• Home
  • About
  • Our Authors
  • Children’s Books
    • Nonfiction
    • Fiction
  • Fiction
    • Boxsets
    • Short Stories
    • Anthologies and Collections
    • By Genre
      • Fantasy
      • Historical Fiction
      • Literary Fiction
      • Mystery
      • Romance
        • Contemporary Romance
        • Historical Romance
        • Paranormal Romance
        • Romantic Suspense
        • SF Romance
        • Western Romance
      • Science Fiction
      • Suspense / Thriller
      • Women’s Fiction
      • Young Adult
  • Nonfiction
    • Author Guides
    • Healthy Living
    • Memoir
  • Videos
    • Book Trailers
    • Author Interviews
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Channeling Mothers
by Kimila Kay

May 19, 2022

Silhouette of mother and two boys playing outside as the sunset

As a young girl, I dreamed of getting married and becoming a mother. I grew up with three siblings, a sister and two brothers, but for my future family I simply wanted one of each, a boy, and a girl, oh, and of course the obligatory pets, a dog, and a cat. And to complete my fantasy, I longed for a house, yard, and white picket fence.

My girlhood illusion morphed into a difficult reality when I found myself divorced after six years of marriage, raising two boys on my own. Fortunately, my mother, Rita, had provided a good role model since she too had navigated her own single motherhood journey when my sister and I were toddlers. Like my mother, I eventually remarried, gaining a step-son in the process.

As a child, we are unaware of the sacrifices our mothers make for us. Working two jobs to make ends meet. Skipping meals to ensure their kids have enough to eat. Championing their children’s accomplishments and understanding their failures.

I don’t personally know any mothers who would seek vengeance for harm done to their child, but I know when my son Derrick died due to lack of care by an ER doctor, I had an overwhelming desire for revenge.

Interestingly, before Derrick’s death, I had written Peril in Paradise, showcasing Clara’s struggle between seeking justice or revenge for Ally. And while I’m fairly certain I can’t take someone else’s life; I was surprised to see Clara captured the emotions I went through after my son’s death. Also, Clara endured the humiliation of becoming pregnant by her college boyfriend and choosing to have the child on her own. My mother experienced the same humiliation in high school, and if not for her self-sacrifice, I wouldn’t exist. In creating Clara, I unknowingly shared my experience in losing a child, but I did intentionally weave in my mother’s bravery during a time when unwedded mothers were scorned.

In Malice in Mazatlan (coming 10/22) Katelyn’s mom, along with Stella’s mom, go on Katelyn’s honeymoon after her wedding is cancelled. The two single moms enjoy the Cayman Islands while Katelyn licks her wounds in Mazatlan. I’m sure there are mother’s who would have rushed to support their daughter during her time of crisis, but I love knowing that my mom would have asked the question: “Who’s going on your vacation?” My mother knew I was more than capable in finding solace so I gave this strength to Katelyn, and I know my mom would’ve hated for Stewart to be able to enjoy the Caymans and would have volunteered in a heartbeat to enjoy the non-honeymoon.

Since my preferred genre is suspense, I haven’t found an enduring role for the moms in my books yet, but always try to mention moms and add a little antidote describing how they play a role in my characters’ lives.

Harley Harper’s mom in Redneck Ranch (coming 7/23) is at first appalled at her daughter’s decision to leave her fabulous life in New York city, after being stood up at the altar, for a new life that includes a cast of unruly animals and a handsome sheriff. But once Lilith sees how happy her daughter is and begins to understand Harley’s need for the healing power of her animals and wide open space, Lilith curbs her criticism. I think all mothers have a critical side, whether it’s sharing their disapproval of an outfit or a hairstyle, a career path or lack of ambition. Their choice of a husband or perpetual singledom. Despite my mom’s criticism, I always knew she loved me.

My mom, aka my biggest fan, encouraged me through every word of my writing journey. When I won an award, she’d be the first person to congratulate me and spread the news. And with every rejection letter, Rita offered support and understanding, always reminding me “obstacles are placed in our lives, so we work harder and appreciate our accomplishments even more.”

All mothers’ are unique, including myself. As the mother of boys, you learn to bandage injuries without offering too much comfort. I’m happy to say my surviving sons, Norman and Sean have become wonderful men. And as luck would have it, I recently developed a mother-like relationship with a single mother raising three teenagers on her own. Daughters are definitely different than sons and I feel blessed to have new insight to help me create strong mother/daughter relationships in my books.

Happy Mother’s Day!!!


headshot of Kimila Kay, Windtree Press author
Kimila Kay lives in Donald, Oregon with her husband, Randy, adorable Boston Terrier, Maggie, and feisty black cat, Halle. Her professional accomplishments include three anthologized essays in the CUP OF COMFORT series. In three separate contests, Peril in Paradise, has won two first place awards, and a third-place award in the romantic suspense category. Malice in Mazatlan is scheduled for release in fall of 2022 and Redneck Ranch is tentatively scheduled for early 2023.

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
FollowFollow us
PinterestSave

Blog Archives

view on lake with rainbow near the pine forest on mountain background at sunset

The Role of Religion or Spirituality in Stories

  August 9, 2022
Pink lotus blossom floating on water with a blue cloudy, hazy background

Spirituality in My Stories

  August 4, 2022
Double exposure portrait of a serene woman combined with a photograph of a traveller standing in a doorway of a temple in southeast asia

Belief in Something Beyond One’s Self is Grounding

  August 2, 2022
Group of diverse people holding letter that spell out FAMILY

The Importance of Good Foster Parents

  July 28, 2022
A picture of Mary, as a young woman, with her aunt and uncle

Celebrating Other Types of Parents

  July 26, 2022
Family in silhouette standing ina field facing a sky of purple, yellow, aqua and blue

Not All Families are Made the Same by Paty Jager

  July 21, 2022
silhouettes of a variety of happy, playful adults and children against a green toned park-like background

It Takes A Village

  July 19, 2022
Silhouette of a woman standing up on a motorcycle in the sunset with her arms back.

3 Ways YOU Can Be As Independent as a Biker Babe

  July 14, 2022
Illustration of men and women riding books rodeo style

The Independent Writer

  July 12, 2022
Fay King observes in the 1920s that women now read newspapers, the whole thing

The Importance of Independence

  July 7, 2022
woman jumping above a green meadow, against a blue sky with a multi-colored long scarf trailing behind her

Freedom and Independence to Follow My Dreams

  July 5, 2022
Silhouette of father and daughter holding hands in a field facing a bright orange sunset

My Father Taught Me Purpose

  June 28, 2022
Daughter sitting on sofa, covering her face with hands, turning away from father.

Father-Daughter Relationships Are Not Always Easy

  June 23, 2022
Two hands painted in pride flag colors forming a heart with thumb and index finger at the center

Embracing My Rainbow World

  June 16, 2022
Concept picture of a married gay man with a cut out of the man in the middle, sitting on a park bench with wife with a hand on his leg and son turned away looking out to the park behind

A Timeless Tale

  June 14, 2022
gender symbols interlocked with a variety of colors

Many People No Longer Think of Sexuality or Gender as Binary

  June 9, 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021