A Conversation with Laurie Kast-Klein,
Author of "Sutter's Country Home for Children"
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| Featured Author Laurie Kast-Klein "Sutter's Country Home for Children" |
Why did you feel you had to tell this story?
My childhood experiences inspired this story. “Sutter’s Country Home for Children” has been a part of my imagination for a long time.
Where do you get your ideas?
The idea for this story came from the imagination of a woman who was raised in the Michigan foster care system. My experiences have given me a unique perspective on families, foster homes, abuse and resilience.
Do you ever experience writer’s block and how do you overcome it?
I honestly did not experience writer’s block with this story. In fact I could hardly wait to get up in the morning to be with these characters. I truly love this story! I am anxiously awaiting the chance to continue the story in my next book “The Calling of Creek Road”.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers on the writing and publishing process?
Find someone capable to help you with the publishing process, editing and such and then just write, write and write some more. Use your own style; write like you were telling your best friend a great story.
How do you market your work? Have you found some avenues to be more successful than others?
I haven’t done much in the way of marketing. Word of mouth has brought me quite a bit of success with this book. Facebook is an amazing tool! All of my books are available on Amazon.
If your book was made into a movie, who do you picture playing each part?
Meryl Streep would make an excellent Aunt Clara and Tommy Lee Jones could be Uncle Dan. I picture someone like a young Dakota Fanning playing Buddy. The rest, well they would all have to special and unique just like the characters.
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Synopsis:
She had seen it all. The social workers would pull up with a kid. Aunt Clara and Uncle Dan would greet them in the driveway, all smiles and handshakes. Before the road dust had settled from the departing worker's car, the kid would be given the low-down on living here. The low-down was what everyone called the rules. Don’t speak unless spoken to. Do what you are told, when you are told. Never touch the telephone. “The sooner you fall into line, the better off you will be,” Uncle Dan always piped in. Some of the kids cried, some kicked and screamed when they realized their predicament. That's what the chamber was for. The Chamber was merely a downstairs storage closet. Those that couldn't settle in the way they were expected had to be given the chamber treatment.
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About the Author:
Although these stories are about the abuse of children and women, I hope you find yourself smiling and at times laughing as you read them. Life is like that, no matter what the situation, there is humor if you look for it.
After writing my memoir, I realized I have so many stories I would like to tell. "Sarah's Place" is a tale of 3 women, their past and how fate brought them together one night at a domestic violence shelter with a dangerous intruder. It is a fictional story.
I worked 5 years at a domestic violence shelter. The memory of the women and children I have had the honor to work with will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have always felt a kinship with these survivors of abuse. Possibly the lives of my family would have been much different if there had been a domestic violence shelter when my mother was being abused by my step-father.
"Sutter's Country Home for Children" is a fictitious tale that takes place in the 1960's. My 9 years in foster care gave me so much inspiration to tell the story of these children.
"Sutter's Country Home for Children" has a young girl named Buddy in it. Buddy is also a main character in "Sarah's Place". There will be another book continuing the story of the children in "Sutter's Country Home for Children".
Look for the "The Calling of Creek Road", it will be released early fall of 2013.
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FOR MORE INFO:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.kastklein
BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/19bD4RZ