Kathy writes novels that explore the relationships in our lives, romantic and otherwise. She likes digging into the choices people make and how those choices take us down unexpected paths to places we might never consciously have decided to go. Never one to see things in straight lines or in black and white, almost all her stories have more than one timeline connected by a common thread woven through multiple shades of grey and all the colours of the spectrum. Kathy writes as Kathy Kenzie.
Blog Posts
- Writing Obituaries
My 102-year-old cousin died last week. She was the sort of old person I aspire to be. At 97, she decided her walk-up apartment and cooking and cleaning for herself… Continue reading Writing Obituaries - New Digs
Welcome to my website. I’ve left some of my very old blog posts here for continuity, but all the non-blog information on these pages is current and up-to-date. As I… Continue reading New Digs - Hello from Scotland
By this time of night, my body still reminds me that it started the wake-up process at 4am thanks to minor lingering jet lag, so this will just be a… Continue reading Hello from Scotland - Scotland Research Trip
This Friday, I depart for a research trip in Scotland. Much of it will be family-history related, but not all, and I’m excited about the other parts, too. Two years… Continue reading Scotland Research Trip - On Writer’s BlockI’ll let you in on a secret: I haven’t written a word in two months. This is a highly unusual state of affairs for me. Even when the words aren’t… Continue reading On Writer’s Block
- Mastering Writing Craft?I was skimming through a bunch of blog posts recently, and came across one that said an unnamed “famous” writer had mastered his craft and no longer needed editorial help.… Continue reading Mastering Writing Craft?
- Three Things on a Friday AfternoonThis topic came up in a random conversation the other day, and I thought it was a fun one to put on the blog, mostly because I’d really love to… Continue reading Three Things on a Friday Afternoon
- Catching up on LinksToday is one of those rare days when I’m taking an hour to catch up on reading all the cool links I’ve clicked through to and left sitting open on… Continue reading Catching up on Links
- Women's Fiction: Your Favourite Quiet ReadsI write what are typically called “quiet books”, women’s fiction with character-driven stories about relationships and the choices we make and human emotions and all that good stuff. Not surprisingly,… Continue reading Women's Fiction: Your Favourite Quiet Reads
- Stopping to ListenI’m not writing today. I’m tempted. I have a story that’s been talking to me for a couple of weeks now, asserting itself with scene ideas when I’m trying to… Continue reading Stopping to Listen
- Query Tips From My InboxI don’t claim to be an expert on query letters, and I’m not a literary agent. But in my day job as a conference coordinator, I get a LOT of… Continue reading Query Tips From My Inbox
- Writing InspirationHappy new year! I took a couple of weeks off over the holidays. I started out the month by accepting Nephele Tempest’s December writing challenge, in which you try to… Continue reading Writing Inspiration
- The Weight of DisorganizationAwhile back, I had great intentions of writing a blog post about the weight of disorganization. The irony of the fact that I still haven’t posted it hasn’t escaped me.… Continue reading The Weight of Disorganization
- Perspective and InspirationI’ve been sick this week, with the sort of chesty, sinus-y, feverish bug that knocks you flat and makes simply breathing enough of a challenge that working is out of… Continue reading Perspective and Inspiration
- Letter Month Guest PostHave you signed up for the Month of Letters yet? The delightful Mary Robinette Kowal’s annual letter writing challenge kicks off tomorrow. Check it out here: http://lettermo.com/ Today, I have a… Continue reading Letter Month Guest Post
- New Year, New ScheduleHappy new year! It’s taken me this long to settle in to my regular routine again after the holidays, and I’m not sure I’m there even yet. But I’m working… Continue reading New Year, New Schedule
- A Few Feel-Good ThingsIt’s nearly Christmas, and I’m feeling nostalgic for holidays past, and with that, am in the mood for touching stories. Thought I’d share a few things I’ve come across in… Continue reading A Few Feel-Good Things
- Reading What You LikeThe following rant won’t be groundbreaking. I share the opinion of most thinking people I know on this topic, and many of them are stirred up about this today. But… Continue reading Reading What You Like
- On Editing – Overused WordsFor the last couple of weeks, I have been working flat out on a fresh edit of my current MS, triggered by editorial notes from my agent. I had hoped… Continue reading On Editing – Overused Words
- Fleeting HoursDoes anyone else ever wish they could put the need for sleep and food aside sometimes and stretch one day out for as long as it took to finish a… Continue reading Fleeting Hours
- The Games We PlayA couple of years ago, I really wanted to finish the manuscript I was working on. I’d hit the part of the year when my day job threatens to take… Continue reading The Games We Play
- Welcome to the new site!Hello, and welcome to my new digs. You’ll notice a few changes from my old site, most notably that I’m now blogging under my pen name, Kathy Kenzie. For those… Continue reading Welcome to the new site!
- What I've Been ReadingFor my birthday this year, I got this Moleskine book journal as a present. I’ve decided to use it to keep track of memorable reads, the ones that stay with… Continue reading What I've Been Reading