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Connie Kuykendall- An Interview
You know what I find hilarious? Where I live, the Andy Griffith show comes on right after the soap operas. I mean, it's like we're going from one end of the spectrum, where there's only smut, gossip, and immorality, to the totel opposite end, where we all secretly want to live. I've thought this was pretty funny until I did my next interview. Now, I can totally see the connection. You'll understand what I mean when you meet my next author.
Connie Kuykendall is a contemporary Christian romance author who uses humor and Southern charm to season her books. In her debut novel, “Love Ain’t No Soap Opera”, it’s Mayberry meets Daytime Drama! Read below to see what this nice lady had to say.
Me: What is your goal or mission as a writer?
CK: My mission is to promote positive body image and self-confidence for women of all sizes. I also want readers to laugh out loud and, when they’ve finished the book, remember the part they chuckled about, and laugh again!
Me: What or who inspires you to write?
CK: God, of course, is the ultimate Giver of inspiration. Music also inspires me to write. Every story has a soundtrack. Because music brings emotion to the surface, I listen to the playlist for my book and the characters come to life immediately.
Me: What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
CK: All criticism is tough, no matter how on-point and necessary it may be.
The best compliment came from reader who confessed that she was crying and praying because she was plus-sized and single and felt like she wasn’t good enough and things were never going to turn around for her. That same day, she read my book and it gave her hope for the future and made her laugh through her tears.
Me: How do you reach your readers? (Social media, giveaways, blog posts, advertising, promotions, press releases, etc.) And, which has been the most successful?
CK: I have experimented with blog posts, Amazon and Facebook ads, social media, and giveaways to reach readers and found that Facebook posting and advertising and Goodreads giveaways are the most effective.
Me: What do you do to get book reviews?
CK: Beta readers are always loyal to give book reviews. Whenever someone contacts me on social media that they read my book, I ask them for a review.
Me: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
CK: Aside from trying to find hundreds of different ways to say the same thing—she laughed, she cried, she smiled, she stood—the greatest challenge in writing is shutting off the voice in your head that says you can’t do it.
Me: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
CK: Reading is the ultimate in relaxation, so I do it as much as possible. My favorite authors are Maeve Binchy, Meg Cabot, Eileen Goudge and, from the Christian fiction world, Cheryl Wyatt, Lenora Worth, and Kristin Billerbeck.
Me: How many books have you written? Which was your favorite?
CK: This is my debut novel. I’m writing a series, but this firstborn book likely will always be my favorite.
Me: How can readers discover more about you and you work?
CK: It’s easier for readers to remember that I’m the curly-haired attorney than to try and spell my last name. So, they’ll know me on social media as Curled Crusader!
You can find my book, “Love Ain’t No Soap Opera”, on Amazon at http://amzn.to/1WuMfF3
Visit me at my website www.CurledCrusader.com
or on social media:
@CurledCrusader
Click on any of the links above or on the books cover and visit Conie's sites today! -AJ
