Kendra Broekhuis
Author Interview - Kendra Broekhuis
Author of Between You and Us
Two possible lives to live. One impossible choice to make.
When Leona Warlon heads across the city to meet her husband, David, for a rare dinner out, she hopes they can share a moment of relief after their year of loss. But Leona quickly realizes this is no ordinary date night. She hasn’t just stepped into an upscale ristorante; she’s stepped into a different version of her life. One in which her marriage is no longer tender, in which her days are pressured by her powerful in-laws, and in which her precious baby girl lived.
Now Leona must weigh the bitter and sweet of both trajectories, facing an unimaginable choice: Stay in a world where tragedy hasn’t struck but where the meaningful life she built with David is gone? Or return to a reality that’s filled with struggle and sorrow but also deep and enduring love?
Author Interview - Kendra Broekhuis
Author I draw inspiration from:
Taylor Jenkins Reid. I loved "Daisy Jones and the Six." The fact that she wrote an entire novel written as an interview blew my mind. While reading it, I had to Google *several times* if the book was about a real band because everything about the story felt so real. I appreciate how Jenkins Reid pushed boundaries by formatting her story like that, and I hope it encourages me to push my own boundaries as an author too. I've loved a lot of her books, and in my opinion it's because she is able to write such realistic characters alongside entertaining plot lines.
Author Interview - Kendra Broekhuis | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
The beach. I'm a hot-weather, sunshine-loving person stuck in the cold Midwest because my family lives here and I love them dearly. But if I could, I would take beach vacations every winter and spend most of that time reading. For now, I'll settle for reading next to Lake Michigan during my summers--while teaming up with my husband to keep an eye on our four little kids, of course. And, in the winter, curling up in a blanket on the reclining couch. Also boujee.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
The very first character who came to mind was Eleanor Oliphant from the book "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman. I should probably be more concerned about finding a character who could break us out of the elevator and save us--maybe a Katniss Everdeen type--but I would actually want to hear all of Eleanor's brutally honest commentary about being stuck in an elevator. I hope that if I was the only other person in there with her, her anti-social character would be willing to tolerate at least some social interaction from me too.
Author Interview - Kendra Broekhuis | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I didn't know I wanted to become an author when I was little, but one thing I look back on now is the way my teachers noticed those gifts and created so much space for me to explore them. My 2nd grade and 5th grade teachers let me do so much free writing and drawing and storytelling and playwriting. I also remember my 6th grade teacher reading a section of my story out loud to the class once and saying it gave her the shivers. Back then I thought, "That's kind of cool." Now I think, "They were encouraging a side of me I didn't even know I was going to really care about some day!"
But more recently than my youth, about 13 years ago, I moved overseas and started a blog because that was "the cool thing to do" when one moved overseas. And then, I left elementary education to become a stay-at-home-mom and continued to write and blog and post on social media. About three years after that, I realized I wanted to pursue writing professionally. For me, writing wasn't love-at-first sight, which can be a fun trope. But I like my "love story" with the craft and how it's slowly, faithfully grown over time too.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Hardback: It's sturdy, and I don't worry about wrecking its library-wrapped, plastic covering when I take it in my carry-on. I *love* hardback covers and that I can lay it open on my lap to read it while holding a bowl of ice cream. I can't seem to think of any dislikes about hardbacks except for, sometimes, the price. Long live hardbacks!
Paperbacks: I worry that it will be torn up by my children or spilled on and wrinkled. However, I also like that when it's already torn up and wrinkled a little bit, I can worry less about being the first to tear it up and wrinkle it. It's like, you don't want to be the *first one* to mess a book up, but once it's already messed up by someone else, there's less pressure to keep it pristine. Moral of the story: always be the second person to mess a book up, not the first.
Ebook: Similarly to my love for hardbacks is my dislike for ebooks. Yes, I agree they're environmentally friendly and space-saving, but I spend so much time staring at computers for my work that I love holding books with pages in my hands to read.
