Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. After twenty-plus years of marriage, she and her hunky hero husband have a full life with their children, a Maltese Menace, and a retired military working dog in Northern Virginia. She can be found at www.roniekendig.com, on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.
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Savanna: Welcome to The Engrafted Word, Ronie. Congratulations on having 2 upcoming releases this year! 🙂 As you wrap up The Quiet Professionals Series, what do you hope readers will remember most about these books? What will you remember most about them?
Ronie: Thanks for inviting me over! It’s been a couple of crazy years, and I really hope that readers will remember not only the journey the characters took, but the journey they were on at the same time. For me, it was a crazy-busy and challenging two years, and I know, from comments and feedback on my reader page on Facebook, that I’m not alone in that. I hope that readers will see how God connected their hearts to his through stories, that He drew back the veil so they could see that He knew, He saw their hurts/pains. For me, I will remember how God carried me through these stories, which I found to be the most challenging books I’ve ever written.
Savanna: What (or who) are you looking most forward to introducing to your readers in your fall release of Embers and the launch of Abiassa’s Fire fantasy series?
Ronie: Embers was a bit of a fluke in how it came into existence, but I’m really excited for readers to meet my hero, Haegan, a very unlikely hero, who holds all the potential for greatness but can’t see it nor does he believe it.
Savanna: How many books are you typically working on at once? (From first story spark to publication and beyond) 🙂
Ronie: Typically, I’m working on 2-3 books at the same time, and it’s quite exhausting and sometimes, even confusing! Right now, I’m working on a novella for a new suspense series, but I’m also working on the full-length novel, as well as plotting the second book in the Abiassa’s Fire series, Accelerant. To me, it’s easier when it’s a speculative novel and a suspense novel to keep the characters and stories straight, but sometimes, the journeys converge somehow.
Savanna: I read on your website that you homeschool your children. I was homeschooled too, so that part naturally caught my eye. 🙂 What has been one of the greatest blessings of homeschooling for you and your family? What about a challenge?
Ronie: The greatest blessing for me is “learning” my children—generally, I can read my children pretty well, and I know them on a deep level. Also, one of my children has Asperger’s and being able to give him room to figure things out and not just grow, but to thrive—that does my mama’s heart good. The biggest challenge is when multiple “events” occur around the same time—a book deadline, an edit due, marketing for a new release—all while schooling my amazing kiddos.
Savanna: Can you tell us when and how you first came up with your tagline “Rapid-Fire Fiction”? (Love it, by the way!)
Ronie: Thank you!! The year after Nightshade released, my publisher brought us in for a marketing training. It was really fascinating and they had us work on our brands. I’d wanted to use “Bullet-Time” because I’d taught a class about Bullet-timing your fiction. But I learned that was actually a trademarked term by the creators of the Matrix, so I worked to find a new one…and Rapid-Fire popped into my head. It’s taken hold—a strong hold—because it’s about pacing, about keeping your audience ensnared. And it fits my genre(s). Even my fantasy novel is fast-paced, so I think it’s a perfect brand for any novel/novella written by Ronie Kendig.
Savanna: Thanks so much for stopping by today, Ronie. It’s great to have you here. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
Ronie: Yes! With the advent of my speculative fiction releasing, I’ve had many people ask if I’m stepping away from suspense. Absolutely not!! It’s my first love, and I’m delighted to say I’m working on a new suspense series that will release Fall 2016. More details coming soon!
Savanna: Sounds great! Can’t wait to find out more. Hope you have a blessed 2015, Ronie!
GIVEAWAY!!
Ronie has graciously offered to give away one copy of Falcon to one lucky winner. Enter below and it could be YOU! 😉
Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. and ends June 16, 2015. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!
My Dad was in the Army. So it is neat being able to ask him about his experience in serving our country. My brothers are fascinated with different weaponry that military uses. One of my brothers wants to become a pilot when he is older.Thank you for writing stories that God has placed on your heart!
Very cool, Amanda! We’re so glad you could join us today.
Thank you for a great interview, Savanna! So glad to have been invited over to your site.
I’m thrilled to have you here, Ronie! 🙂
Love Ronie’s books!
Wonderful, Kim! Hope you get to read Ronie’s latest book soon. 😉
I love to read Ronie’s books! They are very suspenseful and entertaining. Also, a good decent book to read, unlike some of the books I have to start reading and put down.
Great to meet another fan of Ronie’s. 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway, Brenda!
My favorite genre is romantic suspense and I usually keep to Christian writers within that. I love the military stories from Ronie and others too!
Hi Rachel! I’m becoming a fan of romantic suspense lately myself. There are so many awesome Christian writers out there. Love it!
I do enjoy Ronie’s books 🙂
Great to have you here, Deanna. Good luck to you and happy reading!
