Author Visit: Kinsey Rockett

Posted bySusan K. MarlowPosted inAuthor Interviews

Victoria Allen is the winner of this giveaway.

To give you an idea of how I drew the winner, I listed all of the entries (most were double entries) from 1 to 65 (there were 65 entries after going through all of the comments). Then I put the 1-65 in Random.org. I click “generate,” and #38 was chosen. I looked on my list of entries and scrolled down until I found number 38. It is Victoria Allen. Congratulations, Victoria! I have forwarded the email you provided to Kinsey. She will be in touch with you ASAP to get your mailing address so she can send you the book you chose.

Victoria chose Farmyard Faith as the book she wanted to win if her name was drawn. If she does not claim her prize during the time that the author, Kinsey Rockett, has determined, I will draw another name.

Thanks for participating, everyone! Even if you did not win, you can enjoy her books by getting them on Amazon. Click the links!

Farmyard Faith >>

Trial at the Ridge >>

Prisoner of War >>

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Meet Kinsey Rockett

I’m excited to introduce Kinsey Rockett, a homeschool graduate and young author of the Whatsoever Stories (her website). So far, she has written and published three novels: Farmyard Faith (true humorous tales of growing up on a farm) and two historical novels, Prisoner of War and Trial at the Ridge. I bought her Farmyard Faith last summer at a homeschool conference in Spokane, WA, and it’s truly hilarious. It sounded so similar to the wacky things that happen on the Ross Ranch that I passed the book along to my daughter’s family for their enjoyment.

Kinsey loves serving the Lord in different ways and is grateful for the experiences He has given her that have helped her grow in Christ. All three of her books are faith-based and strong in Christian values. But hey! Let’s let Kinsey tell her story in her own way.

BONUS: A giveaway from Kinsey!

Kinsey is offering any one of her three novels as a giveaway to Andi blog fan readers. In order to enter the giveaway, you will need to comment with your first name and the book you would choose if you win. Also, if you comment a second time (with your name) and ask Kinsey a question, you will be counted as two entries. She will be delighted to answer any and all questions.

1. First of all, give us a few tidbits about yourself, Kinsey.

I’m a 24-year-old daughter of the King, a homeschool graduate, and an enthusiastic country/farm girl.  Books have been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember and have influenced my life in numerous ways. I just plain love a good story, but some of my favorite categories are historical fiction, missionary biographies, mysteries, and allegories. When I was 16 and beginning my senior year of high school, my parents put together an English course for me that centered around writing a novel. During that course I wrote Trial at the Ridge and published it two years later.

2. So, you wrote your first book at age 16. Is that the first time you ever put pencil to paper (or words on a computer), or did you begin your writing journal a little earlier in life?

I first tried my hand at creative writing at about age 6.  During my childhood, I completed a few short stories, but many others fizzled out early on. When I was eleven, I began penning poetry, and for the next several years most of my creative writing landed in the poetic realm. I put together in print a collection of poems for family and friends.

3. Wow, Kinsey. That sounds a bit like my early journey. I was really into poems and one of my poems was “published” in the teacher’s lounge (they hung it up) in the third grade. Now? I doubt I could write a poem to save my life. 😊 So, which do you prefer to write now—poetry or narrative stories and why?

I prefer narrative stories.  I find them to be easier because the structure is more relaxed.  In addition, stories provide the opportunity to create vivid characters, which is one of my favorite aspects of a good book.  I enjoy the plot-building process as well, especially imagining what readers might think or feel with each new twist.  More recently I also gained some nonfiction experience through writing a column for a Christian young ladies’ magazine for several years, but story-craft remains my favorite.

4. What happened next? Did you transition from poetry to stories with ease? Or did you struggle to finish your stories and make them engaging to readers?

Writing a real book had been something of a dream of mine for a few years, but I struggled to put something together that I felt was engaging. As a result, most of my story ideas either never materialized or were never finished. Finally, I high school, I read the book How To Write a Story by Lee Roddy.  It outlined a method for structuring a story so that it catches and holds a reader’s attention.  I was a bit skeptical at first and decided to try a full-length book my own way.  Several months later, I had a 29,000-word practice attempt whose only real merit was that I had actually finished it.  (That story is still on my computer, awaiting a complete rewrite someday.)  Realizing that my efforts needed help, I decided to give Lee Roddy’s structure a try. It revolutionized my writing! I was able to identify and correct areas of weakness, and in the spring of 2015 I completed my first successful manuscript, Trial at the Ridge.

