Interview: Kathryn E Jones

Greetings humans, half-breeds, and everything in between. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Kathryn Jones. A good time was truly had by all and here’s how it went down.

ariverofstones.com

Hi there Kathryn! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ECS Blog. Don’t worry about the darkness, your eyes will adjust.

So tell me, who is Kathryn Jones?

I am not only a writer; I'm a reader, gardener, and decorator. I tell people that if I couldn't be a writer I'd be a decorator or a photographer. I also own a business, Idea Creations Press, which helps writers to improve their writing and get their books published. You can expect round two of my, Marketing Your Book on a Budget, to be released around January 2014 for wonderful and inexpensive marketing ideas.

 

Sounds like you do it all: writer of fiction and reference materials, a business owner, and a decorating hobbyist. This is bound to be a riveting interview.

So whacha got for me today?

provided by author

David gathered 5 smooth stones to meet and defeat Goliath. What did these stones represent and how can you use them to conquer Goliaths in your own personal quests? Ms. Virginia Bean will show you how.

Travel with her on her own personal journey. See what she does. Learn how she grows. Discover what she becomes.

“Conquering your Goliaths—A Parable of the Five Stones” is for anyone desiring to travel beyond mediocrity, pain and fear. Learn of the great power within you, a power given to you from God, a power that must ultimately be unleashed to conquer the Goliaths in your own life. Come to an even deeper understanding of God and what he wants for you. (See a review of this book by JoanA. Adamak)

 I’ve always had a liking to parables and fables. I like to be taught a lesson without someone just telling what to do. I guess you write modern day parables…That’s pretty cool.

So who’s starring is this 2 dimensional script read of Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones?

Ms. Virginia Bean is a single woman who has never married. She loses her job and finds herself struggling to find a new one. At a job interview, as she sits across the desk waiting to hear the questions of the business owner, she discovers she is sitting face to face with God. But not only that (as if sitting across from God isn't enough), she is given knowledge of the five stones once gathered by David of old.  Virginia is a regular girl, with regular thoughts and fears, and she struggles to understand the stones of listening, trust, optimism, tenacity and constancy that the stones represent. She struggles to hear and she struggles to follow through. But most of all, she struggles to allow God to help her change her life.

As if job interviews weren’t intimidating enough…I like the premise of this story, but I wonder how it all works out. How does she know she’s sitting in front of God? How does she know about the five stones? Does she actually have physical stones in her procession that manifests these virtues…No, don’t tell me! Let me read the book.

Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

In the past I sat alone with a pen and paper; today I use music, silence, whatever prompts me to get going, as I sit at a desk in my office. I have recently moved into a new home so the office is not (yet) quite what I want, but I envision the potential. New floors and paint, and something besides a collapsible table for my desk. I have great windows already that let in tons of light, fish swimming in a large fish tank to look at, and ceiling fans to keep me cool during the summer months. I am currently working on a Christian fiction novel entitled The Feast: A Parable of the Ring. The story takes off where Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones, left off. I am also gathering in ideas for the January 2014 edition of Marketing Your Book on a Budget.

It sounds like you have your hands full with renovations, I’m pressed you are able to focus enough to get any writing done. Really, I understand your new approach of letting whatever prompt you and get you going. Sometimes I have to break my routine to refresh my creativity.

What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?

I do a lot of reading when it comes to inspirational works. C.S. Lewis is my favorite, but there are others like Max Lucado, which I also enjoy.

These are two dynamic writers with as many similarities as differences. If these are your influences, as a Christian writer, you are sure to be well rounded. I’m surely not speaking just for myself when I say that the works of C.S. Lewis captured and overtook my imagination and helped set in me the desire to write.

Whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Amazon

That would have to be C.S. Lewis. He was such a deep thinker, and his ideas made you stop and think about your own life and what you were doing with it. C.S. didn't start out as a Christian. I would like to ask him about his change of heart. I've read some about this, but I would like to know more. I would also like to ask him about his characters in the Narnia books. It is interesting that each of his characters take on a double identity. For example, the Lion is Jesus Christ, and the White Witch is Satan. I would also like to ask him how his ideas came to him, and when he struggled, what would he do to overcome that thing called 'writer's block.'

I see that you wouldn’t hold anything back if given the chance. You’d jump right in and cover every subject from technique, to inspiration, to personal matter, and spirituality. It seems like it would be a conversation worth eavesdropping on.

Who is so you and why?

This is a tough one. I had to get up from the computer and think about it for a few minutes. A few years ago I was taking an art class. My teacher started calling me Catherine Zeta Jones. Granted, I look nothing like the actress, but he thought it was funny that my name was so close to hers: Kathryn Elizabeth Jones.

