authentic | Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

Creative Edge Author Interview – Kim Lengling

December 15, 2022
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What was the motivation to write the books?

It was a hot August day, and I was sitting on my back deck when, seemingly out of nowhere, I felt overwhelmed with emotions and heard a whisper, “stories to be told”. With a bit of an attitude, I thought, “Okay, if this is God, I’ve already shared my story. It was hard, but I did it. How often do I have to share?”

Again, a gentle whisper was felt; “stories to be told.” The scene before me, which was my backyard, turned into a black and white scene, as if it were an old movie reel. Within the scene was a young lady on her knees, sobbing. You could feel the emotion radiating out of what I was seeing. It lasted a second, but I knew who the person was and what the reminder was. Years ago, the young woman was me crying out to the God I told myself I didn’t believe in.

I knew then what the message was. Stories, as in many stories, needed to be told. So I reached out to a few ladies I knew and asked if they’d like to participate in an anthology I was considering putting together. They said yes. I reached out to a few more ladies, and they said yes. I soon had 20 women who wanted to share their stories of Grace. But it didn’t stop there. More women reached out, and I soon realized this would be more than one book. It turned into a 3-book series, with all three published within 12 months. As time went on, another nudge was received: to share Hope and my newest release, When Hope Found Me was born.

Has writing them given you a new perspective or mission or aided you in some way?

Oh, my yes. Once this journey of coordinating anthologies began, I realized that there is so much darkness and negativity in the world on TV, radio, social media, and within neighborhoods and communities. Seeing and hearing about negative things each day becomes tiring and emotionally draining.

God again nudged me to share, and the word Hope showed up.

The word Hope had been showing up everywhere for weeks at the end of 2021. Finally, I realized that I was to do something with that word.

I bought some inspirational cards, just the small kind, and began leaving them in random places in stores when I would be out and about. You know the kind, “You are amazing!”, “You are awesome!”. But I felt that I needed to do something else. Something more personal.

I then went online and found polished stones with the word Hope engraved on them. So I thought, “Okay, here we go. I’ll call them Nuggets of Hope!”

So now, I carry a few of those Nuggets of Hope wherever I go, and when I feel a nudge to approach someone, I’ll walk up to the person and quietly say, “I’ve got a small gift for you, a nugget of hope.” And I’ll place it in their hand, wish them a blessed day and be on my way. I don’t feel I am to talk with them but to hand them a small nugget of Hope and be on my way.

That is now a part of my mission, choosing to sprinkle Hope like confetti. One nugget of Hope at a time.

How else do you spread your words and experiences?

Over the past few years, I have started a podcast called Let Fear Bounce. It is an interview-style show where I have guests from all over the world and from different walks of life share their journey, be it writing, teaching, coaching, or simply having an amazing story or experience to share. I feel blessed to be able to provide a platform for others to share their nuggets of Hope.

What message do you have for your readers?

I hope they feel a spark of something when they read through any of the books. Maybe it will be inspiration or admiration. Perhaps it will be motivation to change something for the better in their own life. Or maybe the stories will spark something inside and provide them a bit of hope; for themselves, humanity, and their family, whatever the case may be. I want readers to FEEL and know that there is hope, goodness, and kindness in the world.

Do you think there are enough resources for sufferers of PTSD?

If you had asked me that question 10 years ago, even five years ago, I would say no.

I prefer to steer clear of the word “suffer.” For me, I choose to say, “live with PTSD.” Because you do, your experience has played a big part in who you are and who you will become. Living with PTSD is a part of you, and you of it. It’s a significant life experience. It is all in how you face and deal with it that matters.

Is it easy? No. Is it worth facing and finding safe and healthy ways to live with it? Yes. Because then you can turn that into a message to help others.

Are there enough resources out there to help all of those who live with PTSD? Maybe not, but great strides have been made. Over the years, I have seen many new programs, counselors, and assistance available, especially for women. I believe that more will become available in the future.

When you began writing, what was the hardest part?

The most difficult part of the process was being authentic. What I mean by that is sharing the whole story. Not just bits and pieces worded in a particular way so as not to make the reader uncomfortable.

I realized that I just needed to be open and honest. Share what was on my heart and share that in a way that was true to me, and hopefully, those who read my words will feel something.

Where is your favorite place to write?

It turns out my dining room table is the place where I typically write. Not sure why; it is just where I end up. I have my days, though, that on a beautiful summer day, I’ll haul my laptop outside and let nature speak to me, and I let words flow.

