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Kay’s Year In Books

Kay’s 2023 Year in Books

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

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Laura Thomas

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2024 Reading Challenge

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Kay Castaneda has read 2 of 50 books.

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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: 4.11 · 126 ratings · 88 reviews · 2 distinct works

	Death Among Us by Stephen Bentley (Goodreads Author), Greg Alldredge (Goodreads Author), Kelly Artieri (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 97 ratings — published 2019 — 7 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 3.86 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2015 — 10 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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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

Gunnar's Daughter

by Sigrid Undset

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jan 24, 2024 02:30PM

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 A Beggar’s Bargain by Jan Sikes (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
Mar 13, 2024 05:32PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Beggar’s Bargain by Jan Sikes. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Beggar’s Bargain by Jan Sikes <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda wants to read White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky	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
Jan 24, 2024 05:05PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda wants to read Redemption: A Steve Regan Undercover Cop Thriller (Steve Regan Undercover Cop Thrillers Book 4) by Stephen Bentley (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
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Kay Castaneda wants to read Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway	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
Jan 24, 2024 05:05PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda wants to read Murder at the Mansion: A Jessie Harper Paranormal Cozy Mystery by K.J. Cornwall (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
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Kay Castaneda is now following Jacqui Murray Author of Survival of the Fittest (Crossroads #1)
Jan 24, 2024 02:55PM · 1 like · like
Kay Castaneda wants to read Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Best Fiction, Best Debut Novel	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
Jan 24, 2024 02:34PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Shark Heart by Emily Habeck <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda wants to read The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Best Fiction	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
Jan 24, 2024 02:34PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda wants to read Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Best Fiction	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
Jan 24, 2024 02:34PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Tom Lake by Ann Patchett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Kay Castaneda wants to read The Unknown Sigrid Undset: Jenny and Other Works by Sigrid Undset	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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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

4192 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

1815 likes

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

1071 likes

Kay’s Year In Books

Kay Castaneda’s Followers (24)

Kay’s Bookshelves

Kay’s Friends (68)

2024 Reading Challenge

Kay Castaneda

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine Editions
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 (24)

Kay Castaneda

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