Interview With Author Kriss King
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Writer/Mother/Animal Lover/Total Softie based in the Vail, CO area. A former corporate executive, small business owner, and IT consultant, Kriss really enjoys faith-based activities amid Colorado’s breathtaking scenery, outdoor sports, and wildlife. Although she has lifelong hearing loss, she Just Keeps Zippin’ by reading lips and using technology amid her likely future need for a cochlear implant. She loves to smile and her joyous hobby is winning smiles or slobbers from humans and fur babies alike.
Illustrator/Daughter/Paleontologist Angel is the youthful illustrator with talent that eclipses the author’s throughout the Just Keep Zippin’ books. Her illustrations are only a small glimpse of the imaginative art she cranks out every day for the sheer joy of it. Gifted with natural talent, Angel enjoys creating graphics for the dinosaur museum where she volunteers, and provides whimsical illustrations for numerous sites, games and freelance efforts.
Two books out of a planned 12 series about our real-life therapy horse, Zippy. His legacy lives on as we crank out books about anxiety, fitting in, getting glasses, braces, and so much more. The real talent here is Angel, the illustrator.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Just Keep Zippin’ (Just Keep Zipping) book series was born from the inspiration of our real-life horse Zippy whose last year and a half of his 23 years was spent serving clients as a therapy horse. We called him a Paint/Labrador cross because of his endless need to be close to humans and cuddle. We Just Kept Zipping after a fire devastated our home/ranch in August of 2020. In rebuilding our lives and relocating, we decided to write the books. The first books are Hair We Go, about Harry, the Hairless Cat who is bummed about not having fur. The second is Ears to Hear, about Boom Boom the Elephant who is tested at school and is scared to learn he needs hearing aids. Angel, the illustrator, is working on writing AND illustrating our next book. Trax the TRex train conductor needs glasses. That book features real-life characters from Angel’s beloved dinosaur museum, where she volunteers. Our website JustKeepZippin.com shows our spokestherapy kitty who is featured in another upcoming title!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The Just Keep Zippin’ books are so much fun to create, we call them our new “Life’s Energy” vs. work. We are blessed to have a simplified life after the fire to allow us to crank these out. Angel does artwork for the sheer joy of it, and often these titles start to finish are developed in an afternoon. Crazy, right?
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a total softie, and have a background in veterinary medicine. Animal and horse books were my voracious habits growing up. Debbie Macomber’s fabulous and clean books are a hands-down leisure reading favorite, and I even won her personally-knitted scarf at her reader’s retreat. Unfortunately, it was lost in the fire in 2020. I’ll have to reach out to her team one day. Angel’s got a Marvel youtube channel for fun under Cossie, and she adores all fantasy, dragons, gaming, and more genre’s. She even wrote a comic book at 13 and built a matching video game. Her magnets/stickers created for her beloved dinosaur museum are here: CossieCreations.redbubble.com
What are you working on now?
Back on Track (Doc Zippy sees Trax, the T-Rex train conductor who needs to get glasses.)
Sonic Overload (Doc Zippy sees Sonia, a dolphin struggling with being overwhelmed with relationships, expectations, noise, and crowds in light of her autism.)
Nuts are Notzo Fun (Doc Zippy sees Notzo, a squirrel that has nut allergies and is tired of being singled out, sitting at the “special allergy table” , carrying his EPI Pen, and being teased for being so careful.)
Smiles All the While (Doc Zippy sees Chomper, a beaver that needs to wear braces.)
Color Crazy – What Am I So Afraid Of? (Doc Zippy sees Random, a chameleon who keeps changing colors in order to blend in and struggles with anxiety/panic attacks.)
When Will I Get Picked? (Doc Zippy sees Diggity, a low to the ground dachshund struggling with food, fitness, and being picked last at gym class.)
I Feel So Small (Doc Zippy sees Roary, the smallest cub of a lion pride who is struggling with being bullied.)
Too Slow-Mo (Doc Zippy sees Stuckey the sloth who is struggling with depression and lack of energy.)
Bouncy House Blues (Doc Zippy sees Boingo, a Jack Russell Terrier who struggles with focus and distractions due to high energy and ADHD.)
Cast All Your Cares (Doc Zippy sees Shimmer Chérie a plush Scottish Fold cat who gets a cast right before her summer break. Based on the real-life story of Shimmer Chérie, our cat who had 7 casts in 6 weeks and her real life owner’s childhood story!)
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We are JUST getting going! Please share and buy our books so we can Just Keep Crankin’ and publish these everywhere.
Our Website has several links to purchase books on Amazon but also to Angel’s other sites and Doc Zippy’s full story. We really hope you enjoy our “work” as much as we enjoy creating them. Just Keep Zipping!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are inspired to write or create, it is NEVER a stranded investment! Keep your chin up and know that you are making a contribution that matters!
Look into tools available to do things yourself (we did) but stay open to coaching, feedback, and professionals that will take you to success doing what you love!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
We must simply Have Courage & Be Kind (Cinderella, 2015)
One I’m still trying to adopt! “Ruthlessly eradicate hurry from your life!” (Lance Witt)
What are you reading now?
Imagine Heaven (John Burke)
Kindlepreneur guides of all kinds (Dave Chesson)
What’s next for you as a writer?
The next 10 books in the series, maybe some fun celebrity endorsements/animation. (A girl can dream, thinking Kevin Costner (Bobby his labrador), Keanu Reeves (Keep Calm/Kindness) and the Owen brothers (Doc Zippy needs to be voiced by Owen!)
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?
Your One Life (Lance Witt)
The Left Behind series first 3 books
Author Websites and Profiles
Kriss King’s Social Media Links
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