Wornoutwoman

My kiddo has had a crush on the same girl since 2nd grade.  On the first day he saw her, his smile lit up his face and he instantly began chatting her head off.  She was shy and was unsure about her new school and he made it his mission to befriend her and give her a great first year. In third grade, (I'll never forget this) I was rushing him out the door for school.  He was dawdling ... like he always does ... and his face transformed from everyday kid to a starstruck dreamer.  He smiled and stared out to nothing at all and said, "You know mommy ... I'm going to marry that girl someday and carry her over the threshold in her wedding dress.  I even know who my best men are going to be."  I blinked twice unsure of how to answer, told him that he was very sweet, and continued rushing him out the door for school. In fourth grade, he wanted to start buying her gifts for birthdays, Christmas, or practically any other reason he could think of.  We'd arr...

Imagine my surprise when I woke up on Sunday to messages and comments from friends and family like ... "Great review" ... "Congratulations!" I had no idea what they were referring to as I didn't know anything was being written or going into our local paper, The Oklahoman.  So I quickly got my iPhone and looked up their online paper,  newsok.com  and found this story: “Coming Home” by Kimberly McKay (CreateSpace, 340 pages, available at Amazon.com) I liked getting to know the spunky but broken Anne LaSal in Oklahoma author Kimberly McKay’s “Finding Kylie” and “Facing Redemption,” so it was a treat to get more of her story in “Coming Home.” Anne is the best friend of the main character Chastity in the two earlier books written by this budding writer.  McKay, who at one time worked for The Oklahoman, does a great job of setting up the suspense — will it be romance or sparks? — when Anne agrees to be on the popular “Broadcast Affair” n...

So as a brat, moving every few years my tenure in most states includes a couple years of middle school here - a year of junior high there - and maybe if I'm lucky I got a longer stay for high school. I spent two years of my high school in the state of Virginia, twenty miles south of D.C. - then my dad's next duty station took us overseas for my junior & senior years.  At this point, it hit hard as I'd finally felt like I'd come into my own as a teenaged girl and suddenly I was forced to pack up and move away from all close my friends and my comfort zone.  As a military brat, you get used to this sort of thing but it's not like you love it all the time. Long story short ... my older sister and I are going back this weekend for her class reunion.   She also attended this same school and had to leave right before her senior year. Although it's her 30th high school reunion - it's also an 'all-class reunion' as our high school is celebrating it...

This was a review on Amazon, which was left recently for Finding Kylie.  Between reviews like this ...  and supportive texts (see below) from some of my favorite blogger buddies, like Terri , about COMING HOME - I'm so happy. Sometimes God gives me inspiration on what needs to be included in my books ... sometimes I pray - not knowing - and it just evolves from there.  Either way, I have to believe they're just as they should be -- with a message for someone who needs it.  So keep reading America and let me know how each book has touched you.

I started a new full-time job, on Friday, which means I now will not be able to go to any of the home games for The University of Oklahoma. (BOOMER SOONER!)  When I took the position, I told them I already had plans for Saturday or yesterday.  It was the first game of the season - and we had a huge family tailgate planned and everyone was counting on me begin there. It was in the high nineties yesterday with no cloud cover.  So to say it was hot was an understatement. Some of the ladies around me literally had their makeup melting away as the heat had them drenched.  My sister had an awesome mister bottle that she kept spraying us with, and we had a nice fan plugged in so we could get some air ... but it was still sweltering. The reason I love these things is that all of our friends and family stopping in to visit and eat.  We all bring something and usually, there's a ton of food.  We have our standard group of people in our tent, and they all usuall...

This weekend was the launch for COMING HOME, and I'm still reeling from the number of people that came in from all over the country.  There were people from California, Kansas, Texas, and of course... Oklahoma. Although it was the launch for COMING HOME, I also had my other books for sale.  Finding Kylie has been re-released with a new cover, it was also a highlight of the day. For a few hours, it was non-stop traffic, with about one-hundred and forthy in attendance. The Shave Ice stand and the Egg Roll truck I had on-site were also a plus.  From the free appetizers to door prizes - customers were lining up in support of my big day. After I signed each book, I slipped out from my table for a picture with each new reader.  Here are a few for your enjoyment. Thank you to all of you who drove in for the fun event.  I'm so grateful to you all and blessed by each one of you. I look forward to your reviews coming in.  To...

When creating names for my character in any of my books, sometimes deep thought goes into what I name them ... and then one name will just spark something within and it becomes a name, which was meant to be. Sometimes a name may come to me in a dream. Then there are always those particular readers that send me an email or leave a good review, and if they make me smile - their first name may make it into my next book. So tell me - if you've read my books - which character has spoken to you most? Would have been the same if Chastity Banks were named Pam Brown? Or did her name, Chastity, give her something extra in your imagery of how she portrayed the character? As I'm creating my fifth book, I'm loving some of the names that have come to me. I'm still re-working how they fit together. However, I'd love to hear from you ... write to me at kimberlymckayauthor@gmail.com and tell me who your favorite character has been to date. If your words speak to me -- y...