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Kay’s Year In Books

Kay’s 2022 Year in Books

Take a look at Kay’s Year in Books. The long, the short—it’s all here.

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TAMMY CUEVAS

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Kay Castaneda

Goodreads Author

Born

Indianapolis, The United States

Website

https://bookplaces.blog

Twitter

@kcastanedauthor

Genre

Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Member Since

March 2012

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Kay Castaneda is retired from a career as a college writing instructor. She was also a substitute teacher and special education tutor. She earned a B.A. and M.A. in English at Indiana Purdue University in Indianapolis. Her publications include poetry and creative non-fiction in literary journals plus articles about education for reference books. Kay attended writing seminars in Lithuania, Scotland and Mexico. In Lithuania, Kay explored the city of Vilnius and imagined that she was a long-lost relative of Good King Gediminus, Grand Duke and Ruler, 1315-1364, since he did have numerous wives, mistresses and children. In San Miguel Allende, Mexico, Kay sat at every outdoor cafe and park she could find, reading and writing to her heart's conten ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Kay Castaneda I don't really have writer's block unless it would be about something I don't like. If I was assigned a job to write about sports or business, I woul…more I don't really have writer's block unless it would be about something I don't like. If I was assigned a job to write about sports or business, I would have to do research first. I am a procrastinator, and I'd put this type of writing off until the bitter end! Fiction and poetry are my favorite genres. They are much more fun. A problem with writing is not having a set schedule due to work and family life. My husband and I are self-employed and the hours are unpredictable. So I can't just say I will write during the hours of 10:00 am to noon each day for example. When I do sit down at my computer, I continue with everything I worked on the day before (or last week)! The process of editing, revising and proofreading leads me to other ideas to write about. I might think of using a character in one of my stories or poems to begin another piece of writing such as a new short story. I like to think of my characters as being able to go from a novel and then moving into a short story or even a piece of non-fiction. When I think of a new topic or character, even a location, to use in new writing, I make a reminder to myself. I use a pen and actually write in a lined-notebook. Then I write what's on my notes on a new Word document. Each document might be just a character's name or what they will look like. Any ideas I have are assigned a separate document which I then save in a folder. I have folders named Places, People, Locations or anything that needs a separate folder. Some folders are named Novel Ideas or Story Ideas. I put bits and pieces of things I find that I don't exactly know what to do with in a folder called Research. So what I really need is better time management and organizational skills even though I already do okay.

I wrote something in response to an article on Twitter that another author sent me. It's about WIP or Works in Progress. Too bad Twitter only lets you use a few characters! I hate that! This one is really short.

Should I say Goodbye to my WIP? Yes, no? I don't have writer's block. I love my premise. I have faith in it. I know I'll beg it to return if I let it go. I want to finish no matter how long it takes. I'm resting, waiting for that nudge (shove), slap, anything. Make me sit my butt in my chair. Someone push me!🌻Thanks Anne

http://annerallen.com/2018/04/saying-...(less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Kay Castaneda Being a writer is part of my identity. I used to hate when people would ask that tired, all-too-common question that I'm sure everyone's heard before.…moreBeing a writer is part of my identity. I used to hate when people would ask that tired, all-too-common question that I'm sure everyone's heard before. "What do YOU do?" with the emphasis on the word you. To my ears, it sounded as if they were speaking to me as an older adult would talk to a younger person. I always had an image of the Queen bending down to a child, patting her head and calling her Sweetie. The other way people would ask me about myself had the emphasis in the word do. "What do you DO?" As in how do you spend your time? What type of employment could you possibly be qualified for?

