Reviewer Joseph Valentinetti: Joseph was born in New York City and lives in California. He is a writer, poet, interviewer & reviewer. He also produces Video Book Trailers and contributes various items to several online sources and forums. His dog will vouch for him, if needed.
Today, Joseph Valentinetti, one of Bookpleasures' reviewers is talking with
Kimberly “Kimba” Dalferes. Kimba Dalferes is a native Floridian,
but currently pretends to be a Virginian. She considers among her
chief accomplishments to be scoring a Chinese vase for $1, landing a
35 lb King salmon, & writing a book.
Here's a brief synopsis of that book, I Was In Love With a Short Man Once, is an essay collection written from the perspective of a crazy, southern, Irish gal. The author reflects on: growing up as a child of limited means in South Florida; managing a self-financed college education; balancing work as a federal official with the joys of single motherhood; and navigating the amusing challenges of being a second-time-around wife. The book carries the reader through three distinct timeframes.
Joseph:
Tell me Kimba, what is the most overrated virtue?
Kimba:
Well, if we’re talking about the Seven Catholic Virtues, I would have to say that chastity is not my favorite. Abstaining from anything your whole life seems a bit over the top to me. And, abstaining from sex… forever… no thank you.
Joseph:
What is the one thing other people always seem to get wrong about you?
Kimba:
People always seem to be shocked to find out that I have size 11 feet. This is very perplexing. Why would I lie about the size of my feet; and if I did lie, wouldn’t I make them smaller??
Joseph:
If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
Kimba:
Men would get child birth. Of course, the human race would be extinct the first time a guy ever had to endure a menstrual cramp.
Joseph:
What pet peeve do you have about other people?
Kimba:
I’m really not good with passive/aggressiveness. Also, no cleaning your ears in public; that’s just gross.
Joseph:
Is there any occasion when it’s OK to lie?
Kimba:
It’s always OK to lie about someone else’s baby. I don’t care if it’s the ugliest baby you have ever set eyes on; when in doubt you can always just say “that’s a fine baby.”
Joseph:
Who is the audience for this book?
Kimba:
This book is most likely to appeal to women, probably in the over forty demographic. However, one of my biggest fans has been a middle-aged guy who really related to the stories about my husband, especially the one entitled: Rubberbands.
Joseph:
What benefits can a reader get from your work?
Kimba:
Life is short and it’s OK to show your behind every once in awhile. When you’ve reached an age when you can look back with some perspective, you are always going to remember situations that ended up being stupid and funny. Embrace those memories and tell your stories proudly.
Joseph:
What surprising things did you learn while writing this book?
Kimba:
How hard it is to write dialogue. Especially when I was writing stories about my son - it was very difficult to convey his voice as a young child.
Joseph:
How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
Kimba:
I spend some time in the book discussing what it means to be a southern writer. Being southern can be, more than anything else, a state of mind. It’s not just about geography. I was raised in the South, but I also have Irish roots. Both of my grandmothers - one Irish, the other Southern – certainly influenced who I am and how I write or tell a story.
Joseph:
Where do you live and how does that influence your writing?
Kimba:
Currently I live in Virginia, and that definitely helps me continue to connect with my southern sensibilities. However, I must say that growing up in Florida and spending the first 30 years of my life there absolutely influenced my particular feelings about wealth and class values. One of the stories in the book, Flagpole, describes what it’s like to grow up near the ocean and near the affluence of Palm Beach. I think that geography significantly influenced how I view the world.
Joseph:
Do you prefer fermented or distilled?
Kimba:
Oh I’m definitely a whiskey gal. Red wine gives me a headache.
Joseph:
If you have a career outside of writing how does it fit into your life as a writer?
Kimba:
As a day job I own a project management and public policy consulting firm with my husband. I often manage public policy projects that require writing. For example, I recently served as the Editor of a monthly project newsletter that focused on rural methamphetamine issues. Both writing and running your own firm require good time management and a bit of discipline. Luckily, I’m a Virgo so I instinctively obsess over
Joseph:
Thanks Kimba and good luck with your book
