INTERVIEW WITH RONIE KENDIG

 

An Army brat, Ronie Kendig grew up in the classic military family, with her father often TDY and her mother holding down the proverbial fort. Their family moved often, which left Ronie attending six schools by the time she’d entered fourth grade. Her only respite and “friends” during this time were the characters she created.

It was no surprise when she married a military veteran—her real-life hero—in June 1990.  Married more than twenty years, Ronie and her husband, Brian, homeschool their four children, the first of whom graduated in 2011. Despite the craziness of life, Ronie finds balance and peace with her faith, family and their three dogs in Dallas, TX.

Ronie has a deep love and passion for people, especially hurting people, which is why she pursued and obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Liberty University. Ronie is an active member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has volunteered extensively, serving in a variety of capacities from coordinator of a national contest to appointment assistant at the national annual conference.

 

INTERVIEW WITH RONIE KENDIG

 

S.S: How long have you been writing?

I have been writing “toward publication” for over a decade. I have my first rejection slip dated 2003. In 2004, I joined ACFW because I’d been at a very small, local conference and the keynote speaker said if we were serious about writing, we needed to join ACFW. The keynote speaker was Steve Laube, who—three years later—became my agent.

S.S: Do you write full time? If the answer is no, what else do you do? If you are a full time author, what other jobs did you have in the past?

I feel like I write full time, but my real full-time job is homeschooling. We graduated one daughter more than a year ago, and now have three teens to guide through the high school years. Fun times! Honestly, this has been the toughest year for me, but I still write—in the evenings, after the kids are in bed.

S.S.: Who has been your greatest supporter as an author? 

My greatest supporter has been my husband. If it were not for Brian, I never would’ve had splashed into the waters of authorhood. I had lost my courage and confidence as a child, and I was too afraid to fail at something I loved so much. But Brian encouraged me to push on, to try it. Back by his love and confidence in me, I made the plunge!

S.S:  Why suspense? Do you write in any other genres? If so, what?

I honestly cannot imagine writing anything else. I write military suspense, but I also write suspense into the speculative pieces I’ve done. It’s always there. It’s the genre I read and enjoy the most. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m easily distracted, therefore I like writing action and fast-paced scenes.

S.S: How does your faith play into your writing?

Faith is absolutely essential to who I am, and it invariably exists within my writing. However, I do not write “preachy” scenes because I believe the best witness is an organic one. I believe we must win over lost souls with our daily living and being examples of Christ and His love to a hurting, dying world.

S.S:  Tell us about your current release.

Talon is the second book in the A Breed Apart series, and it focuses on a yellow Labrador named Talon who is suffering from PTSD, borne out of the attack that separated him from his handler. Aspen Courtland, the heroine, has been told her brother is MIA: Presumed Dead, but she doesn’t accept that decision. So when Dane Markoski shows up, with a theory that her brother is still alive, Aspen can’t resist the chance to prove the military wrong. She heads to Djibouti with a broken Talon and Dane to find her brother and the truth.

S.S: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from your story?

I always pray that readers see the hope of Christ in/through the stories I’ve written. Life is tough and really batters us, but I want readers to know Christ is there. God loves them. They are never alone.

S.S: What are you working on now?

I am currently working on Raptor Six, the first title in a spin-off series featuring the ODA team that has cameo appearances in the A Breed Apart books.

S.S: A tough question: Where do you want to be career-wise in five years? Ten years? 

I pray that in fives years I am completely comfortable in this new career and that I’ve worked out most of the kinks so that I’m thoroughly enjoying writing once more. In ten years. . .I pray I’m blessed enough to continue writing and telling stories of our military heroes. I’m also hoping that I will have, by then, launched the speculative fiction that I’ve been writing on the side, the fiction that keeps my well filled and my heart full.

S.S:  Now let’s get a little personal. Name two things on your “bucket list” that you haven’t done yet.   

Go to Hawaii.

Visit Israel.

S.S: What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

I think it’s a tie between surviving the loss of my mother to cancer and homeschooling my children.

S.S.: Where can readers find you on the internet?

I love hearing from readers and other writers! I can be found:

On my website – www.roniekendig.com

On Twitter – www.twitter.com/roniekendig
On Facebook – www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction
On Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/roniek

 YOU CAN WIN A COPY OF TALON! JUST LEAVE A COMMENT, ALONG WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, AND RONIE WILL PICK A WINNER NEXT MONDAY!