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Kerr-Ann Dempster
was born in Jamaica, where she spent her adolescence writing and performing
plays. After moving to the United States, she earned her bachelor's degree in
Marketing from Loyola University, Chicago. She then worked as a Flight
Attendant and a Visual Operations Leader. Kerr-Ann is also the owner of Ink
City Books, the umbrella under which she pursues her self-publishing efforts.
She now resides in Chicago, IL and Traverse City, MI.
Welcome Ker-Ann
Favorite childhood
memory:
My favorite memory
is being at home with my sisters and mom during a blackout. We spent the entire
evening telling jokes, re-enacting our favorite movie scenes, and playing
games. My sisters still request my Steve Urkel impersonation at every family
event.
About your
education:
I attended primary
and high school in Jamaica. I sat CXCs and A-Levels in business and general
courses. I completed two years at the University of Technology in Jamaica,
focusing on Marketing. After moving to the U.S., I attended Loyola University.
There, I studied Marketing and Operations Management, as well as Information
Systems. The courses were fun, but I was mostly intrigued by the creative
writing courses I took. They gave me the confidence to begin writing longer
stories.
What
languages you can speak and write?
I speak and write
English. I also speak patois, Jamaica’s local dialect.
What is your biggest
source of inspiration in life?
The people I meet.
I spend a lot of time observing the people around me — paying attention to how
they speak, their gestures, their quirks. It helps me to write more grounded
and realistic characters. This is especially important since I write in the
fantasy and paranormal genre.
What hurts you most
in this world?
Our disregard for each
other. There is so much beauty in this world, but it is marred by hate. I
believe that each person should define and enjoy their own life, without fear
of ridicule and violence.
If you
had to live a day of your life as one of the living or dead personality, who
would it be and why?
J. R. R. Tolkien.
He has an incredibly creative mind, and knowing how his mind works would make
me a better writer.
What is
your favorite genre and why?
I love the fantasy
genre, especially novels written for young adults. I read for escape, and I
write for those seeking escape too. In young adult novels the characters face
many challenges, but they also possess an innocence that I will never get back.
When
did you start writing? What is the purpose of your writing?
I started
journaling at a very early age. I filled my journal with stories of a fictional
Kerr-Ann, who solved mysteries with Nancy Drew, married Joe Hardy, and had time
to solve world hunger. Later, I began writing poetry and plays, and eventually
I found the courage to write a full-length novel.
The need to write
has always been there. For as long as I can remember, stories have been buzzing
around my head, begging to get out. Keeping them inside was never an option.
Which
of your work has been published so far? Would you like to share a synopsis of
your work?
My novel, Beneath
Scarlett Valley, is now available. It is book one of three.
Blurb:
Death or
Immortality … Cassidy chose death. Cassidy Daniels hates being a Furor. First,
there is the hellish rage that storms through her veins, urging her to kill.
Then there is the gnawing guilt, the nightmares, and the pretense.
Unfortunately, her sister wants to be immortal. To do so, she needs Cassidy's
help to find the Source, an ancient pool hidden beneath Scarlett Valley. When
they arrive in Scarlett, Cassidy intends to find the Source and get out, but
then she meets Sebastian. Everything about him makes her rethink her choice.
There is just one problem. The choice between death and immortality is no
longer Cassidy's to make. There are pretenders everywhere, with dark pasts and
even darker plans.
*Read the first two
chapters here: http://tinyurl.com/beneathscarlett
What
are your forthcoming writings?
My novel, Cornered,
will be available in December. Book two of the Scarlett Valley Series will be
available in August 2015.
What four things do
you take care of while writing a book?
· Planning:
I cannot stress
this enough. Before writing, it is crucial to plan. I plan every scene and
dialogue. Plans change of course, but understanding every element of my story
allows for better writing.
· Character
development:
I like to know
everything about my character, even things that have nothing to do with the
novel itself. It allows for more rounded and unique characters.
· Pacing:
Pace can make or
break your novel. You have to maintain a certain rhythm that excites and
engages your audience.
· Research:
It is impossible to
know everything about everything, so getting the facts is important. It only
takes one reader to point out that you’re wrong, to make others lose confidence
in you.
Is a high level of
imagination important to have for an Author?
For fiction
writers, yes! I have never met a fellow author who doesn’t spend their every
moment creating stories in their head. I can’t imagine it being any other way.
Your
dream destination on Earth?
I’ve traveled to
every destination on my bucket list. As this point in my life, my dream
destination is home. For now, I just want to have roots. I want to get to know
my neighbors and my community.
What is
the last book you finished reading? What is the current book you are reading?
I just finished
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. I am currently reading Empath by Becca J.
Campbell.
Your
favorite book and why?
The Hobbit. The
level of detail is mind blowing. I read it every summer.
What is
the biggest challenge you have faced? How did you overcome it?
My biggest
challenge was losing my childhood best friend, O’Neil. O’Neil and I competed
all through primary and high school, trying to outdo each other in academics.
Each time I accomplish a goal or reach a milestone, I think about him. I find
myself wondering where he would be and what he would think of my
accomplishments. There is no overcoming his death. Instead, I try to do well
for both of us. My successes are not just for me anymore, they are for O’Neil
too.
What
comes to your mind when you think of India?
Amazing food, rich
culture, and technology.
Some quickies:
· Sun or Moon: Moon
· Laughter or Smile:
Laughter
· Morning or Evening:
Evening
· Coffee or Tea: Tea
· Mountain or Sea:
Sea
· Long Drive or Short
Drive: Long drive
· Silence or
Conversation: Silence
· Left or Right: Left
· Glance or Stare:
Glance
What three words
come to your mind for each?
· Humanity: Purpose,
Hope, Ambition
· Love: Family,
Faith, Country
· Childhood Abuse:
Anger, Confusion, Compassion
Favorite quote:
“Decide what to be
and go be it.” It’s from the song, Head full of doubts/Road full of promises by
the Avett Bros.
The last line of
your autobiography would be:
“She lived well.”
Kerr-Ann on the
web:
· Twitter handle:
@annk3rr
· Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kerranndempster
· Goodreads author
page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8427979.Kerr_Ann_Dempster
· Author website: http://www.kdempster.com/
· Amazon link:
o Amazon.US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ME9VKUO
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