When I finally decided to become more serious with writing, that gave me a better view of myself. I don't just tell people that I write, I say I am a Writer. I worked at jobs I hated or drove me crazy with boredom. Now when people ask me that question, I tell them about myself, but I am taking my images of them as inspiration for my books. I keep that secret and won't tell them what I am doing, creating characters and story lines inside my writer's mind. (less)

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Kay Castaneda’s books

Average rating: 4.08 · 123 ratings · 86 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	Death Among Us by Stephen Bentley (Goodreads Author), Greg Alldredge (Goodreads Author), Kelly Artieri (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 96 ratings — published 2019 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Emmie of Indianapolis 3.81 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 2015 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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50 posts
Kay Castaneda's Blog

Meet Lizzie Chantree, Author

Welcome to my blog! I would like to introduce author Lizzie Chantree today. Lizzie is an international best-selling author and business mentor from the U. K. She has appeared on Sky News, ITV Lunchtime News, This Morning, The Gloria Hunniford show, The Big Breakfast, BBC’s Worldwide Radio Service, amongst others for becoming one of Fair Play London’s Female Innovators for inventing Runaway Spray,

Kay is Currently Reading

Kay Castaneda is currently reading

Edith Stein: The Life of a Philosopher and Carmelite

by Teresia Renata Posselt

bookshelves: currently-reading

read in October, 2021

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Nov 06, 2021 05:04PM

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Kay Castaneda wants to read Uncharted Waters by Tammy L. Grace (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 06, 2023 02:59PM · like
Kay Castaneda is now following Tammy L. Grace Author of Finding Home (Hometown Harbor, #1)
Feb 06, 2023 02:58PM · like
Kay Castaneda rated a book it was amazing A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God's Covenant Love in Scripture by Scott Hahn	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 30, 2022 06:21PM · like
Kay Castaneda wants to read The Christmas Bird by Robbie Cheadle (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 28, 2022 06:14PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Christmas Bird by Robbie Cheadle. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Christmas Bird by Robbie Cheadle <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda wants to read Open a new door: a collection of poems by Robbie Cheadle (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 28, 2022 06:14PM · like
Kay Castaneda and 1 other person liked Elizabeth Holland's review of Emmie of Indianapolis: "An interesting and joyful read following 12 year-old Emmie around 1960's Indianapolis. Emmie's a brave child who fearlessly takes on the world and each challenge put in front of her. I loved the little group of friends Emmie adopts. They're wonderful" Read more of this review »
Oct 06, 2022 12:52AM · see review
Kay Castaneda wants to read Creating Anna Karenina: Tolstoy and the Birth of Literature's Most Enigmatic Heroine by Bob Blaisdell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 25, 2022 11:35AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Creating Anna Karenina by Bob Blaisdell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Creating Anna Karenina by Bob Blaisdell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda rated a book really liked it A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 08, 2022 06:42PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda wants to read We are Saul by Richard Dee (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 08, 2022 06:40PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of We are Saul by Richard Dee. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — We are Saul by Richard Dee <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda wants to read Demons, Deliverance, Discernment: Separating Fact from Fiction about the Spirit World by Mike Driscoll	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 23, 2022 01:06PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Demons, Deliverance, Discernment by Mike Driscoll. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Demons, Deliverance, Discernment by Mike Driscoll <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Kay's books…

Kay’s Quotes

“I do things like get in a taxi and say, "The library, and step on it.”
― David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest

tags: books, infinite-jest

4176 likes

“Dying
Is an art, like everything else.
I do it exceptionally well.
I do it so it feels like hell.
I do it so it feels real.
I guess you could say I have a call.”
― Sylvia Plath, Ariel

tags: death

1754 likes

“I write only because
There is a voice within me
That will not be still”
― Sylvia Plath, Letters Home

1028 likes

Kay’s Year In Books

Kay Castaneda’s Followers (19)

Kay’s Bookshelves

Kay’s Friends (64)

Kay Castaneda

Goodreads Author

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Kay Castaneda’s books

50 posts
Kay Castaneda's Blog

Meet Lizzie Chantree, Author

Kay is Currently Reading

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Kay Castaneda’s Followers (19)

Kay Castaneda

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See a Problem?

Preview — The Christmas Bird by Robbie Cheadle

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Preview — Creating Anna Karenina by Bob Blaisdell

See a Problem?

Preview — A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li

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Preview — We are Saul by Richard Dee

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