5. You told me in one of our emails that one of the Circle C books really impacted you. As a young adult, I would expect it would be a Milestones or at the very least, an Adventures book. I was surprised when you shared that Andi’s Circle C Christmas really impacted your life (go figure). Can you share how an early chapter book for children ages 6-9 could make an impression on a 20-something young woman?

Shortly before reading that little book, I had found myself unexpectedly and unintentionally saddled with an enormous (6-month) project.  Although I knew it was what the Lord wanted me to be doing, I still was not very happy about it. When I read Andi’s Circle C Christmas, the Lord prompted me that a “gift” I could give Him would be to choose to have a cheerful attitude about the project and give it (and Him) my best effort even when I didn’t feel like it. That was such a timely message!

6. You are passionate about writing for the glory of God, and you want to encourage other aspiring authors to have that same desire. Please expand on what you mean by that and how it works out in your writing journey, sometimes in ways you never imagined.

The written word is so incredibly powerful, which is one of the reasons I’m passionate about writing for the glory of God. The purpose should be for Him alone—speaking His truth in love and encouraging others to embrace that truth and live it. One of the most special aspects of my writing journey has been seeing the Lord’s hand in this process, sometimes in incredible ways. For example, I do plan out a rough plot in advance, but much of the in-between details come from the Lord along the way. More than once, I haven’t known how to wrap up a chapter, and He gave me an on-the-spot idea, once in a way that significantly influenced the overall plot. That was a blessing!

7. That’s awesome. Can you share another time in your writing, perhaps something that seemed small and random to you at the time but later ended up making a huge impact on your characters or the plot?

When I was working on Trial at the Ridge, I came to a spot where a scene felt like it needed something extra. So, on the spur of the moment, I added a minor personality tweak to a character named Zach. I made him afraid of heights. Just a tiny thing, right? Well . . . a year and a half later, I ran into a dilemma when I brought my first book’s central characters into a new adventure, Prisoner of War. Zach was supposed to be part of an Army Air Force team carrying out special missions via airplane, and I had already established that he was afraid of heights. Whoops. Not such a minor character tweak, after all. Had I now ruined my second book because of what I’d done on the spur of the moment in the first book? But the Lord knew what He was doing. Not only did the story end up working, but Zach’s fear of heights also created a unique stage for a very special theme. I really want to encourage you young writers to commit your work into the Lord’s hands. I think you will be amazed at what He does!

8. I love how a random character tweak becomes a major theme in the character’s life later on. Nice twist. Since you mentioned those novels, can you give a brief overall summary of each of your books? This way, readers can get an idea of which book they would like to choose if they win the giveaway. For more detailed overviews, go here: Whatsoever Stories.

Trial at the Ridge

Set in 1924, this is the story of two young brothers who are working to save their family’s farm.  Limited by a thirty-day deadline and faced with many hindrances, they must learn to trust the Lord with their home and future.

Prisoner of War

Set in the dark days of early 1943, this story follows the central characters of Trial at the Ridge as they serve in a special Army Air Force team in World War II.  The Gospel message clearly shines from this riveting tale of a pilot, a prisoner, and a parachute.

Farmyard Faith

Initially raised in town, I became a “farm girl” by immersion method at age nine.  This book, drawn from a decade of country and farm life, is a collection of my true adventures and the lessons they teach.

9. What about a fun fact about writing any of the books you just described?

When I started plotting Prisoner of War, which has a pilot as a central character, I knew next to nothing about aviation or airplanes. My brother, who loves to help me with research, located a 1945-edition B-24 Liberator pilot’s training manual for me to read and study. I was grateful for the document but suspected that it would be a dull read. However, after devouring the manual four times, one of my new goals is to earn my private pilot’s license (in the not-too-distant future, I hope).

10. Besides writing, what do you like to do, and do you have any current writing projects?

Currently I am in training as a Biblical counselor. During my free time I enjoy playing the piano, singing for the church choir, working on needlework projects, playing games with my family, or corresponding with friends. Although I don’t have a current writing project, I do have a number of story ideas and hope to write and publish more books in the future.

