Valerie Kent is represented by Pump Up Your Book Promotion, an innovative public relations agency specializing in online book promotion.
Valerie Kent is the author of the memoir/self-help book, Gracious Living on Social Security. We interviewed Valerie to find out more about her new book and her life as a published author.
Thank you for this interview, Valerie. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?
Mine has been a long process. Born in England, I was married young to an American Air Force officer who became a businessman. We raised three children. A combination of alcohol and authoritarianism finally broke up my marriage at 46, after which I began my higher education – seven universities – and emerged as a drug and alcohol counselor for troubled women and ultimately a college teacher of non-traditional students.
I remarried late and very happily and at that point began to take my writing seriously.
At what point in your life did you make up your mind you were going to become a published author?
My career has stretched out over eight decades. I got serious about writing when I first arrived in St. Petersburg during the eighties and took a course in creative writing from the renowned poet and short story writer Peter Meinke. Since then I have been working on journals and autobiographical material.
Was there anyone in your life that you can give credit to for helping pave the way?
Several friends inspired me, and the encouragement of my new husband, Rick, recharged my writing energies.
What is your favorite book at present?
I have recently been impressed by Jane Fonda’s My Life So Far, and her repeated efforts to rebuild her complicated existence.
Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Article comments
1 - Cheryl Malandrinos
I've read this book and I was surprised that so much of the information Val shares could be used by people in any age group, even though the book is targeted at golden agers.
Cheryl