Kaily Keyes Headshot

Kaily is a grounded and thoughtful individual who brings a lot of heart to her roles as an author, daughter, and child of God. During her time on Coffee on the Couch, she spoke with sincerity and clarity, sharing insights into how her faith has shaped her writing and her approach to life. Growing up in a close-knit family, Kaily’s deep connection to her faith has been a guiding force, and this foundation is evident in the stories she creates as an author.

As a guest, Kaily’s calm demeanor and openness made for an engaging conversation. She spoke about the challenges of balancing her writing with her faith and personal life, offering a relatable and down-to-earth perspective. Her honesty and reflections on her journey as a writer gave listeners a glimpse into the thoughtful person she is, both in her work and in her everyday life.

Relative excerpts from the podcast:

Chris (The Host):
Welcome to another captivating episode of Coffee on the Couch, where we dive deep into faith, storytelling, and the creative journey. I’m thrilled to have Kaily Keyes with us today, a talented author behind Forgiveness That Rewards and Love That Counts, as well as other books.

In this episode, we’ll explore the fascinating intersection of faith and narrative in Kaily Keyes’ writing journey. Join us as we uncover the inspiration behind her characters, the influence of homesteading on her settings, and much more.

So, welcome, Kaily.

Kaily (The Guest):
Thank you.
__________
Chris (The Host):
In Forgiveness That Rewards, you explore the theme of forgiveness in a deeply personal way. How did your own experiences with faith guide the development of Katharina Klint’s character?

Kaily (The Guest):
Well, when I first started writing, I didn’t really know how to develop characters or anything. So I related Katharina’s character to my own in a lot of ways—how I would respond to different things. But I was also able to enhance some of her traits, just by adding a little magic to it.

Chris (The Host):
Nice. So you can say there’s a little bit of you in the book?

Kaily (The Guest):
Yeah, there’s probably a little of me in there, yeah.

Chris (The Host):
Well, that’s neat. I was actually talking to someone not too long ago, a publisher, and we were discussing his book. He said, “You’ve navigated the bipolar world for a bit and apparently successfully. You ought to write your own book.” I told him, “Well, it’s funny you mention that because I’ve actually toyed with the idea of writing a book—more like an autobiography.” And he said, “Oh, well, that works too. Writing from your own experience is powerful.”

How has the homesteading lifestyle influenced the settings and characters in your books, particularly in Love That Counts?

Kaily (The Guest):
I think because I have experience on a homestead and a farm, and I grew up here, it naturally influenced my writing. My characters—like the family—are set on a homestead. It’s mainly because that’s what I grew up knowing, and I like writing about things I’m familiar with.

kaily’s links:

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