11. And the final question. Where can readers get hold of your books (for readers who do not win the giveaway)? 😊

Click the book covers to buy them on Amazon (or to “look inside” the books).

Win one of Kinsey’s three books!

Comment with your first name and which book you would love to win if your name is drawn. Comment a second time with a question for Kinsey and it will be counted as an extra (bonus) entry. Kinsey would love to answer your questions. (Don’t forget to include your email in the pre-posting box so Kinsey can notify you of your win and get your mailing address.) Giveaway runs 7 days (Monday, February 6 – Sunday, February 12 @5pm PT. Winner announced Monday, February 13),

Thanks for taking the time to answer all of my questions, Kinsey. It’s been a lot of fun talking with you. I hope readers have enjoyed our time together too. You can contact Kinsey Rockett through her website, WhatsoeverStories and then click the “contact” tab. I’m sure she would be delighted to hear from you!

Published by Susan K. Marlow

I'm the author of the Circle C and Goldtown Adventures series. I blog as "Andi Carter," the main character in the Circle C series. She lives on a huge cattle ranch in 1880s California. These are her adventures.

151 thoughts on “Author Visit: Kinsey Rockett”

  2. I think Trial at the Ridge sounds like a fascinating book. If I won, that’s the one I’d like please.

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  3. What sort of needlework do you do, Kinsey? I do a lot of knitting and crocheting, have recently taken up tatting (though I’m not at all good at it yet), and have been hoping to spend more time sewing soon because I feel like I’ve neglected it in my focus on yarn-centered crafts in the past few years. It’s fun to see another person who does needlework!

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    1. I primarily do crochet and counted cross-stitch. I use miniature cross-stitched pieces for cards and for fridge magnet sets, which make fun wedding gifts. My crocheting is mostly baby gifts. I also like to sew and make my own skirts and culottes. What projects do you like to make?

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  4. If I won, I would like Farmyard Faith. That sounds so cool to live on a farm. I live in the city, so I have no idea what it’s like.

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    1. During my early childhood we lived in the suburbs, so starting a farm involved learning by immersion for all of us. We had plenty of adventures and goofy mishaps as we tried to figure out what we were doing, and we still sometimes scratch our heads over a new predicament. Of course we carefully researched what we were planning to do… but somehow things just don’t always go the way the books say they are supposed to. Maybe the animals didn’t read the books. 😉

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      1. That’s so cool, and probably fun for you all! Yeah, I don’t think animals read books. If they did, I think they would be better or maybe worse behaved 😄

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    1. Hmm, that varies. Sometimes a character’s name just comes to me as part of a “package deal.” That’s their name in my mind, and anything else wouldn’t sound right. Other times I try to come up with a name, and I’m not sure I really have a method there other than that I want it to fit the historical context and sound like it suits the character. Last names are tricky for me. Sometimes I find an “authentic” last name, and other times I just stick syllables together until something “works.” Fun fact about names: shortly after Prisoner of War was released, I received a call from my grandparents. They had begun reading the book and excitedly informed me that I had unknowingly given one of my characters the exact same name–first and last–as my great-great-grandmother!

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      1. Ok. I don’t write stories very often, but when I do, it’s the same way. The name just seem to fit, but I agree last names are the hardest. That is so cool about your great-great-grandmother! Wow!

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  6. So far, I have copied down 51 entries! Awesome. Thanks for your enthusiasm over Kinsey’s books. Can’t wait to find out who wins. I will use random.org to draw the winner on Sunday (after 5pm PT) and announce it next Monday. I will also share the winner’s email address with Kinsey so she can contact you.

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  7. Wow! I am so jealous that you have finished three books! *me who has been writing since 2020 (not counting the time in 2021 where I took a break) and am still working on finishing my book* haha!

    If I won, I think I would enjoy reading Trial at the Ridge the most 🙂

    Thank you for having this!

    ~Lizzy

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    1. Oops! For some reason my name and email didn’t show up XP Do you want me to re-post my comment, or will seeing it here be good enough?

