mailing address!
Thank you to everyone for participating, please check some of the other posts…you can still enter for an ebook of A Love Restored on the review post!!