Do you have plans for future books?

Indeed I do! I have two books I am currently working on. We’ll see where they take me. There are always stories to be write and words to share that inspire!

What does the word ‘rescue’ mean to you?

Being pulled from the darkness. A place where you feel lost and unable to see or feel joy or light. When a person, a book, a song, or a pet provides a spark of light. That small light enters into your darkness, and you lift your eyes. That is a rescue to me. So many rescuers out there aren’t aware of what they have provided. How blessed we are that they exist!

How can readers find you?

Website: http://www.kimlenglingauthor.com

Let Fear Bounce Podcast: https://anchor.fm/kim-lengling1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letfearbouncepodcast

The Write Stuff TV Show: https://www.believeinyourdreamstv.com/

Streaming online on your favorite platform. Use the Believe Warriors App

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriteStuffTVShow

BIO

Kim is a multi-published author, writer, podcast host of Let Fear Bounce, and TV show host of The Write Stuff, The Authors Voice with the Believe In Your Dreams TV Network.

In addition, she is an active speaker sharing her story of being a female veteran living with PTSD and spreading a message of Hope. She regularly speaks for local veteran and women’s organizations in her hometown area and across numerous global organizations.

She has been writing and speaking with empathy and emotion since 2004 showcasing her faith, nature, love of rescue animals, and advocacy for veterans living with PTSD. She showcases her writing through her books, business, and website; www.kimlenglingauthor.com.

She is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book anthology series titled When Grace Found Me. In addition, she is a published co-author in seven anthologies and numerous print and online global newspapers and magazines.

Kim sees each day as an opportunity to spread hope and encouragement, for, without hope, life would be a dark place.

“The world can be a dark place. So I choose to toss nuggets of hope out into the world like confetti; little sparks of light in the darkness.”

If You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get – Find Authentic Research Sources…

September 29, 2014
mandyevebarnett

Research is a vital component of many of our narrative’s and we endeavor to ensure the technicalities are exact. This is especially true when we are writing about something we have no personal knowledge of. The internet, can give us some information but we should not rely on it 100% – there have been cases of mis-information.

Say we require a character to be fighter pilot, as it is unlikely we can find or have personal experiences of this, we could try search engines but it may be limited. We must then delve into the history books and hopefully find people, who are willing to assist us in gathering as much information as possible to make the character come alive on paper.

My current word in progress, Willow Tree Tears, has a barrel racer as a central character. As I have only attended one small rodeo and, although I have ridden horses, I’ve never competed on one, I required first hand experience. Luckily, the internet is a great resource for finding people and organizations and so I was able to read descriptions and view photographs of rodeo’s to give me an idea of how the venue would look and sound. I also intend to attend a rodeo before the manuscript is finalized so I can make further authentic revisions.

However, in the meantime I really wanted a champion barrel racer to read the relevant sections of my story to approve the authenticity of them. So I sent out several requests via facebook and through personal websites to several barrel racers – graciously two replied and are reviewing the segments for me. I will thank them both by naming them in the finished novel and giving each of them a copy to review. (May be I will actually see them compete!)

We need to go that extra mile to ensure our readers – with or without knowledge of the subject matter – are confident we have written a true reflection of the particular subject in our novels. We can’t have a cell phone in 1650 or hovering cars in 2000, so it is true with the careers our characters have – no matter what century they are set in.

What have you researched for a novel?
Why did you pick that particular career/venue/organization?

Words and Stew…?

February 24, 2013
mandyevebarnett

Goulash – definition: a beef stew with onion, paprika, and caraway

An inspiring meal idea for today – in Alberta we are still in winter mode and although it is ‘warm’ today only -1, a hot bowl of goulash will certainly hit the spot. Alberta prides itself on its beef so how better to prepare it than a hearty stew? I admit to being a lazy cook, if I can get away with a simple quick meal I will. Thank goodness for Jamie Oliver’s 15-minute meal ideas. He is such a character to watch and as expats living here in western Canada, we love to hear his English slang and love his grub. Having to explain what a slang word or saying actually means takes the fun out of it somewhat.

Many people know about the Cockney rhyming slang but there is a whole realm of slang in England. Each region not only has its own accent but slang as well. For instance in the north of England they say any road instead of anyway. Commonly used words are Baccy for tobacco and bees knees meaning fabulous while brill is short for brilliant. A lotta bottle means you have no fear and to have a butchers means take a look. Some words are unclear as to their originals like faff, which means to dither or grem for spitting something out. Grub by the way is food, if you hadn’t figured it out yet.