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      1. I see your email and your name in the administrator boxes. Your name and email are NOT supposed to show up in the comment. I want to keep everything private. You are fine,

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    2. Sometimes books take a long time. Prisoner of War took me two full years to research, draft, and revise, and I also took about a 9-month writing break partway through Farmyard Faith. So don’t be discouraged when the project runs long. 🙂 Early on in my writing, I received a tip that has been a huge help. The advice was to wait on all significant revision until the rough draft is complete. In one case I ran into a problem that warranted starting over, but most of the time I just put a note in the margin with revision ideas and keep on drafting. I’m often very tempted to fix as I go, but I’ve learned that it’s usually easier and more rewarding to do the refining work once the draft is complete. I’m not sure if you’ve run into that in your writing or not, but I thought I’d pass that tip along just in case! 🙂 Would you like to share a bit about your book, or the kinds of things you like to write?

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    3. Congratulations on the books you have published, Kinsey. They all sound good. I would pick Farmyard Faith if I won.

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  9. Kinsey, how do you stick with one story and finish it before you start to write another story? I like to write fiction stories for fun, but whenever I get a new idea for another story I want to start writing that one instead.

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    1. I’m the same way! I never counted how many stories I fizzled out on before completing my first manuscript, but it was a good handful. With writing now, I guess the short answer is that I stick with it by sticking with it. 😉 Typically I am very enthusiastic about a new book idea and can hardly wait to begin drafting. Once I know the basic structure, I dive right in and churn out a couple chapters in short time. Somewhere around chapter 3 or 4, the novelty wears off, and I realize just how much hard work the project really is. From there it takes a lot more effort for me to persevere through the main part of the story. When I approach the climax, then I get more excited again. Drafting the climactic scenes is one of my favorite parts of the entire writing process. Once I’ve completed the draft, it is then much easier to stick with the revision because I’ve already got a complete manuscript to work with. One way I personally help keep myself on track during that long middle part is to refrain from really working on another idea in my head until I’ve completed the rough draft of the current project. During revision I might begin thinking through the structure for a new story, but I don’t actively begin the next one until I’ve submitted the current manuscript for publishing. I’ve also noticed that the Lord tends to wait on giving me the key element of a plot structure until I’m free to fully focus on a new project. That is a blessing because once I know the structure, I become very antsy to begin!

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    1. I’m not sure I have a stand-out favorite. Historical fiction is certainly high on the list, but I also enjoy ordinary fiction. I like a good mystery, too, and I think it would be fun to write one, but I don’t have an idea for that yet. I appreciate allegories and stories with allegorical elements. For nonfiction, I particularly like missionary biographies; one of my favorites is the story of Jacob DeShazer. I also like to read etiquette books and pretty much anything having to do with aviation.

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      3. I think I’m the one who entered earlier? . . . I entered first at 3:48 pm but that was the one I forgot to put my email in.

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      1. I found your first entry. You were asking about international shipping but left no email address so I did not count that one. I have counted these two entries, however.

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    2. Wow, this is the hardest question yet! 🙂 There are a few different ways I could answer, but one thing that particularly stands out from my childhood is a number of memories involving a stuffed animal. When I was 3 years old, I was in the hospital in need of surgery, and the Lord ended up miraculously intervening and healing me. While I was there, the neighbor girl, wanting to cheer me up, gave me a little stuffed cat named Mattie. Mattie quickly became my favorite toy, and when my mom taught me how to sew, some of my first projects included clothes and blankets for my furry friend. For years I took her with me on every road trip, as well as to “scary” places like the dentist. When I was 11, we got a pair of barn kittens, and I named one Mattie in honor of my special stuffed cat. (Barn cat Mattie, who shows up in Farmyard Faith, lived for 11 years and was my favorite animal friend ever.) Now as an adult, I keep my little stuffed Mattie on my desk as a reminder that my God is the God of miracles.

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  14. Hey Kinsey!
    I would like Prisoner of War if I won. I would like to donate it to our Belize ministry we are starting in Belize. We are going to be missionaries in Belize in the next six months and once we get things rolling I would donate the book to the mission since Belize does not have Christian books.
    That is so amazing that you published your own books. I have been wanting to do that for years!
    What was the most difficult thing for you when you were writing and how did you overcome it?

