Phyllis Kerr Interview Published on: 19, Apr 2021
Which is your fondest memory while growing up in Houston, Texas?
When I was six years old, my family moved to a new house in a new subdivision. For a few years, our street ran along the southwest boundary of that side of the city. We were surrounded by dirt hills from previous construction, a large drainage ditch rich with squiggling crawfish, producing corn fields, and all the snakes, turtles, and fire flies we could catch. We ran barefoot and free in what we thought was a fantasy land, perfect for growing imaginations.
Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?I was in the Library at school. I remember it being second grade which seems too young, but that is the memory. The teacher gave us reluctant readers three minutes to find a book to read for class. I was desperate. No book ever looked good to me. Then a red binding caught my eye and changed my whole concept of reading. I grabbed the copy of Pride and Prejudice and ran to the check-out desk. I don’t know if my mother read it to me or how I got through it, I just remember being carried away to a fascinating world where women wore pretty clothes and spoke in a pretty language. I fell in love with reading.
While growing up did you, in any way, have any embarrassing moments?I was a small, quiet girl. Everything was embarrassing.
What are some useful tips for students starting their first semester at the University of Houston?Do your assigned reading. Express your own opinions in class. Be sure to copy edit all writing.
What does creative writing mean to you?I taught a high school creative writing class. I asked that question every day. Every day we sought the answer to it. Very elusive.
Who inspired the character of eighteen-year-old Sugar Wylie in "Wildcat: A Texas Romance”?Sugar is herself and a combination of some of the sassiest little girls I could conjure up.
How long did it take you to write your book, Runaway Heart: A Texas Romance?I wrote the first draft with a pencil and a hundred (?) or so yellow legal pads. I finally invested in an electric pencil eraser and finished the first draft in about a year.
Who was the first reader that reached out to you? What did they say and how did you respond?My first reader was my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Pepper. She didn’t like me. Said I talked too much. So I was shocked when she read a story I had just written one day in class. She gave praise to a metaphor I had written and I had never heard of a metaphor before. It just belonged in the story. I wrote,
“The clouds were as black as the pancakes Ma’ had made for breakfast that morning.” She was so nice and impressed. I was shocked, but more importantly, I had learned a new tool for writing.
How can anyone be a responsible cat owner?Have your pets spayed or neutered. Keep all vaccinations current.
In what ways has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature helped you in your writing career?I have an ocean of stories to inform me.
Should an aspiring published writer get a college degree in creative writing?Yes, at least take one class. You will learn about writing, writers and yourself.
What are the most important things we need to teach our children early in their life?Love each other. Be kind. Learning is fun.
What is the greatest "story of your life" you want to tell your great-grandchildren so they also tell their great-grandchildren?How I learned money was not the most important thing in life.
What are your plans for the future as a writer? Are you working on anything new?I plan to continue writing as I always have. Writing is fun. I am exploring the mystery genre.
When did you join AllAuthor? How has your experience been?I joined about six months ago. I think it is a classy, nicely run website and I thank all of you for your support! :)
