Greetings from Hurricane Irma-torn Florida! As I write this, Irma is bearing down on our state with winds of 130 mph. As the eye wall goes directly over Key West (there won't be much left when it's over), the outer bands are already striking central Florida. Other storms, influenced by Irma, are covering the rest of the peninsula, stirring up tornadic activity. I can only imagine what things will look like on Wednesday when this post actually goes live. It's been a chaotic week with gasoline shortages, food shortages, roads clogged due to five million people evacuating north.
Well, enough of the doom and gloom. We'll survive. We'll rebuild. We'll move on. Such is life in FLA. Like I always say, "What did you think you were going to get by invading a swamp and building house after house?" :-)
I'm excited, though, to have as my guest one of my writing friends and fellow authors, Dawn Kinzer. We have never met face-to-face, but because of the wonderful world of the internet, we have gotten to know each other as I write blog posts for a serious writing blog called Seriously Write. Dawn is one of the five people who started it and have watched it grow over the years. Please welcome, Dawn!
Dawn, give us a quick bio.
In fifty words or less, who is Dawn Kinzer?
I’m a freelance editor and author who believes the written word
can change lives, and I’m doing everything in my power to prove it. I’m also a
wife, mother, and grandmother. Favorite things include dark chocolate,
cinnamon, popcorn, strong coffee, good wine, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.
Before you ever got a notion of
becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that
time of your life?
Prior to focusing on writing, I raised two girls and worked at a
variety of jobs. Four years were spent with the sexual assault services in my
county (advocate, support counselor, support group leader, community ed
speaker, and assistant to the director). Following several years as a church
secretary, I worked in administration for a large car dealership.
I didn’t get serious about writing until I was forty-seven (I’m
now sixty) because I didn’t believe enough in myself. I later figured out that
talent is part of being a successful writer, but most achievements in
publishing come from having tenacity and the willingness to work hard.
For years, I’d sought God on what he wanted me to do with my
life. I had a hunger to make a difference, and although various ministries and
charities offered opportunities, I just couldn’t find the “thing” that felt
right long-term.
But while co-directing a teen drama group at my church, I was
challenged to write an original play with a friend. We ended up writing three
full-length plays, and I knew then that writing fulfilled a creative need that
nothing else matched.
A very varied life you have had. And with some similarities to mine (starting writing late in life, for example). Makes you wonder what would have happened if we started writing sooner, huh? What educational background do
you have?
I grew up in a small, farming town in Wisconsin called Prairie
Farm. It was established in 1848, and the population has never gone over five
hundred. The high school is the center of much of the town’s activities. My
elementary school days were spent in the same building where my parents
attended high school. Their high school band director was my high school
English teacher—and she was amazing!
I graduated with a BS from the University of Wisconsin, Eau
Claire. I majored in biology and minored in chemistry. I loved science and
thought I’d go into some field of medicine or research, but that never happened—long
story.
Well, then, may I interest you in a book that could be right up your alley of biology? It's called The Serpent's Grasp, and it has received awards and many great reviews, and it has a bibliography! (Sorry for the shameless plug.) Okay, enough with the commercial, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
You already mentioned you are married, have children, and have grandchildren (aren't they wonderful?). Do you mind sharing a little about this?
I experienced divorce after many years of marriage. But God
carried me through that season, and I’ve been married to a wonderful man for fifteen
years. I have two grown daughters and one grown stepdaughter. My oldest
daughter has a little girl (18 months). My youngest daughter has a boy (3 ½)
and a little girl (8 months). I LOVE being a nana, and I spend a lot of time
with the two grandchildren who live in our area. My other granddaughter lives
out-of-state, and time away from her is difficult. I’m so grateful for Facebook
and Facetime because I receive photos and videos throughout the week.
I know you mentioned a few favorites already, but I’m going to give you a shotgun
list of several favorites. List your favorite in each category and then tell us in one
sentence why it is your favorite.
Favorite
Food:
Popcorn – I could eat it every day. I never get tired of it.
Favorite
Drink:
Don’t judge me – red wine. I like the taste—seriously. (I always say, if it was good enough for Jesus at the Wedding in Cana, why not for us? My wife would agree, too. Moderation, moderation, moderation...)
Favorite
Song:
Currently it’s “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship because I know
so many people who feel like they’re trying to move mountains in their lives.
Favorite
Non-Fiction Book (other than your own & besides the Bible): The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman because it helped me better understand my
husband and children.
Favorite
Bible Verse: “For I know the plans I have
for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). This has become my life verse because I have clung to it many
times during difficult seasons of my life.
Favorite
Movie:
It changes all the time because I watch a lot of movies, but one
of my recent favorites is Hacksaw Ridge
because it’s a powerful and inspiring story of one man’s faith and
determination to help others while standing on his principles.
Favorite
Actor or Actress: Sandra Bullock takes on both
serious and comedic roles, and I’ve never been disappointed in her movies.
Favorite
Novel (other than your own): Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers changed
my life. It made me realize that Christian fiction could be rich without being
sweet and sappy.
Favorite
Novelist (other than you): Really? You’re making
me answer this? LOL! It’s like picking a number one best friend out of a group
of best friends. Okay, because of my previous answer, I’ll say Francine Rivers.
