Kevin OConnor Author Bio:
Kevin O’Connor enjoys chronicling the stories of families and friends through tracing genealogical histories, writing, and picture collections. His prior writing includes personal letters, articles in professional publications, dissertations, anthologies, and presentations delivered at conferences, seminars, and webinars. He brings people together personally and professionally. Collaborating with friends and relatives, he plans family and class reunions. He sings and performs in theaters. He is active with SMART Ride, a bicycling group that rides annually from Miami to Key West, raising funds for HIV awareness, treatments, and education. He was an elementary teacher, principal, professor, and curriculum coordinator in California, Illinois, and Florida from 1973-2020. In his final educational position, he authored content and provided training in areas including support for substitute teachers, LGBTQ advocacy, and Sexual Health/Family Life. He resides in Ft. Lauderdale with his husband, Leon. Their family includes five sons and seven granddaughters. He references further connections to this book, continues his stories, and highlights perspectives about his interests at www.kevinoconnorauthor.com
What inspires you to write?
I am inspired to write through ideas that percolate continuously in my brain of current and past events. I am also inspired by the stories of ancestors revealed through their written letters, what I learn about them from ancestry sites, and how they fit into our family lineage. The work of other authors also inspires me. I keep collaborating with them. My writing is enhanced through the conversations I have with other authors.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am an outliner for articles and books. I am a seat of the pants when I write for journals, posts on social media, and written correspondence. There are many steps before the outline. I craft my idea, my premise, and my mission in writing. Then, I put ideas related to those premises and missions on sticky notes. I write one idea per sticky note. I stick these notes to a larger poster-size paper mounted on the wall in my office. I sort ideas into sections or themes. Eventually, I have 100s of sticky notes arranged into categories and subcategories. These ideas become my outline. Once I have a beginning and end to my outline, I write based on the system.
Who are your favorite authors?
Evan Fallenberg(Night Fell), Chasten Buttigieg (I Have Something to Tell You, Pete Buttigieg(Shortest Way Home), Seth Rudetsky (Musical Theater for Dummies), Brandon Wolf (A Place for Us), Jazz Jennings (Being Jazz)
What genres do you write?
Memoir
How did you choose the genre(s) you write?
I like to write about and from personal experiences.
What three things are on your writing desk at any given moment?
Post it notes, pens, files
What hobbies do you have when you need a break from writing?
Walking, travel, time with friends,
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Home Page Link
Follow On Amazon
Link to Author Page on
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
