Interview Friday with K.S. Krueger

Although her background has been in business, K.S. Krueger has always loved to write. She has written poetry and several children’s stories originally for her eldest daughter. Kim enjoys the idea of seeing the world through the eyes of her imagination and finds herself submerged in the worlds she creates. Imagination has never been in short supply ever since she was a child.

Because her series rides a fine line between fantasy and reality, it calls each reader to decide for themselves if they BELIEVE!  Kim has always believed that when you find something you truly love to do, even if you think it is just a dream, find your passion, the gift that is within you, believe in yourself and follow that dream. “Let yourself be open to the possibilities that await. You never know where they might take you.”

Kim is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She is a writer, businesswoman, Reiki practitioner and spiritual person. She loves animals, nature and kids. Kim has lived in the Suburbs of Chicago all her life. She is creative and always tries to foster creativity in her own children as well as in others. She is the author of Traegonia The Sunbow Prophecy and Traegonia The Ember Rune. 

VS: I want to thank you for being my guest here on The Writing Mama today. It’s always a pleasure to talk with authors. To get things started, what do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life?

K.S: My family is very involved with this project, as is Dino’s family, which helps them to feel like they are a part of this aspect of my life and not that it just takes me away from time I could be spending with them. Of course, there are still times when they feel that way.

VS: Finding writing time is hard and not making family and friends feel unimportant because of it can be hard as well. How long have you been writing?

K.S: I have been writing on and off, more as a hobby, for about 18 years. It took me about ten years to complete the first book in the Traegonia series, not because I didn’t have anything to write about, but because I was busy with life, children and a new marriage. I have been writing consistently now for about three years.

VS: I think it’s great you have been writing off and on to begin with and are now carving out time really to see your work out there. It’s not easy to break out of the hobby routine so good for you. What inspired you?

K.S: I was inspired to write the Traegonia series by the sculptures created by a former neighbor and current friend, Dino C. Crisanti. About twelve years ago, Dino had done a couple of sculptures, just for the art of it, and my husband had gone next door to help Dino with something. My husband Bob spotted the creatures and thought they were so cool that he wanted to show me. After seeing the sculptures, the three of us stood in the back yard talking about what they could be and my husband suggested I write a story, giving them a world, a life and a name, and that is how I was inspired to take my writing to an actual book.

VS: Now I know you already have mentioned how your family is supportive of your writing, but how do they support you?

K.S: My family is very supportive of my writing, but I also try to include them in the project in some way. My husband helps me at the arts and crafts shows and other events, my 21-year-old daughter helps with marketing ideas, my 9-year-old daughter reads and edits the books before they go to final editing and my 11 year old is going to play the flute in the music on the audio books.

VS: What was the first thing you ever had published?

K.S: The very first piece of my work that was published was a poem that won a contest. Traegonia the Sunbow Prophecy was the first big project that was published.

VS: Now you have two books out right now, which are just wonderful and full of adventure. I would love if you could share with us a little about your current books?

K.S: Traegonia the Sunbow Prophecy and Traegonia the Ember Rune are the first two books in the Traegonia series. They are about forest dwelling creatures that live in a world within our own. They are called Traegons and are only about 16 inches tall and resemble a cross between a troll and a wingless dragon. The creatures/characters are a bit frightful looking, but are actually wise, kind and civilized. The series shares the friendship of a human boy, two young Traegons, the reason they are meant to come together, and all that they are able to accomplish, because they believe, learn to believe in themselves and each other. Each book takes the three main characters to locations in our world but as we all come to find out, Traegons are everywhere. I weave positive messages throughout the individual books as well as a common theme throughout the series; looking beyond outward appearances, friendship, conservation, and above all believing in you. So when we ask the reader, “Do you Believe?” it is much more than just believing in Traegons.

VS: What do you enjoy most about writing?

K.S: I enjoy slipping out of my everyday world into my thoughts. I love to create and as I begin to write, my mind goes deeper and I begin to see the whole story unfold like a movie in my mind. It relaxes me and moves me.

VS: What is the most difficult part of writing?

K.S: For me the most difficult part of writing is just finding the time to write.

VS: Now that you are writing more for publication than a hobby, do you find it hard to balance your personal writing time with your other jobs?

K.S: I definitely find balancing writing and running the business for the book, the job that brings in the money, three daughters,  a husband, a mother, that lives with us, a dog, a cat, a bird, a rabbit, laundry, cooking, house cleaning, and some semblance of social life a very difficult task. I am not sure how I manage but I do. Sometimes it feels okay and other times I feel, guilty and frustrated, but I know that my children will know the importance of following your dreams and believing you can do what you are willing to work hard for. I Love them all and that I know they know.

VS: Do you have any other works in progress? Can you share a little about them?

K.S: I have two other books in progress that are unrelated to the Traegonia series. One is a paranormal mystery about a young couple and a 250-year-old tree. I can’t go into detail because I really don’t know when I will get back to it. The other is a steampunk novel. Both of these are YA novels. But for now I am focusing on the third Traegonia book.

VS: What tips can you give writing parents with children at home to help them see publication?

K.S: Don’t give up on your own dreams. There is a time for everything and everything comes in its own due time. Children will learn wonderful things from a parent who believes in themselves. They will see your desire to do what you do for the benefit of you and the legacy you can leave to and for them. Just make sure you share with them and include them in some way.

VS: Is there anything else you would like to share with us about being a “Writing Mama”?

K.S: Raising children with an awareness that following your dreams is not only important but that it feeds the soul, will show them that they, their thoughts and their dreams are important and worthy of time and effort.

You can visit Kim’s website at www.WorldOfTraegonia.com and her blog at http://worldoftraegonia.wordpress.com/

Also, join K.S. Krueger, author of the middle grade fantasy novel, Traegonia: The Sunbow Prophecy (Outskirts Press, August 2011 ), as she virtually tours the blogosphere from December 5 - 16, 2011 on her first virtual book tour!