Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and reside in Toronto, Canada. I began writing notes and cards as a young child to people I loved and admired. When I left home as a teen, I began journaling through the years about my concerns and thoughts in analysis of my life. Coming from a broken home, I was often drawn into the middle of my parent’s conflicts and I took the comfort of pen and paper as a means for an outlet to sort my thoughts and understand the people and events in my life. As one who enjoyed writing, I decided to put my words into books and published my first book in 2013, Conflicted Hearts. I love to write about real-life experiences and so I write as a nonfiction-memoir writer.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut book is titled Conflicted Hearts – A daughter’s quest for solace from emotional guilt. The book was written after years of compiling memories in my journal, beginning with a tumultuous childhood living in a constant dysfunction with my parent’s marriage and a narcissistic mother. The book takes you further into my life adventures as I grew up guided by my own decisions; some good and bad. Throughout my life that reign of guilt I carried from my mother always followed me.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if it’s unusual but perhaps more old school, but I don’t seem to be as creative in front of a computer and so I write in long-hand. After first draft I begin my revisions while entering my work into the computer. I also tend to get some great inspiration in the strangest places where I will find myself frantically looking for one of my five pens I usually have on me and a piece of something to write down a fleeting idea.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jane Austen, William Zinsser, SARK.
What are you working on now?
I am currently in final revisions with my upcoming book Meno-What? – The Memoir, a humorous take on my journey through menopause.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is always a tricky question. For writers promoting their work it is sometimes a process of trial and error to find the right site which is most effective for a particular genre. I have used quite a few and some were successful for me while some others were not. My advice is to read the ‘about’ pages carefully wherever one chooses to advertise to get a good grasp on where your book will be displayed and to what kind of reader it will appeal to and also to the promoting site’s size of reader list for exposure.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write every day. Commit to a set goal of either a word count or a time frame to write. Don’t stop along the way to edit or correct, keep writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t write with the expectations of fame or fortune for it is a long road or a stroke of luck to get there. Write because you love to. Put forth your best (edited) work always.
What are you reading now?
Write. Publish. Repeat. by Pratt and Truant also, It Was The Best of Sentences, It Was The Worst of Sentences by June Casagrande.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working on finishing first draft of my third book, a novella of short stories about women’s self-esteem. Later in the year I will be completing my sequel to Conflicted Hearts.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough and some books of enlightenment by Deepak Chopra.
Author Websites and Profiles
D.G. Kaye Website
D.G. Kaye Amazon Profile
D.G. Kaye’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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