Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
Growing up, I wasn’t interested in writing like many friends who kept diaries. My passion was singing and playing the piano. In fact, I had never written down my thoughts until I was a freshman in high school when our English teacher introduced us to the rhythm and rhyme of poetry. Writing poems was like creating music but with my own lyrics. It became my diary, where I expressed myself on the written page.
I stopped writing poetry after I headed to college to get a music degree. Unfortunately, after my first year, I foolishly married a senior music major, who unexpectedly changed his career right before the wedding and tossed me unprepared into the role of minister’s wife at age eighteen. Yikes! That caused enough stress to send poetry into hiding.
After several years of playing a supporting role in someone else’s life plan while raising children and slowly trying to finish my music degree, poetry came back into my life to help me express my feelings. I also began journaling, which provided a larger canvas to paint longer sentences onto the page. The more I wrote about my life in the trenches of church ministry, the more I exaggerated until I was rolling on the floor laughing at what I’d written. That’s when I realized I could write humor. Surprise!
I joined a writer’s group without knowing I would have to submit a story or poem to our group leader every month so she could deliver our writings for publishing in the local newspaper. I was writing about my minister’s wife gig, so I used a pen name to keep my identity a secret. Being in the writer’s group inspired me to change my college degree from Music to English. I finished my degree two years later. In total, it took me five colleges and twenty years to graduate.
What inspired you to write your book?
Initially, when writing about my minister’s spouse life, I thought I would someday compile those stories into a book, but after my graduation, I got divorced and just wanted to put my marriage and traditional religion behind me. However, I still wanted a spiritual life. So, for the next twenty years, I dove into metaphysics, mind-body-spirit, higher consciousness, astrology, quantum physics, you name it.
As I approached retirement, the urge to write new humorous short stories and poems about my current life took hold. I posted them on Facebook and eventually created a website for blogging. Then came the strong pull to write the book. However, when I read those old stories, I realized I wasn’t that minister’s wife anymore. I had been on a journey of self-discovery. I had overcome obstacles and reclaimed my identity. I had a much bigger story to tell. One that could help those discouraged by traditional religion but still want a spiritual life and those hiding their authentic voice out of fear of what people might think of them.
What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Life happens for you; you can’t get it wrong. You are more than enough to see your dreams come true. You don’t have to meet the expectations of others. You are the only authority over what is best for you.
What drew you into this particular genre?
I write primarily in the first person. Since I had a personal story to tell, it made sense to write a memoir with my own kind of humor and honesty that resonates with readers.
What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Facebook is the only one I have. I promoted my book once a week for 8 weeks without buying ads. The book became a #1 Amazon bestseller on the first day of the ebook pre-orders. Then again, seven days later when the paperback came out.
What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
You don’t have to have an ending before you start writing. It will show up as you write.
When you have an idea, write it down immediately, especially if you are in bed in the middle of the night, because you will NOT remember it in the morning.
Get seven to eight hours of sleep, and when you awake, stay in bed with an open mind for thirty more minutes because that’s when you will get the ideas and words you were looking for the day before.
To really enjoy writing, you must write regularly, even if it’s just a few words because the more you procrastinate, the more your writing project will haunt you. You don’t want that.
What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I’m currently focused on promoting my book. Other than that, I don’t know what is in my future, but I’m excited and open to whatever is coming.
About the Author
Gaye Kick graduated from the University of Illinois Springfield, where she studied writing under novelist and children’s book author Jaqueline Dougan Jackson. She writes humorous short stories about finding balance and inspiration as she navigates the highway of life. In addition, Gaye is a talented pianist, singer, and songwriter specializing in new thought music. Explore her work at www.gayellenkick.com
