Pump Up Chats with K.S. Krueger

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K.S. Krueger photo

Kim Krueger created the Traegonia Series based on the sculptures by her friend and former neighbor Dino Crisanti. After seeing these incredible pieces of art she was inspired to give them a life, a world, and a name. Kim wanted to give readers of all ages, a way to step into a simpler place and time. Traegonia is a place not so far from our own where we can open our hearts and minds to imagination and adventure. Because the story rides a fine line between fantasy and reality it calls each reader to decide for themselves if they BELIEVE! Kim has always believed that when you find something you truly love to do, even if you think it is just a dream, find your passion and the gift that is within you and follow that dream. “Let yourself be open to inspiration. You never know where it might take you.”

Kim is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She is a writer, businesswoman, Reiki practitioner and spiritual person. Kim has lived in the suburbs of Chicago all her life and currently resides in Seneca, IL. Kim is creative and always tries to foster creativity in her own children as well as in others. You can find out more about Kim, Dino and Traegonia at their website www.WorldOfTraegonia.com and their facebook at World of Traegonia.

Thank you for this interview, Kim. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?

A: I have always had a very vivid imagination and always loved to pretend and play as a child. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties when I finally felt compelled to put my creative ideas on paper. My first published piece was a poem I submitted in a contest, I won and was then published in a book with many other poems. I went on to write more poetry in my spare time and a few children’s stories for my oldest daughter, which I never pursued having published.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

A: The most frustrating side for me has been in the search for a literary agent and the fact that you cannot get your work looked at by large publishers without one. With each literary agent rejection, I know I am one step closer to acceptance. The most rewarding has been our readers and fans and when they too become excited about our books, sculptures and about the world of Traegonia. Also when a mother shares with me that her son or daughter finally got interested in reading through our books. I get a lot of joy in that.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?

A: I am married; I have three daughters ages 9, 11 and 21. My mother is widowed and lives with us as well. I also have a dog, a cat, a love bird and a rabbit. I try to do my writing on what I call my own time. Usually my own time is on my days off from my part-time job and when everyone is off to work or school. I am almost always doing something else while I am writing, like laundry or cooking. I try to give myself one or two, six hour days a week dedicated to just writing, but I also have to do the marketing, arts and craft shows, fantasy conventions or other venues where we sell the books directly, on the weekends. I also man our website for sales and market through social media and other sites, such as Goodreads, WordPress, Facebook, Twitter and others that I hardly have time to get back to. My family is very understanding and supportive; they help out where they are able.

Can you tell us about your latest book and why you wrote it?

A: My latest work is the second book in the Traegonia series called Traegonia the Ember Rune. It takes the reader along on the next step in the journey of the young boy, Dino and his two young Traegon friends, Karia and Juna. We have plans for at least five books in the Traegonia series, now that book two is complete we have started work on book three in the series.

Can you share an excerpt?

A: Absolutely, this is an excerpt from the Prologue of Traegonia the Ember Rune you can read the prologue and first chapters of both Traegonia the Sunbow Prophecy and Traegonia the Ember Rune at First Chapter Plus at http://firstchapterplus.com/juvenile/?currentPage=2 scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and you will see them there. I hope you check them out.

Sometimes there are moments in our lives that can take us from an ordinary existence and propel us into an extraordinary series of events that will alter our lives forever. This is my story of one of those moments. Many years ago, I was just an average, ordinary kid. I had a best friend from school named Quinn. I lived in an average, ordinary, rural Midwest town with my mom and dad. My life was pretty ordinary, too, until I met Karia and Juna. They were not your average, ordinary friends; they are Traegons—young at the time like I was, and brother and sister to each other.

Traegons are mystical creatures of the forest. The first time I saw them, I thought they resembled what I would imagine a cross between a troll and a wingless dragon might look like. Some might say Traegons are strange looking, maybe even fearsome. I guess I might have thought that, too, at first, but now that I have gotten to know them, to me they are nothing short of awesome. They are small, only about a foot and a half to two foot tall when they are full grown. They walk upright like us, but their skin is not at all like ours. It is light brown and looks somewhat like the bark of a tree. Some have many lines with deep grooves, while others are more like that of a smooth young tree.

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

A: I love to write on my laptop in my sunroom, lots of windows and plants.

What is one thing about your book that makes it different from other books on the market?

A: My books are different, I feel, because they ride a fine line between reality and fantasy, so much so that it might leave the reader wondering if it is more real than fantasy.

Tables are turned…what is one thing you’d like to say to your audience who might buy your book one day?

A: If you can just open your hearts and your minds to possibility and wonder of Traegons and their world, you just might find that you too will Believe…

Thank you for this interview, Kim. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

A: Thank you for having me, it has been lots of fun sharing.

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How do you make sales happen for you?

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