I LOVE Ronie Kendig’s, and I’m so excited about Embers!!!
It sounds really good, doesn’t it, Heather? 😉 Thanks for visiting.
I have loved reading these books and all of your books. I enjoyed Falcon so much. Is the General still going to be in any of your next books?
Hi Connie! You’re ahead of me… Falcon is still on my “To-Read List”. 😉 Glad you enjoyed it!
contemporary
That genre can be a lot of fun, I agree. 😉
I love suspense of all kinds.
Gotta love a little intrigue and mystery, huh? 🙂 I’m the same way. Glad you could join us, Virginia!
Thank you for a wonderful interview. Ronie’s book sounds great! I love a variety of books. You just can’t beat turning page after page of wonderful!
“Page after page of wonderful”… I love that! 🙂 A variety to keep things fresh is always nice. I prefer that style of reading too, Melanie. Thanks for stopping in to chat.
Will have to see if library has your books.
You might be able to request it, Kim… I’m not sure. Or you might win the giveaway. 😉 Either way, I hope you get to check out Ronie’s work soon. Good luck!
I really like Ronie’s books.
I appreciate you stopping in, Brenda. Good luck in the giveaway!
I have never read any of Ronie’s books but I have always wanted to! They are on my to-read list. As for my favorite genre, it is so had to choose. I have such a wide variety that I read from. A few favorites might be mystery/suspense, fantasy, and historical fiction.
Hi Amelia! Those are some great genres, for sure. 🙂 Doesn’t Ronie’s books just draw you in? Hope you get to check them out soon. Have a great week!
I love reading war books they are my favorite!! I would absolutely love to read this book
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Great to have you with us, Danie. Here’s hoping for a giveaway win! 🙂
Probably my favorite genre is historical fiction but I really like a mix. I get bored with reading the same genre.
Hi Joan! It is nice to take a break and mix up genres from time to time. I’m with you on historical fiction, though. It’s my favorite too. 😉
Great interview! I love Ronie’s books! I’m actually planning to get on my laptop in a bit and order Falcon before I get distracted again (meant to do it a couple days ago). 🙂
I’ve actually never read speculative fiction, but I’m sure I’ll get a crash course on it when Embers releases. I’ve found I really enjoy fantasy, something I was leery of, so I’m hoping the same will be true of speculative. 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
Awesome, Sarah! Hope you love “Falcon”. And way to go with trying out a new genre. I know when I’ve stepped out and read something a bit different, I’ve usually been surprised with how much I like it. Hope you enjoy it too. It’s good to see you.
Thanks for the interview Savanna! Always fun to know what’s going through author’s heads! 😀
I know, right?! 😉 I’m always touched by authors taking the time to sit down and chat. It’s fun getting to know the people behind the books we love. Thanks for visiting, Chelsea. Good luck in the giveaway.
Hi Ronie & Savanna! I really loved this author interview…you always do such a nice job! Since I have this book coming to me already (Falcon), I don’t need to be entered. I just wanted to pop in so I can find out more about the book and author. This will be a new type of book for me to read, so it seems I won’t be disappointed in it! I tend to steer more for historical or suspense, depending on my “book” mood at that moment 🙂
It’s great that you can home-school your kids. I think they would learn a little better since you can tailor it to each child’s learning level and style. I, to, have a son who has Asperger’s so I can see the challenges that already brings to the table. I wished we could afford a tutor or had the patience to home-school him because I know he would really shine! But the public high school he goes to has been such a God-send to us, they really have a great group of teachers and learning specialist that work with him. We’ve seen some great leaps and bounds in his education and maturity level. Plus, he does have an IEP (Individual Education Plan), and part of that is he can have whatever accommodations necessary in the classroom to help him. What a blessing! I know of some people who don’t have the help within the school for their special needs kids and it breaks my heart!
I’m going to have to definitely invest in the rest of this series from the sounds of it (Raptor 6 & Hawk)! Fast paced adventure will get this old heart going and keeping me at the edge of my seat and sleep deprived, lol! I look forward to reading my copy of “Falcon” when it comes!
Thanks so much for taking the time to come out and talk a bit about yourself and your book, Ronie! And Savanna for all your hard work in bringing us such wonderful authors to chat with! Blessings to you both!
Hi Trixi. It’s always so nice to have you visit. And that’s exciting that you already have a copy of Falcon “flying” your way. 😉 Hope you enjoy it!
And I’m glad your son is doing so well at his school. What a blessing to see the Lord’s hand working there. Thanks for sharing.
My blog wouldn’t be half as fun without people like you stopping in. You all make it worth it! 😉 Have a blessed week, my friend.
Everything I have read of Ronie’s has been quite good. I like the genre.
Glad to hear it, Edward. It’s a fun genre, for sure. I appreciate you stopping in. It’s always nice to see you. Good luck in the giveaway.