Interview with Larry Kimport

Author of (2) At The Table Of Want, (and) A Small Harvest Of Pretty Days

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I grew up in north central Pennsylvania, but have resided in New Jersey for 37 years.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I returned home from a Peace Corps assignment in SE Asia and visited a friend in NJ, then found a job in NJ and then my wife. It’s been home ever since.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I have played with writing since college. My first book, A SMALL HARVEST OF PRETTY DAYS, was a love story toward the valley I grew up in North Central, PA, and toward my love for Twain’s masterpiece of The Adventures of Huck…. My second novel grew from my living in SE Asia for two years, and wondering what a NJ boy from the “Pines” might have experienced there.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

Honest and caring about our neighbors, and how real their lives are too.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Anyone who cares. I’ve found that middle-aged women tend to like my books.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

It’s hard to do. It’s a lovely, private thing to do. Some men golf, others hunt, and I sometimes write.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Keep journals of your thoughts. Who knows?

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Anyone.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Being honestly read.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

a. I can write. Letter “c” is tough.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Marketing.

When do you think you will write your next book?

Working on it now. Maybe done in a year. I take my time.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I think hybrid. I did contribute a couple of hundred bucks – but NOT thousands!