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    1. Wow, that’s really neat! May the Lord bless your time there!
      Two writing elements that have challenged me are conflict and emotion, and a story just isn’t a story without them. Before I wrote Trial at the Ridge, I actually completed another manuscript, my first full-length book ever, but it was weak in both conflict and emotion and was consequently very bland. As I learned more about the necessity of conflict in an effective story structure, I put forth a lot more effort in that area. When drafting Trial at the Ridge, my tactic was to put in the margin of every single scene a note specifying which of the primary conflicts that scene advanced. That really helped me stay on track and avoid rambling. By the time I got to Prisoner of War, writing conflict came a lot more easily, though scenes with interpersonal conflict still challenge me.
      Character emotions is another area in which I’ve had to grow a lot. I tend to be more reserved and for some reason feel a bit shy about putting into writing the vivid emotions my characters might experience. But if the characters don’t feel much, neither will the reader! I don’t remember a specific strategy I had for this in Trial at the Ridge; I think mainly I recognized it as a weakness of mine and made a conscious effort to avoid that trap. With practice, I’ve gotten quite a bit more comfortable with writing that element, though I wouldn’t say it comes easily yet. One technique that I’ve found very helpful to include is nonverbal communication, showing the character’s feelings through their actions. I think in many scenes this can have more impact than just saying how the character feels. I relied on that technique quite a bit in a few of my favorite scenes in Prisoner of War.
      Overall, I think what has helped me most with those two elements is one, practice, and two, realizing the difference they make in how much a story impacts me as a reader.

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      1. that is so neat! I will have to try to do that when I write. I struggle with the same thing so I will try to put your tips to work! Thank you!!

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    1. I have published two novels, both historical fiction, in addition to one nonfiction book. I don’t have any others yet besides those listed in the interview.

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    1. Oh, I’m sorry I misunderstood that. I have one fully drafted, unpublished novel, which I wrote prior to Trial at the Ridge. It’s a historical fiction novel that fits into the same character world as my other ones. I don’t really count it as “finished” since I never revised it, but the draft is complete. It didn’t turn out very well, but I really like the basic idea, so I’m hoping to take the idea and completely rewrite it in the near-ish future. After Prisoner of War, I made it a few chapters into another story, but I put it on hold after realizing that I didn’t have all the elements I needed for a strong plot. That’s when I wrote Farmyard Faith instead.

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  19. Hi, Kinsey.
    How do you get ideas for your novels¿ We’re your friends and family supportive of you writing or did some people think it was strange¿
    Thank you for doing this. It’s so neat and encouraging to hear of other homeschooled authors.

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    1. Hi Abigail, my ideas have come from a variety of sources. My aunt had suggested that I write farm stories, my dad gave me a few thoughts for a possible fiction story, and between this and that I ended up with the idea for my very first full-length book, which takes place on a family farm around the 1920’s. My plot idea was rather weak, but I developed a setting (a family farm) and a set of central characters. A few months later, while reading a particular section in my history book for school, a sudden thought came: “What if the farm were facing foreclosure, and the two brothers in the family were trying to come up with a way to save it?” I already had the setting and characters from my first attempt, and that thought gave me the basic conflict for a new story, from which I was able to structure Trial at the Ridge. What is really interesting is that three totally random details from my first story attempt ended up expanding to form key components of Trial at the Ridge’s plot line.
      My brother loves history, and he suggested that I write a story set during WWII. We discussed various possibilities, but it just wasn’t coming together. Then, a while after I finished Trial at the Ridge, the Lord gave me a “snapshot” idea for a single climactic scene, then a theme, and Prisoner of War was born. After that, the rest of the basic structure slipped into place.
      As for my other ideas, the majority of them have popped up rather naturally as a result of these stories with questions and thoughts like, “This character mentions a little of her back story, but there could easily be a whole adventure there.” “This character serves with this particular mission. What were his previous missions?” “While this character is serving in the war on another continent, what are his children experiencing back home?” “This character emigrated from another country. Why?” Etc. So I have quite a few ideas within the same “character world.”
      My family is very supportive, and friends as well. My family members have generously given of their time to talk through ideas with me, assist me in research, proofread, offer revision suggestions, and so forth, and my brother is particularly good at suggesting new books I could write! I also can always find a few friends to test-read the manuscript before I publish it. I’m so thankful for that!

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