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| Kris Radish |
Kris Radish grew up dreaming about living a Nancy Drew-like life and always held her own passion for writing very close to her heart. A former journalist, nationally syndicated columnist, magazine writer and university instructor, Radish also loves to tell stories about the times she picked nighcrawlers, served beer to cowboys, worked on a tomato farm and hung out of the side of a fast moving helicopter.
Radish is the bestselling author of nine novels (currently working on her tenth) and has captured the hearts of legions of fans with her heartwarming, real, passionate and often hilarious novels. Her stories focus on the important bonds of female friendship and celebrate the common feelings, heartaches, loves, and struggles that all women share. She loves to call her work "true fiction" because she addresses the real emotions that women live and share every day.
She is also the author of two non-fiction books, writes poetry, is the mother of two young and very fiesty adults, is known for her wild laugh and wilder hair, and is the co-owner of a wine lounge in downtown St. Petersburg called Wine Madonna where she likes to host book clubs from all over. (I may need to take a road trip soon!!!)
Q. What inspires your writing?
A. I'm inspired by the real issues women face every day - and really, all I have to do is look into a mirror. Loss, love, anger, kids....all the real day-to-day things we must face . I want women to understand the importance of female friendship and to know that they are not alone - ever. I look at my own life for inspiration as well as the lives of the women around me. I am so glad I am female~!!!!!
Q. What is your favorite thing about being an author?
A. One thing? Oh the pain....I love to take emotions and make them dance on the page...I love it when a character rises up and slaps me in the face...I love it when I see my name on a book cover for the first time...I love it when I get a letter from a woman who says my book was inspiring and helped her move forward....I love the quiet moments when I am alone, in this office, creating an entire world...
Q. What is the toughest part of being an author?
A. Marketing and all the social media who-ha you have to do to make certain your book is noticed. The entire publishing world has changed and it's very, very difficult now to make it all happen so that writing comes first...just one whole year I'd love to do nothing but write and not worry about rent, and insurance....and and and......
Q. If you could not be author, what would you do/be?
A. I was a working journalist for 30-plus years but I'd probably be a clinical psychologist..I love helping people and that's pretty much what I do with my writing and work anyhow.
Q. What would the story of your life be entitled?
A. Flying Like the Wind....
Q. What is your favorite book of all time?
A. The Secret of Shadow Ranch...a Nancy Drew Mystery. I keep a first edition by my desk. Those books inspired every arena of my life and I always see myself riding into the sunset on a bigass horse looking for the next adventure.
Q. Which character from ANY book are you most like?
A. Nancy Drew....~!!!!
Q. What character from all of your books are you most like?
A. My daughter figured this out when she was 13....there's a little bit of me in every character.
Q. Which of your books was the hardest for you to write?
A. Tuesday Night Miracles...comes to mind right away because I switched editors and agents and moved and sold everything and opened a business and my publication schedule was changed so it was tough to keep all those balls in the air but I LOVE THIS BOOK>
Q. Which of your books was the easiest to write?
A. My first novel, The Elegant Gathering of White Snows will always hold a special place in my heart. It was as if the characters had lined up to tell me their stories...and that happens now too, but this was the first and that makes it extra special.
Q. When reading your books I am always moved by the strong female relationships you create, are they based on relationship experiences you have had?
A. I have been absolutely blessed my entire life with lovely female friends and my mother was the first. I like to think that I am also a good friend and I know the importance of friendships in our lives....it is crucial and the foundation for all of my novels.
Q. What is your favorite season?
A. FALL~!! I am a September girl and I love the smell and feel of the earth when everything changes. I live in Florida now but right now it's like our fall and I love every second of it.
Q. Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your books.
A. Mostly everything is lovely and one time some fans drove five hours to see me...I mean wow! But once I was doing a tv show in Colorado and I had on my cowboy boots and the tv people went nuts over them and kept showing them on tv.....you had to be there but I was very funny with them and in three seconds my book was on the regional bestseller list. I better get the damn boots polished this week~!!!!
Q. Are you working on something new?
A. Of course! My next novel is finished and I'm working on the 10th~!! right now. Tons of research and doing something I have never done before as a novelist. I think it's important to stretch and grow and I'm absolutely bonkers over what I am doing...I can't wait to tell you~!!!
Q. Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?
A. I think it's important to know that I really write from my heart and from a place that I think all women share. I also think this is a very important novel because it deals with anger in a way that I don't has been done before. Anger is a powerful emotion and it can be a very crucial way to move in a positive direction. My readers are a VERY important part of my life and I find tremendous inspiration from them.
List of books:
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Great interview. And everything Kris says about her books is absolutely true. She is a master at delving deeply into the emotions of women and reflecting back to us our deeper selves. Kris, you'd make an awesome psychotherapist, but don't give up the day job yet. We need more of your books.
ReplyDeleteLinda, thanks for commenting! Kris, is quite amazing! Love her and her books..what a blessing she is to all her fans!
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