BLOOD AND BOND

Q: After publishing several historical fiction titles, what made you decide to write a contemporary story?
Kae: I had burned out a bit on historical and nonfiction. With those categories, much of the story is already laid out, with historical facts and details that can't be ignored. A contemporary piece flows more easily. I've written Science Fiction, for the same reason.
 
Q: Blood and Bond has a great deal of surreal elements in it. How much did they drive the plot of your novel?
Kae: The surreal elements didn't drive the story, but developed along with the plot. The motivation for my main character, Eddie CloudRunner, had started out rather tame--which in writing equals "weak". In each draft, I increased the metaphysical issues as a way to heighten tension and tell more about my main character.
 
Q: Do you consider American Indian Spirituality the focus of this novel?
Kae: Certainly not. I wouldn't assume to write about American Indian Spirituality because that is such a bombshell term: too many cultures, too many beliefs. What I present in Blood and Bond is fiction, belonging to my fictional character Eddie CloudRunner and the circumstances I've dreamed up. The story focus is chance and choice; those words parallel the title: Blood--or the family and culture you're born to--is chance; friends and goals--Bond--are choice. Blood and Bond is also about courage, portrayed best by characters Beth Hardemann and Martin Bradley; the strength of relationships is also emphasized.
 
Q: Beginning writers are often told to find their voice. Do you feel you have more than one voice in your writing?
Kae: I like to think I do, but I have friends that tell me they can tell my work from other writers even before they see the byline. I'd like to think it's because of my attention to detail and great choice of words [grin].
 
Q: Have you always been interested in writing?
Kae: I have always liked to write. My mother saved holiday poems and two-sentence "stories" I wrote in kindergarten; by fifth grade I developed a "cliff hanger" story that was often read aloud to the class--we were required to turn in a creative writing project each week. I contributed to the school literary journal and was editor my Sophomore year. As an adult, I've always had the attitude "I can do that!"; I am determined to produce something similar or better than what I read.
 
Q: Which are your favorite writers, and have they influenced you and your writing?
Kae: I don't have any true favorites. I regularly borrow interesting titles from the new book shelf at my public library. In my personal library, I have multiple titles by Margaret Atwood, Alice Hoffman, Julius Lester, David Brin and Louis L'Amour. I also enjoy poets Emily Dickinson, Frederico Garcia Lorca, and Wendell Berry. For classics, I'll reread Willa Cather, William Faulkner, Zora Neale Hurston. All of these writers create vivid images in readers' minds. I hope I can do the same with my writing.