Meet author Pam Kumpe
I recently asked in a few Facebook groups for authors who’d like to be on my blog, and Pam said yes! I don’t know her, so let’s dive right in and find out more about her.
Jen – Hi, Pam, thanks for being on the blog. Tell us a little about yourself.
Pam – I began life in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with my twin sister, Mel. We lived by the railroad tracks, and she once set my Raggedy Ann doll on the tracks to see what would happen when the train came through. (That might explain a lot about my childhood. I learned to survive early on. LOL.)
Life shifted when my dad was diagnosed with throat cancer, though, and we moved to Tucson, Arizona, trading trees and lakes for cactus and sand. Dad made it and lived to be 82, and we made our home in Phoenix. It was there, during Vacation Bible School, that I first discovered Christ and His love for me in the fourth grade.
High school brought hard questions. I survived an abusive relationship during those four years, and then in college, the murder of a friend rocked me (I’d learn it was the Golden State Killer, but not until some thirty-plus years later). I also faced my own battle with cancer, living beyond the fear and surviving that season. Those heartbreaks became catalysts for my faith and my call to share the gospel through writing, as stories wrapped their way into my heart at every turn.
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Pam Kumpe’s writingJen – I’ve seen that in my life, too, where difficult circumstances shape my faith and my writing. Tell us about what you’ve written.
Pam – I don’t stick to one lane. I write in multiple genres: redemptive mysteries, devotionals, young reader books, and children’s stories.
Where Horses Run Secrets Hide (Book one, Emory Vaughn’s road trip to learn the truth about her father and three missing women.)
Where Jazz Plays Shadows Fall (Book Two, releasing next Spring 2026 takes Emory back to The Blue Door in New Orleans, where blueberry pancakes and jazz meet the shadows of the past and that of the first missing woman, Celeste.)
I’ve also written the Cranky the Camel children’s books, inspired by my own moments of feeling “too much” (and maybe a little cranky). I’ve written the Emma Hobbit: You Are Lost series, comprising four books, with a fifth one in the works. You can find my books on Amazon and at www.pamkumpe.com.
Pam Kumpe’s bio:
Pam Kumpe is a storyteller, speaker, and author of over 30 books, writing across genres that include redemptive mysteries, devotionals, and children’s stories.
Known as the Redeemed Storyteller, she weaves hope, faith, and a touch of humor into every page. When she’s not writing, she’s serving in street ministry, snapping photos of birds, or drinking coffee with way too much half-and-half.
She has been married to Ray for almost 42 years, and they have two sons, Marty and Brandon, as well as one grandson, Kade, and of course, Shelby, their miniature schnauzer, along with Pam’s adoptive alligator, Fred, who isn’t allowed to leave the nearby pond at the park.
Pam Kumpe – Redeemed Storyteller Painting hope on hearts, one story at a time.
Jen – Tell us about your writing habits.
Pam – I write early in the morning (thanks to my schnauzer, Shelby, who literally sits on my head as an alarm clock). I’m a pantser, but I always know my characters well. I love it when they surprise me with quirks I didn’t plan. Some have been known to tell me, I wouldn’t act this way or that, to keep their personality in check.
Research for Pam Kempe’s storiesJen – I love hearing about other writers’ habits! My characters act up sometimes too. 
Tell us about the research you’ve done for your stories.
Pam – Yes! I love discovering secrets tucked inside places. For Where Horses Run: Secrets Hide, I traced Emory’s journey through Dallas, New Orleans, Denver, and Cody, Wyoming, spending hours exploring maps, history, and travel videos. Research makes the setting feel alive.
In my novel, Rescue at Three Sisters Springs, I set the story in Hot Springs, Arkansas —a tribute to my hometown. While conducting research, I unearthed a family secret. My mother gave up a daughter for adoption, a sister I never met (she was born two years before my birth), who died the year I learned about her. Without the research and my curiosity, I would have never known about Karen, a poet and writer who was remarkably like Lucy, the teenage girl in the novel. Research brings life to the pages and to our own walk.
Jen – What an amazing discovery! I can’t imagine how that felt. What are your goals as a writer?
Pam – I write to paint hope on hearts, no matter the reader’s age. If my words bring someone courage, joy, or a reminder that they’re not alone, then I’ve done my job.
What Pam likes to readJen – What do you like to read?
Pam – I adore To Kill a Mockingbird—I often write from a woman’s point of view, so it resonates deeply. I also read nonfiction and attend writing conferences to sharpen my craft (and to remember things my forgetful brain tends to overlook).
Jen – How can readers find you online?
Pam – I share about my writing and street ministry on Facebook. My website is www.pamkumpe.com, and I’ve started posting a few fun things on TikTok too.
Fun facts“A homeless man once found my book Things I Learned in Jail in a dumpster. He read it, loved it, and while he never left a five-star review, he found Christ. And that’s better than any review I could ever receive.” – Pam Kumpe
Jen – Okay, tell us some fun facts about you!
Pam – Coffee lover (but mainly for the half-and-half).
Favorite season: fall.
Favorite verse: Jeremiah 29:11.
Hobby: photographing birds.
Fun extra fact: I named an 8-foot alligator “Fred.” I watch him. He watches me.
Shelby, my miniature schnauzer, is my bossy alarm clock and sits on my head.
Twin sister, Mel, is my best friend (and yes, we still compete for airtime).
Advice for new authorsJen – What’s your advice for new authors?
Pam – Don’t let insecurity silence your story. Do the best you can with what you know now. Learn as you go. Improve when you can. But above all—write anyway. Your unique voice may point someone straight to Christ.
Jen – I love that! What inspired you to write?
Pam – Words were my lifeline as a child. Stories carried me to braver places than reality. They gave me courage, and they continue to do so. Now, I write because I want to use words for good and for God. I never expected to write 34 books, let alone one. God had a better plan…thankfully. Stories mirror life. And life is made for purpose and for joy and for making a difference.
Jen – Thank you, Pam, for being on the blog and sharing about your writing and your goals! It’s been great getting to know you!
Read Meet the Characters from The Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery series, and then follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to my newsletter to keep up with news about my book and any special offers!
Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 39 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.
Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery – Birds Alive! – released Feb. 27, 2024, and the 2nd in the series, Where’s the Quetzal? released Feb. 25, 2025! My romantic suspense novella, SeaBreeze Obsession in Trinity Sands Beach Club, released June 17, 2025!
When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)
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