Ask the Author: Kerry Alan Denney
Answered Questions (10)
Kerry Alan Denney
Hi Kitty, and thanks for asking. I have the story idea in my head, so yes, one day I will. But I haven't started it yet because I'm so busy writing a new supernatural thriller, and prepping for the 12/3/16 release of my brand new post-apocalyptic / urban fantasy A MIGHTY ROLLING THUNDER.... release day is TOMORROW! I hope you'll pick up a copy, and that it will tide you over until Soulsnatcher II comes out. Thanks again, and happy reading!
Kerry Alan Denney
OMG, Barb, sorry I missed this! So glad you loved it! We do love our furry budz, don't we? ;)
Kerry Alan Denney
Hi Barb, and thanks for your comment, kind words, and question! Holly Jolly and I have been participating with Therapy Dogs Incorporated since January 2011. We also participate in 2 local library-sponsored R.E.A.D. programs. On the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, we go to the Gwinnett County Library System's Mountain Park Library Branch for their "Doggie Tales" program from 1 to 2 p.m., and on the 4th Saturday of each month we go to the DeKalb County Library System's Sue Kellogg Library for their "Read to Rover" program from noon to 1 p.m.
Holly and I sit in the children's section, and kids (of any age!) come up to Holly and the other dogs in the program and pet them and read to them. We teach the kids to improve their reading comprehension skills as well as teach them how to properly approach unfamiliar dogs, and just have loads of fun. The kids absolutely LOVE Holly, and she loves them too. She's like a furry four-legged rock star every time she walks in the library.
We also occasionally visit local hospices and retirement homes. Everybody loves Holly, and it's a joy to both of us to share her unique, unconditional love with others.
Yes, those of us who truly love our dogs understand something others do not, don't we? We know they're always there for us, will always be our special friends. They're much more than just companions: they're family. We could all stand to learn something about life from our dogs. Their unfettered joie de vivre can teach us how to make our own lives happier and more stress-free.
I believe Holly's philosophy, motto, and creed are "Live life with wind-in-fur," and I try to do the same. For more about Holly and her adventures, check out my blog post "On Being a Therapy Dog Owner" if you haven't already: http://www.kerrydenney.com/blog/on-be...
Cheers, and may you and your furry friends always live your lives with wind-in-fur! :)
Holly and I sit in the children's section, and kids (of any age!) come up to Holly and the other dogs in the program and pet them and read to them. We teach the kids to improve their reading comprehension skills as well as teach them how to properly approach unfamiliar dogs, and just have loads of fun. The kids absolutely LOVE Holly, and she loves them too. She's like a furry four-legged rock star every time she walks in the library.
We also occasionally visit local hospices and retirement homes. Everybody loves Holly, and it's a joy to both of us to share her unique, unconditional love with others.
Yes, those of us who truly love our dogs understand something others do not, don't we? We know they're always there for us, will always be our special friends. They're much more than just companions: they're family. We could all stand to learn something about life from our dogs. Their unfettered joie de vivre can teach us how to make our own lives happier and more stress-free.
I believe Holly's philosophy, motto, and creed are "Live life with wind-in-fur," and I try to do the same. For more about Holly and her adventures, check out my blog post "On Being a Therapy Dog Owner" if you haven't already: http://www.kerrydenney.com/blog/on-be...
Cheers, and may you and your furry friends always live your lives with wind-in-fur! :)
Kerry Alan Denney
Hi, Netanella! Great question: It's answered in Chapter 13 when Jazz and Roberta are taking a ride/ tour in the Jeep around Homestead. No one knew for sure, but Jazz believes it's God's way of making Chaz prove his generosity of spirit and selflessness, i.e.: How much of his gift is Chaz willing to share with others, knowing it takes strength from him and endangers his heart when he can't use his gift to heal himself. Here's the passage:
“Yeah.” Jazz sighed, understanding more than Roberta could ever know. “But Chaz is going to miss healing others. He’s always excited about healing people, especially children. He says that since he can’t use his power to heal himself, he should use it to help them.”
“Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.” (Roberta speaking)
“Ironic, isn’t it? God’s cruel joke.”
“I don’t know about that, Jazz. Maybe it’s God’s way of healing him. He’s an exceptionally amazing kid.”
“I know. I’m so confused. I feel so lost. Adrift.”
“Homestead can heal that for you. I’ve made some really good friends here, and you and Chaz will too.”
“You’re trying to talk me into staying.” Jazz thought back on the morning’s events. “You all planned this whole thing out, didn’t you? Taking me alone on this tour, trying to persuade me to stay.”
