About me!

As a girl, I dreamed of being swept off my feet by my one true love.  And at the age of 24, it finally happened…and he’s never let me forget it.  A mild-mannered secretary by day and a determined word-wrangler by night, I battle the twin evils of distraction and procrastination in order to write fantastical tales of wuv…twue wuv…with a few bad haiku thrown in for good measure.

I reside in the midst of an Iowa corn field with my hopelessly devoted husband and his mighty red pen; four crazy, cute kids; and an assortment of adorable kitties, chicks, and bunnies.

I’ve been spinning yarns for more years than I care to admit and I’ve got the calluses and paper cuts to prove it.  My first novel, The Lokana Chronicles, is currently undergoing a major rewrite in advance of another round of queries.  It’s anybody’s guess what will happen with it, but I hope someone will find it worthy and agree to publish it.  In the meantime, I’ll keep working on the sequels.

Scattered among the pages here you’ll find a few short stories, some haiku, and a few random thoughts on writing and other things.  If you like what you see, I hope you’ll take the time to let me know.  As they say, comments are love! 🙂

(c) 2014.  All rights reserved.

109 thoughts on “About me!”

  3. Kate Moretti says:
    Reply

    Found you indirectly from autho – but through twitter. Just had to comment that your blog is the BEST name for a writer’s blog I think I’ve ever seen. Every time I think about it, I laugh.

    Like

  4. gedwardsmith says:
    Reply

    Hey there,

    I know someone else has all ready pointed this out but your blog title is awsome. If I ever inherit a funeral home I’m using that title:) Look forward to reading more of you posts.

    Glenn–your newest follower

    Write Fearlessly

    Like

    • Kay Kauffman says:
      Reply

      Thanks, Cheryl! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it here. And thank you for the nomination! (Congrats, too, by the way!) I’ve already been nominated a couple of times for the Versatile Blogger Award, so I think I’ll sit this one out, but thanks for thinking of me. If you’re interested, you can read my answers here.

      Happy Friday! I hope you have a great weekend! 😀

      Like

  6. gedwardsmith says:
    Reply

    I’ve been nominated for the ‘Liebster Award’ and wish to nominate your blog as one of my eleven nominees. Why? Because I find your words fascinating day-after-day. If this string of people nominating awards gets at least one more person to your blog I’ll consider it a success–By the way–Best name for a blog in the history of blogs!

    Here are the rules:

    http://gedwardsmith.com/2013/05/06/the-liebster-award/

    Like

    • Kay Kauffman says:
      Reply

      Thank you! I thought I’d been nominated for this one already, but I hadn’t. But I’ve got more than 200 followers already! Since you were so kind as to nominate me, though, I’ll accept. Thank you! 🙂

      Like

    • Kay Kauffman says:
      Reply

      Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed your visit. I try to keep things neat and tidy here, as clutter kind of stresses me out (not that you’d know it by looking at my desk…). Stick around, put your feet up, hang out a while! 😀

      Like

        • Kay Kauffman says:
          Reply

          Yeah, it’s been my middle name for some time. But I always try to keep it to a minimum; some days I’m more successful than others. 😀

          Perhaps it has something to do with my tendency toward pack rat-itis…I should work on that, maybe.

          Like

          • Steve says:

            LOL! But, if you cure the pack rat-itis, then all those useful things that could act as writing prompts at any moment will be lost :O 😀

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            Right? Everything could have a use someday! 😛

            I keep inheriting stuff is the problem. But I think I’ve about run out of relatives to inherit things from, so maybe the clutter will lessen on its own. The pictures, though, that’s another story… 😀

            Like

          • Steve says:

            Too true 🙂

            Ah, the inheritance! So precious. If only we could tap the memories heirlooms hold 😉 And pictures – no writer has ever been born who could replace a single snapshot of the past 🙂

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            Right you are! I’m descended from a family of shutterbugs, so I have a ridiculous amount of pictures, film and digital. If my house ever burned down, my pictures are the things I would truly mourn. Things are just things, even though they might have strong memories attached to them. But pictures capture moments in time and preserve memories better than any thing ever could.

            Well, except for a pencil and paper, perhaps (or whatever other writing instrument you like). 🙂

            Like

          • Steve says:

            I guess that’s one reason so many people are busy scanning every picture they can and putting them onto DVDs and safe storage online and elsewhere. They might not be the originals, but at least the images would survive a catastrophe.

