AUTHOR INTERVIEW

PAULA KENDRICK

UNITED STATES

Romelia: WHAT IS A SIGNIFICANT WAY YOUR BOOK HAS CHANGED SINCE THE FIRST DRAFT?

Paula Kendrick: It started out with mere words and some were misspelled with missing punctuations in the beginning. It was turned into a book once it went through the transfiguration process.

Romelia: WHAT PERSPECTIVES OR BELIEFS HAVE YOU CHALLENGED WITH THIS WORK?

Paula Kendrick: Looking at my past and realizing it was my stepping stone. I saw my own trauma and pain transferred onto others.

Romelia: WHAT INSPIRED THE IDEA FOR YOUR BOOK?

Paula Kendrick: Certain circumstances that literally brought me to my knees but I survived.

Romelia: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BOOK’S IDEAL READER?

Paula Kendrick: A person who has been through trials and tribulations but they didn’t beat them down. A person who can still smile through the tough times.

Romelia: HOW MUCH RESEARCH DID YOU NEED TO DO FOR YOUR BOOK?

Paula Kendrick: Life and circumstances were my research.

Romelia: HOW IMPORTANT WAS PROFESSIONAL EDITING TO YOUR BOOK’S DEVELOPMENT?

Paula Kendrick: Professional Editing was very important to ensure that every single letter I was dotted and every single letter T was crossed.

Romelia: WHAT WAS YOUR HARDEST SCENE TO WRITE, AND WHY?

Paula Kendrick: The hardest scene was every chapter of this book for all different reasons. Each chapter centered on the same theme but created different emotions.

Romelia: WHAT CHARACTERS IN YOUR BOOK ARE MOST SIMILAR TO YOU OR TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW?

Paula Kendrick: Each character in their own way are a representation of me. Some represents me in love, humility, and forgiveness.

Romelia: HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

Paula Kendrick: 2 to 2/1 years.

Romelia: HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE TITLE FOR YOUR BOOK?

Paula Kendrick:  I was listening to a Pastor who was talking about Jabez in the bible. Jabez means pain or sorrow and his mother said he gave birth to him in pain and it was like an epiphany went off and I said: “I have the name for my book”.

Romelia: WOULD YOU AND YOUR MAIN CHARACTER GET ALONG?

Paula Kendrick: Pain is my main character and the answer is NO, we would not get along but I have come to realization the relationship is needed to achieve the ultimate goal.

Romelia: IF YOU COULD MEET YOUR CHARACTERS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

Paula Kendrick: Thank you for everything that you have taught me along this journey. If it had not been for our encounter, I would not have learned the tenacity that I am.

Romelia: WHAT IS YOUR WRITING PROCESS LIKE? ARE YOU MORE OF A PLOTTER OR A PANTSER?

Paula Kendrick: It first starts off writing everything down with a pen and paper. Jotting down every thought that comes to me, proofread it, and then once I have everything down I go back and type up everything. Looking at the descriptions of the two, I would have to say I am a pantser.

Romelia: WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR WRITING SPACE TO HELP YOU STAY FOCUSED?

Paula Kendrick: Ear buds in my ear, to listen to a little music to help keep me calm. Some people have to have quiet to work or study but I can do so with the television and music and still be productive.

Romelia: IF YOU WERE TO WRITE A SPIN-OFF ABOUT A SIDE CHARACTER, WHICH WOULD YOU PICK?

Paula Kendrick: I don’t think I would do a spin off only because some spin offs are not as good as the original.

Romelia: IF YOU COULD SPEND A DAY WITH ANOTHER POPULAR AUTHOR, WHOM WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Paula Kendrick: I had several because they paved way for making me aware of my culture but I must say Maya Angelou. I chose her because she is truly a magnificent woman and as her bio said she refused to shy away from difficult topics about her path. I can honestly relate to that.

Romelia: WHAT IS YOUR SCHEDULE LIKE WHEN YOU’RE WRITING A BOOK?

Paula Kendrick: When the mood hit me to write, I sat down, stayed focused, and I get to work.

Romelia: HAVE YOU EVER TRAVELED AS RESEARCH FOR YOUR BOOK?

Paula Kendrick: NO Traveling.

Romelia: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WRITING SNACK OR DRINK?

Paula Kendrick: Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper for sure as the drink and Nacho Cheese Doritos or BBQ Chips.

Romelia: HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE WHEN YOU FINISH YOUR BOOK?

Paula Kendrick: I looked at my finish product when my publisher contacted me and all I could say was “WOW”.  I just said Yes, I am finished. I was all smiles.

Romelia: WHAT RISKS HAVE YOU TAKEN WITH YOUR WRITING THAT HAVE PAID OFF?

Paula Kendrick: The risk of submitting over to the publisher and she reviewed it and she said yes.

Romelia: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU GOOGLED YOURSELF AND WHAT DID YOU FIND?

Paula Kendrick: Today. Googled my book and my videos came up talking about my book and the Jabez prayer. My name pulled up several with the same name. A few instances did reference my book.

Romelia: WHAT IS YOUR KRYPTONITE AS A WRITER?

Paula Kendrick: Misunderstandings.

Romelia: TELL US SOMETHING FUNNY FROM YOUR ADULT LIFE.

Paula Kendrick: I fell in my bathroom on all fours with arms and legs sprawled out. I had sprayed too much oil sheen on the bathroom floor and I came running out of the closet in the bathroom headed into the bedroom and down I went like Frasier in a boxing match. I laid there for about 10-15 minutes to catch my breath because I literally had the wind knocked out of me LOL.

Romelia: Describe yourself in a few sentences. Tell us something we do not know about you and something you hate about the world.

Paula Kendrick: I am an Introvert but I am always laughing and talking to anyone. Go figure!! Challenges are hard but I never back down from them. I learn from them and persevere. I hate that we cannot learn to agree to disagree. God made us all different and if we took the time we could all learn something from each other.

If you want to know more about Paula Kendrick don’t hesitate to contact her.

Contact info:

Authorpaulakendrick@gmail.com

https://themoderndayjabez.com/