When we had only been living in Canada for about six months we bought an acreage and I had to figure out what frequency we needed water to be delivered to our acreage. After a few weeks it became clear and I left a message on the water carriers answer phone. Several days passed without a return call and I was getting anxious. Then one evening I came home to a very apologetic answer machine message saying sorry they have taken so long to get back to us but they didn’t know what a fortnight was! Well for us it was very funny and we kept the message on the phone for weeks just for the laugh. A fortnight is actually a 2-week period!

To authenticate our characters the use of local colloquialisms from the region the story is set in enhances them. Although it is best not to overuse them, a reader doesn’t want to spend time trying to figure out what a word means, it halts the flow of the story. If a sentence is structured well the slang word’s meaning will be made apparent by its use. Another way to ensure your reader does not stall is to make up a glossary for reference. A word here and there gives depth to our character and makes them more personable. Attention to detail makes all the difference – bringing your novel alive.

So back to the goulash – here is a classic recipe from Hungary. (www.budapest-tourist-guide.com) Even in Hungary every other housewife or chef has their own way of cooking it by adding or omitting some of the ingredients, or changing something in the preparation process, however they would all call their gulyás the most authentic.

What’s Authentic Hungarian Goulash?Authentic gulyás is a beef dish cooked with onions, Hungarian paprika powder, tomatoes and some green pepper.Potato and noodles (csipetke in Hungarian) are also added according to some recipes.Hungarian goulash is neither a soup nor a stew, it’s somewhere in between. Though in Hungary it’s considered rather to be a soup than a stew, so look for it among Soups on restaurant menus.If cooked in the proper way goulash has a nice and evenly thick consistency, almost like a sauce. In Hungary gulyás is eaten as a main dish; noodle or pastry dishes, especially the ones made with cottage cheese (túrós csúsza, túrógombóc, strudel) go down well after the heavy soup.

A Classical Hungarian Goulash Recipe

Ingredients (for 4 persons)

600 g beef shin or shoulder, or any tender part of the beef cut into 2×2 cm cubes
2 tablespoons oil or lard
2 medium onions, chopped
2 cloves of garlic
1-2 carrots, diced
1 parsnip, diced
1-2 celery leaves
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or 1 tbs. tomato paste
2 fresh green peppers
2-3 medium potatoes, sliced
1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika powder
1 teaspoon ground caraway seed
1 bay leaf
ground black pepper and salt according to taste
water

For csipetke (Pinched noodles added to goulash or bean soup in Hungary. Csipetke comes from the word csípni, meaning pinch in English, referring to the way of making this noodle):

1 small egg,
flour,
a pinch of salt,
cc. 1 teaspoon water

Goulash is hearty enough without csipetke, especially if you eat it with bread, so you can leave csipetke out.

Instructions

Heat up the oil or lard in a pot and braise the chopped onions in it until they get a nice golden brown colour.
Sprinkle the braised onions with paprika powder while stirring them to prevent the paprika from burning.
Add the beef cubes and and sauté them till they turn white and get a bit of brownish colour as well.
The meat will probably let out its own juice, let the beef-cubes simmer in it while adding the grated or crushed and chopped garlic (grated garlic has stronger flavour), the ground caraway seed, some salt and ground black pepper, the bay leaf, pour water enough to cover the content of the pan and let it simmer on low heat for a while.
When the meat is half-cooked (approx. in 1,5 hour, but it can take longer depending on the type and quality of the beef) add the diced carrots, parsnip and the potatoes, the celery leaf and some more salt if necessary (vegetables tend to call for more salt). You’ll probably have to add some more (2-3 cups) water too.
When the vegetables and the meat are almost done add the tomato cubes and the sliced green peppers. Let it cook on low heat for another few minutes. You can remove the lid of the pan if you want the soup to thicken.
Bring the soup to the boil and add the csipetke dough, it needs about 5 minutes to get cooked.How to make the csipetke: beat up a small egg, add a pinch of salt and as much flour as you need to knead a stiff dough (you can add some water if necessary).Flatten the dough between your palms (to about 1 cm thick) and pinch small, bean-sized pieces from it and add them to the boiling soup. They need about 5 minutes to get cooked.

Now you are craving goulash, I’m off to buy the ingredients.