            The best combination has to be words and pictures, of course 😀

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            It’s something I really need to sit down and do. I have so many, though, that I’m afraid it would be a year-long project to scan them all. Still, I need to get it done before I regret not doing it.

            Pictures and words are definitely the best way to go. 🙂

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            I did the same thing with some of mine – I scanned a dozen or so of them and had three on the scanner at once. It definitely makes the work go a little quicker.

            I’ll check out your link! It’s been a crazy couple of weeks here with vacations and other things that we’re still trying to recover from (I just woke of from a lovely and much-needed four-hour nap). It might take me a bit, but I’ll try to get to it tonight! 🙂

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            It would have been better if we hadn’t had to take my father-in-law to the hospital (he tore some muscles between his ribs playing with the kids). And we decided that three days camping is about all the family togetherness we can take (my in-laws always come with us, and we were gone for five days this time, our longest trip yet).

            And I didn’t really get to escape the daily grind, because I started a new (temporary) job the week before we left for our trip, so we changed our reservation to the state park near where I work so that I could go to work during the day. It made for a very different vacation – everyone else was getting cabin fever, and I felt like the trip had ended because I was back at work. I’ve never done the whole working vacation thing before. I’m not sure I like it.

            That said, if a working vacation involved me and my story and some peace and quiet, I think I could totally handle that. 😉

            Like

          • Steve says:

            Sorry to hear that things weren’t exactly a resounding success 😦 I’m long past able to go camping now, unfortunately, but when I was able – no way would I want ‘Parental Units’ around LOL. I like caravans now – at least I can actually have a chance of not suffering from seizing up!

            No way would I even consider a working vacation! :O Okay, so I might jot down a few things for a story, especially inspiration that I could only get from the vacation location(s), but I try not to let my writing obsession rear its head when it’s just me and my wife 😉 The closest I get is reading, usually 😀

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            We definitely don’t rough it when it comes to camping – our camper has air conditioning, which I couldn’t do without, especially last week. We take a TV along with us for rainy days, but we’ve only used it a couple times. Usually we have a techno-ban in effect on vacatiin, but the last couple of trips it sort if failed.

            We’re taking another stab at camping on Thursday. Hopefully this time will go better! 🙂

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            Camping here can refer to either tents or campers, though generally it means tents and campers are considered cheating. 🙂 I don’t mind that, though – I don’t like roughing it that much, and we still have minimal facilities since we usually use what’s available at the campground so we don’t have to dump our tanks as often.

            The last time I camped in a tent, we ended up sleeping in a rut because we had set the tent up in the dark. I decided then that that was enough for me. 🙂

            Like

          • Steve says:

            LOL. I suspect that our daughter, whose last camping weekend proved that her tent wasn’t waterproof, might view a camper as cheating too 😀 And fancy forgetting the one golden rule of camping – never pitch tent in the dark LOL!

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            We were camping at a relative’s house – they were having an anniversary party for their 25th and they live three hours away. We intended to set it up in the daylight, but you know how it is at family get-togethers: you get talking and maybe have a drink or two, and pretty soon it’s 11:30 p.m. and you’re trying to save your cousin from butchering a classic country song on the karaoke machine. 😀

            Anyway, once we did a little repositioning with our sleeping bags, the rut ended up providing some great lumbar support, but it was a chilly night and I woke up stiff and sore the next morning after only a few hours’ sleep. We had to leave early to make it back for another family get-together on my side, and we were all pretty tired. I’ll say this, though – my husband’s family sure knows how to throw a party! 😀

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          • Steve says:

            Well, apart from the morning discomfort it sounds like something of a success 😉 I can’t say I’ve ever been involved in such an affair. But then I’m also not good with large groups of people (I tend to be found hiding in some quiet, dark corner LOL). Funny really, as our kids (all adults now) have a reputation for knowing how to party well 🙂

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            I’m not usually much for big groups of people, either, but my father-in-law had twelve brothers and sisters, so family reunions are always huge. One cousin got married last month and her husband also has a large family, so they were trying to figure out just who to invite because a small family wedding for them was still going to consist of about 300 people, I think she told me. It was kinda crazy, but a lot of fun. 🙂

            Like

          • Kay Kauffman says:

            Now THAT’S a small wedding! I have a big family, too, though not as big as my husband’s, so I have a hard time imagining so few people at a big family event like that. 🙂

            Like

  8. jenniferw19 says:
    Reply

    As soon as I got to your blog, you won me over with the first two posts being new books for me to check out 🙂 Your blog looks really interesting so I’m looking forward to more!