Audiobooks: ROAD TRIPS!!! My family does a lot of driving to visit our other family, so audiobooks make those hours a lot more enjoyable by hearing a story truly come alive. I also love putting on audiobooks for longer errand runs with my kids because it's a way to douse the fires between siblings in the back of the minivan. This might be strange to say, but the only downside to audiobooks is that they make noise. When I get a chance to rest and read, I prefer silence so that I can decompress.
The last book I read:
The last book I read was "An American Immigrant" by Johanna Rojas Vann, and I loved it! It's about a Colombian American journalist who takes a writing assignment in Colombia. There, she discovers her mom's journal that details her border crossing as well as her new, difficult life of starting over in the U.S. The book was based on true events, which I find touching and so generous of Rojas Vann to share. I also appreciate books that give me a peek into experiences that I'm unfamiliar with, and "An American Immigrant" delivered that through a gripping story!
Author Interview - Kendra Broekhuis | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I prefer my computer over pen & paper because I often feel pushed to be as efficient as possible with my writing time. (My three-year-old is still at home with me during the day, so my writing time is during naps and in the evenings after all four are in bed.) When I'm trying to take notes during a class on craft or brainstorming with a group of people, I like using pen and paper because it makes me slow down and think through what's being said in a way that will stick in my brain longer.
But, I am very much a "plotter," and so before I start writing my novel, I typically have roughly fifty pages of notes includes research on various topics, thoughts on all my characters, a chronological timeline, and an outline of what will be in each chapter. Though that kind of outlining takes a long time at the front end, it helps me write faster when it's time to flesh out the story into 90,000ish words. And, I like having it all computerized so that I can quickly search through it to find what I'm looking for.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Without overthinking this question, I chose Mark Watney from "The Martian" by Andy Weir. I appreciate being around people who have a sense of humor because it can be helpful for enduring things in life that are truly un-funny. And what's un-funnier than being stuck on Mars all by yourself but still being able to think funny things to get you through the day? So, thank you to author Andy Weir, for creating such a funny, determined, intelligent, enjoyable character for readers who I also think I would enjoy being friends with.
Author Interview - Kendra Broekhuis | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
If I weren't an author, I'd probably go back to teaching elementary education. I loved teaching first graders. And, before I knew I wanted to be an author, my favorite part of teaching first graders was doing writer's workshop. The stuff kids can come up with when they're given only a little writing instruction and a lot of time to create is inspiring, hilarious, and such a joyful experience!
Favorite decade in fashion history:
I am not gifted in fashion like, at all. I'm also sensitive to fabrics and cold temperatures. So, I love the decade 2023, because in the Midwest it's socially acceptable to wear "fancy" casual wear and be considered dressed up enough. I could purchase multiple pairs of the same buttery-soft joggers and wear them with different "nice sweatshirts" every day and call it good. Oh wait, this is exactly how I live my life.
Place I’d most like to travel:
I'd love to visit Spain, or go on a Mediterranean cruise, or sleep in one of those huts that stick out of the water in Bora Bora. (I am not picky, so I'll let my husband know he can get me any one of these for my next birthday and I'd be happy.) All of these sound like beautiful, interesting places that at least during certain times of year would also be warm.
My signature drink:
Coffee in the AM. Blackberry wine in the PM.
Favorite artist:
I'm a Swiftie. But in regards to other art forms, like the art of writing, I really love artists who write sketch comedy. I love Saturday Night Live and all the clever ways that pop culture and everyday life are put into hilarious skits.
Number one on my bucket list:
I really enjoy hiking and was able to hike a couple volcanoes while I lived in Guatemala. I'd love to hike another really tall mountain or volcano again - though I haven't thought more specifically about where.
Find more from the author:
www.instagram.com/kendrabroekhuis
www.facebook.com/kendrabroekhuisauthor
About Kendra Broekhuis:
Kendra Broekhuis lives in the city of Milwaukee with her family. For her day job, Kendra stays home with four of her children and drives them from one place to another in her minivan. You can find her sarcastic ramblings and serious encouragement—including her grief over losing her baby at thirty-three weeks pregnant—on social media and at her website. Between You and Us is her first novel.