Favorite
Sport:
Martial arts. Years ago, I trained in Tae Kwon Do and got my red
belt (the one below black belt).
Favorite
Team (Can be any sport, any level): Hey, I live in the
Seattle area, so of course my favorite team is the Seahawks! (What about the Ducks? Is it hard to root for Oregon coming from the Badger state? Oregon is a fun team to watch.)
Favorite
Subject in School Growing Up: My favorite subject
was English because I was an avid reader and enjoyed discussing literature.
Favorite
Subject Now:
Creative writing is my favorite subject because it’s a part of
my daily life, and it’s still important to learn and grow in my craft.
Favorite
Teacher in School: My English teacher, Mrs.
Peters, challenged me and opened my world to the some of the classics I
wouldn’t have read without her requiring it.
Favorite
Time of the Year: Fall is the best time of
year! I enjoy cooler weather (that we can still enjoy while spending time
outside), the changing color of leaves, and having a fire roaring in the
fireplace. (Amen.)
Favorite
Place to Vacation: Even though I live in
Washington State, I still like to vacation here. We have it all—the ocean, the
mountains, and the desert.
If you had one person you could
meet (think outside the Bible here) and could spend as much time as you wanted
with that individual, who would it be?
I would choose Mother Teresa so I could learn more about having
a true servant’s heart.
If you had one person you could
meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you
wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus?
I would spend time with Mary, mother of Jesus. Years ago, I read
the book Two from Galilee by Marjorie
Holmes. It helped me see and understand that Mary was very human—just like me.
I think it’s easy for us to forget what a difficult position she was put in
when she became pregnant. As a mother, I’d love to know what she felt and
experienced as she brought Jesus into the world, helped him grow, and then had
to watch him hang on the cross. I’d want to hear how her faith carried her
through all those years.
Besides the usual things authors
face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being
an author?
After my first novel released, I was contacted by a woman who wanted to read it and write a review. It’s something she does on a regular
basis for authors. But when I responded to her message, I didn’t hear from her.
After a week had gone by, I tried to reach her again. She apologized for her
lack of communication. She’d been going through a rough time, still grieving
over the death of a young grandchild she was close to.
That unexpected admission opened the door to us having
more conversation, and it gave me the opportunity to offer empathy, genuine
care, and encouragement. The original connection was about a book review, but
it turned into a greater purpose.
Connecting with readers isn’t just about books—it’s about
building relationships with people themselves. Books can serve as a bridge to
help make that happen. Unplanned opportunities to minister to people’s needs
may come along, and I want to be open to them.
We know “Readers are leaders, and
leaders are readers.” Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or so that
has helped you become a better you? If so, which one was it, and how did it
affect your life?
To be honest, I read very little nonfiction that isn’t
related to writing or publishing. But one book that has impacted my life is If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to
Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg. The book challenged me to face my
fears, step out in faith, and face challenges, but to also accept that failure
isn’t necessarily the end—it can be an opportunity to grow.
When you are looking for a book to
read, what are the things that are important to you?
I read a variety of genres, so I don’t zero in on a specific
one. But, I’m a visual person, so covers are extremely important to me. If I
don’t like the cover, I usually won’t look further unless I see a large number
of positive reviews listed or someone I know has recommended the book. Then if
the back cover copy piques my interest, I’ll read some of the reviews before
purchasing.
What Bible scripture has impacted
your life the most, and why?
The Bible verse is the same one that I listed as my favorite:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
This verse helped me keep going when I didn’t know what the
future would hold.
Like many people, I’ve experienced some pretty rough seasons
in life. I went through a divorce after twenty years of marriage. Because of
it, I lost some friends, and some relatives were so angry with my decision
(because they couldn’t understand at the time) that they didn’t speak to me for
over a year. Friendships and family relationships were later healed, but it was
very painful at the time. I was also trying to take care of two daughters who
were hurting.
Several years later, I married my now husband who also had
two daughters about the same age. We thought life was going to be good. But two
months later, we lost his nineteen-year-old daughter in a freak car accident.
Eight months later, he was laid off from work for two years,
along with thousands of other Boeing employees. He couldn’t get a job flipping
burgers.
After he was called back to work, I thought all would be
well, but three months later, he checked into a thirty-day rehab facility, and
my world turned upside down again. He’s been sober for twelve years.
The first three years of marriage were difficult, and we’re
very open about those experiences, but the following years have been filled
with many blessings.
Other people have gone through far worse than what I have,
but I know what is feels like to cling to hope.
Is there anything else you’d like
to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover?
I write fiction because I
truly believe in the power of story to comfort, challenge, and inspire. And
because I’ve seen so many people struggle with finding purpose in different
seasons of their lives—or have been afraid to pursue their dreams—those themes
find their way into my writing. I understand, because I’ve struggled with them
too, and I want to offer encouragement and hope through entertainment.
Dawn, I want to thank you for spending some time with us. And to all my readers, thank you for stopping by. If you'd like to get to know Dawn more, you can find her at these locations:
Until next time, May God bless you, and may you Bless God!
Kevin
There is little out there more trying on the patience of a person than preparing for a hurricane. In the week to ten days prior to the event, you are watching forecasts, being told how big the storm is, how destructive it is. There’s the dizzying array of “spaghetti models” showing the storm going one way, then another, and another.
