Today’s special guest author is Kim Lengling and we’re chatting about her non-fiction anthology, Paw Prints on the Couch.
Bio:
As a multi-published author, Kim shares her love of nature, animals, living with PTSD, and her mission of tossing Nuggets of Hope into the world through writing and her podcast.
Kim is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book series titled When Grace Found Me and two stand-alone anthologies, When Hope Found Me (released November 2022) and Paw Prints on the Couch (released August 2023.)
In addition to writing, she hosts the podcast Let Fear Bounce, spotlighting people who make a difference in the world, whether by writing, film production, philanthropy, teaching, founding non-profits, and more.
You can regularly find Kim drinking copious amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog.
Welcome, Kim! Please tell us about your current release.
Paw Prints on the Couch is an anthology with stories of people and their pets and how those pets have changed and enriched their lives.
With tales of loyalty, bravery and above all, unconditional love, this book is a reminder of the powerful impact pets have on our lives.
What inspired you to write this book?
I’ve had the idea in the back of my mind for years. Initially the idea was to do a book about Digger, a very special dog I had for 14 years. Over the years, I kept a diary of our adventures together and had always thought of putting it into a book. I had been sharing our adventures on social media and Digger had a following always wanting to know what wisdom he had to bestow. When he passed away, I was devastated. Truly, I felt crushed, and the book idea was put on the back burner, simply because it made me so sad.
A few years later I decided to create an anthology and include one story of Digger in the book.
That was my way of mentally gearing myself up to sit down and finalize the book I initially started writing years ago. It is still a work in progress and is ever evolving. The final book may begin with Digger and all of his wit and wisdom but may catch up to the present day and the rescue dog I now have, named Dexter. I don’t know how I am going to go with it yet. I’ll have to wait and see what direction the wind takes me on that one.
Pulling this current book together and sharing my own stories was a wonderful experience of “meeting” other pets who have had such a loving impact on their humans.
Other than that, I just love animals and the more I can bring attention to them, especially rescue animals, and how awesome they are, I’ll do it!
What exciting project are you working on next?
I am working on a few projects, one of which I hope to have released early next year. That is a book called Nuggets of Hope. I’ve been working on this book off and on this year. It’s one that stemmed from something that I personally do, which is hand out Nuggets of Hope to people while I am out and about running errands. I will approach a person and give them a polished stone with the word Hope engraved on it. I give them the Nugget; wish them a blessed day and I am on my way. It’s a bit of a mission I have been on for the past couple of years and one that I am quite passionate about.
The world needs more hope and kindness. I may not be able to change the entire world, but maybe, just maybe, I can change one person’s world for the better, if only for a moment.
The book will share my interactions with those who I’ve given Nuggets of Hope to as well as provide a positive message on the importance of kindness in an oftentimes, dark world.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I did not consider myself a writer until a newspaper editor pointed out to me by saying, “You are a writer.” This was after he heard me give a speech and asked me who wrote the speech.
It took someone else seeing something in me that I never saw to spur me on to explore this whole writing gig.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I write part-time. I host a Podcast and have a few clients that I provide things for, so my writing is not quite full-time. I enjoy the process of writing more when I don’t put pressure on myself and the way I go about it now suits me at this time.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Hmm, most story ideas that come to me come when I am outside walking with my dog. I’ll have to hurry to get my thoughts recorded on my phone. I may not listen to those thoughts for a few days and when I do, it goes one of two ways. “Wow Kim, that’s actually pretty good! You could do something with that!” or, “Wow Kim, what were you thinking? Got a bit weird there huh?”
Now I don’t know if that is considered a quirk or not, but there ya have it!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I honestly say I don’t recall having a specific thing in mind of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Nothing that I felt a passion for or called to do. That didn’t come until later in life, which was writing and making a difference in my community.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I know this has been said over and over, but if you are thinking of writing a book, do it. Start writing. It doesn’t have to be good. Learn as you go, but you have to get going!
And while you are on that journey, enjoy it. Let your mind roam into areas you never thought of. You’ll be surprised at what ends up on your computer screen or paper. It’s a journey, enjoy it.
Links:
Website | Amazon | Let Fear Bounce Podcast | YouTube | Apple | Facebook