Linda’s Book Obsession Interviews Kitty Zeldis, Author of “Not Our Kind” for Suzy Approved Book Tours

 Linda: 1.  What was your motivation in becoming an author and writer? What did you do before you were a writer?

Kitty Zeldis: When I was young, I wanted to be a ballerina, and I studied classical ballet very seriously.  But I was neither talented nor driven enough to have a life as a professional dancer.  I started writing when I was in my early 20’s, and in graduate school for something else.  But once I decided to be a fiction writer, I never looked back.

Linda: 2. What motivated or inspired you to write?

Kitty Zeldis: I think all writers begin as readers; I know I did.  For so many of us, writing is often an outgrowth of our passion for reading.

Linda: 3.  How did you go about researching for your book?

Kitty Zeldis:  In a sense, I’d been researching it for years because I love films, photographs, and fashion from the 1940s and was familiar with the period.  But I did additional reading, photo research and fact-checking for certain details.

Linda: 4.  What are your goals for readers to take away after reading?

 

Linda: 5.  What is a typical day of your life? 

Kitty Zeldis: Dogs (there are two) go out and do their business. Coffee with my husband, made by my nifty Nespresso machine, which makes a perfect latte every time. My days vary but when I’m working on a novel, I try to work a few hours in the morning, break for lunch (and doggy care) and then back to work until dinner. I may work a little more after dinner but not always—need some downtime too.

Linda: 6.   What are your hobbies or things you do in your downtime?

Linda: 7.  What can you tell us of any new writing projects that you might have?

Kitty Zeldis: I’m working on a novel set in New Orleans in 1916-1917.  NOLA fans take note!

Linda: 8.   What are your favorite genres of books that you like to read?

Kitty Zeldis: When I’m writing a novel (which is a lot of the time!) I find it hard to read one—I keep analyzing as I read and it gets in the way of my enjoyment.  So I stick to poetry and short stories; in my opinion, the latter are more like poems than they are novels.

Linda: 9     What advice can you give to someone that wants to be a writer?

Kitty Zeldis: Keep reading like crazy! Make writing a regular practice—journal, diary, letters, dream books, poems.  And sign up for a writing workshop or class—you’ll meet a community of writers all in engaged in the same pursuit, which is invaluable.

Linda: 10.     If your book were adapted to the screen, what actors, actresses could you envision for the main characters?

Kitty Zeldis: Ooh, that’s such a fun question! Writers love thinking about those book-to-movie transitions. For Patrica, I’d like to see Cate Blanchett.  I could see Lily Collins or Scarlett Johansson as Eleanor. Haven’t really thought about the male roles.