Roberta shrugged, smiling at her. Jazz shook her head, smiling too.
“It’s okay. I understand why. But I won’t be able to find any peace until I find out what they did to my father. Until then, the only thing that takes precedence is Chaz’s safety.”
(me again) Thanks for asking! Hope that clears up your question a little. In the end, it was a bit of a mystery to everyone. Just one of the quirks of Chaz's power. Thanks again for your excellent review! :)
“Yeah.” Jazz sighed, understanding more than Roberta could ever know. “But Chaz is going to miss healing others. He’s always excited about healing people, especially children. He says that since he can’t use his power to heal himself, he should use it to help them.”
“Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.” (Roberta speaking)
“Ironic, isn’t it? God’s cruel joke.”
“I don’t know about that, Jazz. Maybe it’s God’s way of healing him. He’s an exceptionally amazing kid.”
“I know. I’m so confused. I feel so lost. Adrift.”
“Homestead can heal that for you. I’ve made some really good friends here, and you and Chaz will too.”
“You’re trying to talk me into staying.” Jazz thought back on the morning’s events. “You all planned this whole thing out, didn’t you? Taking me alone on this tour, trying to persuade me to stay.”
Roberta shrugged, smiling at her. Jazz shook her head, smiling too.
“It’s okay. I understand why. But I won’t be able to find any peace until I find out what they did to my father. Until then, the only thing that takes precedence is Chaz’s safety.”
(me again) Thanks for asking! Hope that clears up your question a little. In the end, it was a bit of a mystery to everyone. Just one of the quirks of Chaz's power. Thanks again for your excellent review! :)
Kerry Alan Denney
Another easy one: by breathing, whether awake or dreaming. Living inspires me to write. Observing people and their behavior, analyzing my dreams, researching stories or articles that incorporate elements of the fantastic, daydreaming, talking about story ideas with good friends and writer colleagues, participating in my awesome writer's critique group and the Atlanta Writers Club, reading articles by agents and published authors, and just generally letting my mind wander into Storyworldland. There is no limit to the vivid imagination, and boy, do I have one. I always have, and expect I always will. I love creating!
Kerry Alan Denney
A high-concept afterlife fantasy whose title I'm not willing to share at this point, as I'm currently shopping for agent representation. I've already started my next novel, and am busy re-editing one of my eight novels for potential forthcoming publication. Also, any day now, I will get the edits from my publisher Permuted Press for my post-apocalyptic novel JAGANNATH, which is scheduled for publication in February 2015. And there's more: I'm constantly learning more about marketing my published works (including my paranormal fantasy novel SOULSNATCHER - Lazy Day Publishing, April 2014), and becoming more adept and effective at social networking across my many author sites in order to build my author platform. Links to my various sites can be found at my personal author website www.kerrydenney.com.
Kerry Alan Denney
Persevere! I subscribe to the "Quadruple P" creed: Perseverance, Patience, Persistence, and Passion. Keep writing and honing your craft; with repetition comes progress and improvement -- and keep on daring to have your teeth kicked in from rejection by sending your babies out into the world to be read, shared, and published! If you don't have thick skin (figurative), learn to grow it so you can brush yourself off and pick yourself back up and try again whenever your work is rejected. If it's good, SOMEBODY will eventually say "yes!", but you can't get that "yes" without being willing to handle the "no"s with aplomb, determination, and professionalism.
Kerry Alan Denney
Easy question to answer: Everything! Creating a new character, world, plot, or scene(s), coming up with a great idea that just won't let me let go of it until I spill it out on a page or document, making things and stories out of nothing but the visions swimming in my head, walking around and dreaming up a new story idea: All these things involving creating something new are incomparable bliss to me. Of course, getting that positive "Yes!" from an agent or publisher certainly doesn't suck, lol. ;)
Kerry Alan Denney
I'm rarely afflicted with it, as I always have several ideas for stories and novels bouncing around in my noggin. When it does hit me, I have many ways to get past it: Flesh it out on paper on my back woodsy deck, or on my PC or laptop; read a good book that I've been saving for a special occasion; watch a good movie that has an intriguing (to me) story idea or plot; take my dog Holly Jolly to the park or mountains (our "church" and a great source of inspiration); go to the beach; and best of all: turn off the Internet and THINK! :)
Kerry Alan Denney
Got it from a dream about dying and the nature of the afterlife -- which my most recent (not yet published) novel is about. It's a story about hope and redemption... and second chances.
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