:)Haha, I love it. That’s typical. It seems that lots of people somehow end up with these silly nick names or pet names that are really no reflection of them as a people, but somehow they stick.

What’s your ideal reading spot for your next highly anticipated read?

provided by author

I am sitting at my computer desk. I've just finished a cupcake; sugar always gets my mind going when I'm stumped. The fans are blowing in the office and my grand-daughter is singing in the kitchen some sort of 'woo-ooh' song. She's 4. I am excited because my new book, MarketingYour Book on a Budget 2013, is getting out there both in paperback and eBook. I wasn't sure about the eBook at first (enjoying the smell of the pages in its natural variety) but find myself feeling grateful that the book is available with options. Every time I read the pages I am reminded of something new I can do to promote my books. And the ideas don't end, because the next year I know the updated version will be up, ready for me to read and act upon. I am currently reading and reviewing MemoryLake, by Nancy S. Kyme. It won the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. It's a great memoir that takes the reader back to the days of girls’ camp.

Sounds like you’re able to read in the midst of multiple stimulants. I can pull this off at times, but if I had to choose, I’d choose silence (maybe some soft music in the background). Memory Lane sounds interesting.

What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

Barnes&Noble

Nancy Drew Mysteries were my favorite. When I couldn't make friends or get anyone to like me, I could always pick up a mystery and have an instant friend named Nancy.

I think I read one Nancy Drew story in school. I knew lots of girls who loved her, but I never got into her. Before that, I did spend a lot of time with Beverly Cleary’s Ramona...Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

Yep.

Alright then, here we go.

If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Field ofDreams.

That’s a very, to the point answer. I guess if you know what you like- you know what you like.

What makes you geek out?

Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolate. Anything chocolate. Bars. Ice-Cream. Doughnuts. Candy. You name it.

Spectacular! I mean who doesn’t like chocolate. I know there’s few strange people out there like my sister, but you’ve taken it to a whole other level…Get your chocolate on!

So what’s testing your patience right now?

Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2014 is a big endeavor. Sure, I have the book already in place, but and this is a big BUT, there is so much organizing to do. I will be expanding some chapters, letting go of some of the links and adding others, and creating at least one entirely new chapter. And all this in an office that's still in the re-decorating phase!

Editing is hard enough and you’re doing it while decorating…My prayers are with you ;).

When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

JoshGroban calms me and makes me travel in my mind outside myself. He eases the stress that comes when the music (if you can call it music) is doing its cattle call outside. No, not country music, that stuff that pounds and screams and makes you think of the movie, Psycho. There are some things a writer can control, other things she can't.

Well, you are my first professed Groban fan. I guess his stuff is pretty soothing. I still think it’s funny that his voice comes out of a person who looks like “just some dude”. My husband and I, and I believe others, have an inside joke that we went to high school with “that guy.”

What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

I enjoy the little things, so I will pick a day that comes to mind. The 4th of July brings on family and fireworks and not necessarily in that order. My grand-children were in a parade, their bikes decked out in streamers and American flags. We ate good food (nothing cooked, everything cold) and spent the evening making s'mores and watching the fireworks the neighbors had bought. I discovered that we'd moved into an incredible neighborhood (our first 4th in the new place) and that we'd saved tons of money on fireworks.

Simple and sweet, you really can’t beat that. Time with family is always a good time (even when it’s not).

Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

I hope our freedoms stay intact. To me, freedom isn't doing what you want whenever you want, it's doing those things that bring you closer to God. I hope I am closer to God in 5 years than I am today, and that no matter what is going on outside the walls of my home, that I will be spiritually stronger.

That sounds like a goof future to me. For believers or not, if everyone strived to be better in five years than they are now, I think the future would be a better place.

Is there a question you would like to ask me?

Q: What convinced you to start a blog?

A: I didn’t really start a blog. I found one that that had been abandoned and took it over…Just kidding. I’ve written several blogs all as a means to help me be a better writer. The first blog I ever wrote (now a free ebook) was a challenge blog. I wanted to see if I could write for 40 days straight about my first book. That experience was so overwhelming, and thrilling, and complex, and educational, and scary…I just had to keep going.

Kathryn “aka Zeta-Jones” Jones, it has been one big pleasure getting to know more about you. Thank you for stopping by and sharing with me and my readers today.

Ok humans, half-breeds, and everything in between, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Kathryn Jones, check out these great links:

Website & Blog: KathrynElizabeth Jones

GoodReads: Kathryn Elizabeth Jones

Facebook: Kathryn ElizabethJones

Twitter: @Kakido

LinkedIn: Kathryn Jones

Purchase links for Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones: Amazon, Barnes& Noble

Today, Kathryn has been so gracious as to offer a FREE paperback copy of Conquering You Goliaths  to a random commenter. So be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win the book.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken