Another Publishing Success!

Kathryn Enloe Flippen came to me (by referral) in late 2019. The daugher of parents who lived during WWII, she and her siblings found a treasure trove of letters her father had sent to his then girlfriend before, during, and after the war. From her mother's stories, Kathryn already knew about her parents fun and interesting courtship and now with the letters in hand, she decided to write the story for all to read.

The result, after about 3 years of working together, is the publication of her first novel, Dearest You. Kathryn and I talked often about her plans for publication, her frustrations with the writing process, and other issues every writer experiences. She shares a bit of that in this short interview.

1. What motivated you to write this novel now and when did you start?

I had a story I wanted to tell before I got any older. When COVID shut the world down in 2020, it allowed me the time to focus on the project.

2. During the writing process, what was your greatest frustration and how did you overcome it?

My greatest frustration was writer’s block. I would reach a point in the writing when I didn’t know how to resolve an issue or find the right words. This happened often. I found that stepping away, letting it simmer in my mind and having a writing coach to toss it around with eventually broke the log jam.

3. Tell us a bit about your decision to self publish.

I decided to give myself a year to try and find a reputable traditional publisher. Meanwhile, I was researching and hearing from other first-time authors about the self-publishing route. After a year and a half of submissions and rejections, I decided to self-publish. I am glad I did and would recommend it to other first time authors.

4. What advice do you have for a writer starting out?

If you can, find a writing coach like Desiree Kannel to work with you. Her support and guidance was what made me able to finish my book.

5. What are 1-2 things you wish you had known when you started?

I wish I [had known] a little more about the writing process. It truly is a process, not an event. It takes commitment, discipline, time and support to make it to the finish line.

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Dearest You is a great example of combining true family stories with fictional elements to create a novel with a universal appeal. Kathryn included her father's original letters, unedited, working them into the story. (Dad was good writer too!) She also added fictional elements so the story would fit into the romance genre. But the core of the story remains - a WWII pilot who fell instanly in love with a young nursing student who is determined to focus on her career instead of romance.