    Like

    • Kay Kauffman says:
      Reply

      Aww, thank you! I’m glad you like my book posts; now I just need to make time to update them! Actually, that shouldn’t take too long – the amount of reading I’ve done this summer is positively shameful. Too bad blogs and Twitter don’ count as books… 🙂

      Like

    • Kay Kauffman says:
      Reply

      Yay – and thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

      Yeah, migraines and allergies really suck. Do you know your triggers? I’m allergic to dust and pollen, but my migraines are hormone-related (and menopause made them worse). Oh, hormones. Doesn’t being a girl just rock? 😛

      Like

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  18. mbarkersimpson says:
    Reply

    I realise you have the award, but I wanted to nominate you as one of the bloggers who inspires me to continue this journey. I appreciate all your support, and the contributions you make to the community as a whole.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. jcm3rockstar says:
    Reply

    Once you have enough text in a file to consider it to be a book or manuscript, hundreds of publishers are out there trying to sell your work. If you want to publish your text as an independent author, go here.

    Here are links to my book and blog:

    paper-back 1rst edition of “A Collection of Tales”

    e-book for kindle or kindle devices

    🙂

    Thank you again for the positive comment on my blog, today.

    I have a three part series of very short adult fiction stories on my blog you may enjoy:

    Cecilia’s Loss
    Her Loss, 2
    Her Loss, 3

    Happy Blogging and Much Love! – jcm3 🙂

    Like

  20. jcm3rockstar says:
    Reply

    My appologies! The first link I posted for you was not even a link; here it is. 🙂

    Create Space is a popular choice of many; consider other publishers, too. I was impressed with their services. The last thing someone wants is a nasty hypothetical editor on your back :).

    Good luck; keep the faith. 🙂 – jcm3 RoCkStAr 🙂

    Like

    • Kay Kauffman says:
      Reply

      Thanks. I’m trying for the traditional publication route, though, so I need to find an agent first. But if I do decide to self-pub, I’ve got plenty of resources to look into. 🙂

      Like

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    • Kay Kauffman says:
      Reply

      Yay! I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. 🙂

      Incidentally, my blog title came from a story I wrote with a friend once in high school. We were writing it for fun, so I’m not sure how she arrived at this particular ending, but it still makes me laugh, even today. Glad you like it, too! 🙂

      Like

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  34. rarasaur says:
    Reply

    Hey! This is, hopefully, the most automated comment you will ever-ever receive from me. I’ve popped over to say I finally put together the blogroll for NanoPoblano, I wanted you to check it out, and make sure that (1) you still want to participate and (2) your blog name is written as you want it written, and (3) I didn’t leave out super important information. Then, leave a comment introducing yourself. This is the page I’ll be directing people to through the month, so I’m hoping they’ll see your comment and be excited to go check you out. It should say something like, “Hey, Cheer Peppers– I’m So&So. I write about such&such. Come by and say hey.” I’ll be pruning comments on that page so it’s just link backs from posts, positive Pepper messages, and your intro. I’ll be sharing the page tomorrow night, all over town, so if you can put something up before then, that’d be awesome. If not, no worries, we have a whole month to go. https://rarasaur.wordpress.com/nanopoblano-2015/ ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  35. gm1123 says:
    Reply

    The name of your blog pulled me in. I am an English Major graduated from our local university and extremely struggling freelance. I have published 3 things so far. I enjoy the photography side of it also. I’ll have to check you out. Maybe you can check mine as well!
    😊

    Liked by 1 person

    • Kay Kauffman says:
      Reply

      Thank you! I admit, there’s been lots more photography than writing here of late, but now that I’m making some progress on some of my WIPs, I’m hoping that will change things for the blog, too. You know, get the creative juices flowing again. It sure can’t hurt…

      I hope you like what see! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

      Like

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