Author Interview:
Cynthia Port
Title: Kibble Talk
Genre: Humorous Fiction
I'm an avid reader, but very picky. I didn't think I'd be able to write well enough to satisfy myself. Then at age 40-something I had an injury that sidelined me for about six months. Out of boredom, I found my muse, and now the stories and characters just keep bubbling up, waiting (rather impatiently) to be written.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I lived in Australia for about a year as a child, and fell in love with the animals and the landscape. As I got older I found the history and people fascinating as well. Not too surprising then that the Outback would be the setting for my first novel.
What have you written?
I publish a humorous fiction series entitled Kibble Talk, for which there are 2 books so far and number three on the way. The protagonist is only ten, but the series is loved by all ages. I write them as read alouds, so there are many levels of humor and complexity, depending on the listener/reader. I also have a short story, #Catzap, that was written for a cats in space anthology. I mean, how could I resist? It’s humor sci fi, but aimed at 10 and up because of some slightly more mature content. My historical fiction set in the Outback is complete but not yet ready. It feels like I will forever be fiddling with those first three chapters. I have promised myself to publish it this year. That book has my heart in it. After that I have two YA novels, each about 1/3 written on paper and 90% written in my mind, and a couple more books in “mental development.”
Is there a message in your book and/or books?
The main message of the Kibble Talk series is to celebrate who you are. There are also messages about friendship and being aware of the people in our lives that we tend to take for granted, like our close family members. In general, my books center on how we treat other people, animals, and the environment. You know—the stuff that matters.
Is there anything in your book and/or books based on real life experiences?
Tons! I am continually drawing on past memories and current experiences, especially the people and places that make my life funny and intriguing.
Who is your favorite character from one of your stories?
Jenny, my Kibble Talk protagonist’s best friend, is a favorite. She is the brilliant, snarky best friend we all wish we had—the one that says all the things you wish you could say. And though she drives you crazy, she is loyal to the core and you wouldn't trade her for the world.
What actor do you see playing them in a movie?
No idea. I really don't think about that. Even if my books were made into movies, I'd probably rather have an unknown or relatively unknown actor playing my characters
What books and/or writers have influenced you the most?
That would be Barbara Parks (Junie B. Jones) for the humor, Louis Sachar (Holes) for the whimsy and story structure, and J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter series) for the depth of character and messaging. I am indebted to these writers for showing me that simple is powerful.
What is your favorite book?
That would be Watership Down by Richard Adams. I think I've read that book 10 times, beginning with my first hearing of it (as a read aloud by my dad) at around age 8. This past summer I had the absolute joy of reading it to my two girls, ages 9 and 14. They were completely absorbed, as I was. It’s the odyssey set to rabbits. Rabbits.
How do you conquer writer’s block?
I have so little time to write as it is, and I've so much else to get done in my life (job, momming, wife-ing, volunteering, being a friend) that when the muse isn't strong, I just get other things done. That way when the muse returns, I can carve out time for her. I'm always in such a good mood when I'm writing, but it mentally absorbs me. I become totally distracted in my everyday life, to the point where my kids are like: “Mom, did you hear me? I’m talking to you,” even while I'm sitting right next to them. Oops.
What has been your greatest challenge when writing?
Sigh. Beginnings. But I blame modern culture. I grew up with books that started out “slow” by today’s standards – you know, pretty much ALL the classics. Nowadays books must start with a BANG, but that’s not how I tell a story, whether in real life or in my books, so I struggle with that.
How do you rejuvenate after a writing session?
Writing is the rejuvenating session! I feel very alive after I've been writing, very alert to the world around me, the tiny details, the ways total strangers interact with one another. The marketing, though, now that requires some rejuvenation. For that I do a lot of self pep-talk like: You are in this for the long haul! You are writing classics. Patience and they will find you.
What is your funniest experience in writing?
My youngest daughter has an amazing eye/ear for what is or has the potential to be funny. Almost every day she tells me stories of things that happened at school that have us both in hysterics. After each one she says: Are you going to put that in your book?
What are you working on right now?
Book three of the Kibble Talk series. It’s entitled “What Dat?” and it is getting out of control! It has multiple interweaving plotlines and is essentially a mystery while keeping all the wacky humor and zany situations. I'm at a blind spot in it right now because some main characters just got into a massive argument I wasn't expecting. I need to figure out if I can write the book with them mad at each other. I try to trust my characters, and am usually flabbergasted at how correct they are. This is a test of that and I'm curious to see if the fight will stay or they'll have to pretend it never happened.
What have you learned and do you have any advice for other authors?
The advice I like to give is not to dabble in writing, and by that I mean writing a little here, a little there, put it down for awhile and come back eventually to try to write a little more. Especially if you are an aspiring writer, that is a method for certain frustration and probably giving up. I only became a writer because I had that serious injury that required me to sit still for about 6 months. I was able to write for hours and hours each day (because I literally couldn't do much else), which familiarized me with my settings and my character’s heads enough for it to come alive. It’s a state you “enter” when writing – almost trancelike, or I've heard it described as being in “flow.” Once you know the characters and their setting in that way, you may be able to dabble, but you can't reach that point by dabbling.
What famous person would you like to meet? Why?
J.K. Rowling. To thank her for changing the entire landscape of fiction. Kids these days, even 8 and 9 year olds, don’t blink at picking up a 100,000 word book anymore. And complexity of characters and plot? They've tasted that and they want more. I’m happy to oblige.
If you could go anywhere in the world? Where?
I’m lucky to have already visited many countries. I was in India briefly as a child, and it was the most beautiful and heartrending place. I'd love to go back for a good long stay. I'd also like to return to Australia. I think there is a sequel to my Outback historical fiction novel, but I'd need to return there to do some research and make more memories.
What is your favorite book quote?
I don't know about favorite, but here’s one of mine that some of my reviews mention. It seems to fit well for an author interview too.
With enough dedication (and a good dose of stubbornness) you can decide for yourself who you are and how you want to make your way through the world. – Kibble Talk
About the Book
Once Tawny decides to do something, there’s no holding her back. So when her best friend Jenny dares her to eat dog kibble, down it goes. Little does she know how that dusty, tasteless lump will change her life. Suddenly she can hear what dogs have to say and talk back to them too! This might not be such a big deal, except that her own dog, an enormous Great Dane named Dinky, has a LOT to say. He lets her know right away that his fondest dream is to be a teeny tiny lap dog. Tawny promises to help him, and her life nearly goes to the dogs.
http://www.amazon.com/Kibble-Talk-Cynthia-Port-ebook/dp/B00GZP5LZI
About the Author
Author Links:
Website link:
http://www.cynthiaportbooks.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/cynthiaportbooks?ref=hl
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/cynthiaportbooks?ref=hl
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