It’s my pleasure to have Kay Castaneda as my guest and Top Author, this week.
Kay Castaneda is retired from a career as a college writing instructor and special education tutor. She earned a B.A. and M.A. in English at Indiana University. Her publications include poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction in literary journals plus articles about education for reference books. She published a novel based on her experiences growing up in the Midwest, Emmie of Indianapolis. Kay also contributed two stories to Death Among Us: An Anthology of Murder Mystery Short Stories. She is currently researching the history of Ireland for a novel based on her ancestors. Her work in progress is a mystery novel with an amateur female sleuth. She loves to eat at Mom and Pop diners and browse in antique stores and flea markets. Kay lives in Mexico with her husband Tony, son Richard and dog Buddy.
Reviews of Kay’s work:
‘Wonderful! a joy to read.’
‘This delightful book is also a page-turner. It also left me with a warm uplifting feeling. It was a joy.’
‘One sweet novel. Full of warmth, sorrow and joy for young adults.’
‘AMAZING book!’
Book blurb:
In 1963, a young teenage girl moves with her mother and sisters from the suburbs to the downtown of a Midwestern city after her parents get a divorce. Emmie, a naïve, curious and intelligent girl, wants the security of her suburban life but has always dreamed of adventure in faraway places. She must take risks, meet new people and become independent. The change is difficult for all because of her mother’s alcoholism and lack of a steady income. When Emmie’s mother takes a job, she cares for her sisters at night. In her new neighborhood, Emmie meets people from different cultures who are both good and evil. She defends her sisters and herself each day by confronting the evil, thus awakening her courage and inner strength. But she never gives up.
Other books by Kay:
How lovely to see Kay here as your author of the week. I didn’t know she had a poetry book.
Thanks Robbie! I just now saw your comment. I have a poetry manuscript that I shop around. I’m thinking of self-publishing it. Individual poems are published in some journals but I’d like to have a poetry book. Thanks also to Lizzie for featuring me on Top Author of the Week.