We Interrupt This Blog

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog post to make an important announcement: The 2nd edition of I Was In Love With a Short Man Once will be released by Booktrope Publishing on June 23rd!

Cover design by Lizzie Russell, www.lizzierussellcreative.com

WOO HOO! To celebrate, let’s play a game of twenty questions. Here we go:

1.     What inspired you to write this book?

My nana’s apple pie recipe. Nana made the best apple pies, but she never wrote down the recipe. Now she’s gone and no one in the family has been able to recreate her masterpiece. I came to realize that if I want my side of any story to be remembered, I better put it in writing.

2.    Who should read your book?

The stories in the book will most likely appeal to women, probably over 30, who have had kids and relationships and jobs and heartbreak. We’ve all made mistakes and behaved badly once or twice and the book validates that it’s OK to be a screw-up every once in a while.

3.    If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

1) Sun block

       2) Moisturizer

       3) My husband

Well, my husband’s not exactly a thing, so I guess the third thing would have to be a solar powered radio. Wait, would the radio work? Scratch the radio; instead I would bring “Surviving On A Desert Island for Dummies.”

4.    What’s one book everyone should read?

“Surviving On A Desert Island for Dummies”

5.    You dedicate about a third of the book to stories about your son Jimmy. Tell us about being a single mom.

I loved being a single mom. The beauty of being a single parent is that there is no compromising; you just make a decision and go with it. However, it can also be very difficult, especially if you have to travel the way I did when I worked for the Justice Department. When you are a single parent, if you don’t have family living close by, you absolutely have to create a support network. It was by the grace of the universe that during my time as a single parent I lived next door to a woman who worked as a type of “au pair” on nights and weekends. Now that I think about it, I probably should have dedicated the book to Helen.

6.    You note in the book that Greg is your second husband. What makes your second marriage different from your first?

The biggest difference is age and maturity. When I married the first time I was 22–way too young to be married (you hear that girls: WAY. TOO. YOUNG.). The second time around, at 37, I could let more things go. Oh, and this is important: at the start of my second marriage I read “The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love” and it offers some of the best relationship guidance out there. My favorite advice from the book’s author Jill Connor Browne–The five men you must have in your life at all times are:

1) Someone Who Can Fix Things;

2) Someone You Can Dance With;

3) Someone Who Can Pay for Things;

4) Someone You Can Talk To; and

5) Someone to Have Great Sex With.

My greatest relationship epiphany is that all five of these men are not likely to be the same person, and that’s OK!

7.    What’s your very least favorite thing?

Shoveling snow! There is absolutely nothing fun about shoveling snow. It may get hot in Florida, but you don’t have to shovel humidity.

8.   You don’t seem to embarrass easily–can your recall any time when you have been genuinely flustered?

Well, there is one story in the book, Trivial Pursuits, which describes when I had to fake an orgasm in public… on a cruise ship… in front of my Dad. Yeah, I can definitely say that I was flustered on that occasion. Think about it, you may have faked the “big O” a time or two in your life, but did you do it in front of 100 people? Well God love you and bless your heart if you answered yes to that question.

9.     Tell us something about you that is not in your book.

I’m left-handed. I still can’t believe I didn’t mention that even once in the book. We southpaws are, after all, only 10% of the general population. Oh, and I never eat eggs. N-E-V-E-R.

Image courtesy of Pixabay, http://pixabay.com/en/fried-eggs-breakfast-toast-food-456351/

10.   Is there anything that you flat out cannot do?

I cannot sing; I truly can’t. Oh, I try, but I am just awful. I am hopelessly tone deaf. Children have cried because of my singing. People have prayed for my soul because of my singing.

11.   You seem to be pretty proud of your alma mater. What is it about FSU that makes you such a fan?

I had one of the best times of my life at Florida State. I was broke, but everyone was a poor student so it didn’t matter. It was such a great time to have my whole world of possibilities in front of me. And of course they have the best football program–EVER!

12.  What’s one of the most important things your mom ever taught you?

How to fry chicken! My mom makes the BEST fried chicken and she taught me all her secrets. You cannot be a good southern gal and not know how to properly fry chicken.

13.  There’s a rumor that you are a brilliant salmon fisher(wo)man. Is this true?

Well, the answer to that question depends on your perspective. Compared to someone who has never fished for salmon, yes, I am a champion. Compared to everyone in my family, no, I am the token girly girl.

14.  If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Don’t worry about money. Oh, and wear a better bra; some day you’re going to regret that lack of support.

15.  Would you rather be pretty or funny?

I beautiful woman will command a room for the first minute. A funny woman will rule the party for the entire evening. I’ll pick funny (but not funny-looking).

16.  Your book has many messages for women. In your opinion, what makes women powerful?

All women need “get-out-of-jail” girlfriends. The type of women who will bail you out of jail, no questions asked, or be sitting right next to you in the cell. My get-out-of- jail girlfriends are my soul mates and my source of power. I also recommend that every woman own at least one red coat.

17.   Name something at the top of your “bucket list.”

I would so like it to be that I’ll get to meet George Clooney. However, a more reasonable answer is that I’ll finally get around to learning how to golf.

18.   If you were a superhero what would your name be?

Lime Kimba; my superpower would be killer margaritas.

19.  Will there be a second book?

Yep. “Magic Power Fishing Panties: More Tales from a Crazy Southern Irish Gal” will be released in August 2015.

20. What do you identify with most: being crazy; or southern; or Irish?

Crazy. Now, I don’t mean that in any clinical sort of way and I’ve been told the term “crazy” might even offend a few people. I relate to crazy as defined as being or acting foolish, outrageous, zany, bizarre, or passionate. Being crazy is fun; it’s the polar opposite of mature, serious, or humorless. I was born Irish and I was raised in the South, but I choose to be crazy. It’s all of life’s silly little choices that make us who we are, don’t you think?

Your turn: take one of the questions above and answer it in the comments section. 

ADDED BONUS: we have a giveaway! After you add your comment you can enter a drawing for a chance to win a free e-copy of “I Was In Love With a Short Man Once” or “Magic Fishing Panties” – coming out in August, also with Booktrope Publishing. PLEASE NOTE that entry into the giveaway is not automatic; I respect that not everyone loves a giveaway – bless your hearts. 

Leave a comment on this post and you can enter for a chance to win your choice of:

E-copy of the 2nd edition of “I Was In Love With a Short Man Once” (available June 2015)

Or

E-copy of Kimba’s new book “Magic Fishing Panties” (available end of August 2015)

Winner announced on this post 5 pm EST Thursday, June 26th

Follow Kimba on Twitter, visit (and hopefully like!) her Facebook author page, and/or subscribe to “The Middle-Aged Cheap Seats” for additional drawing entries.

 

Cheers, Kimba