WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MARCH 17-23, 2021 UCW 15
Local author shares writing
strategies
by AUDREY HOGUE
By age 90, most people are sett-
ling into their twilight years resting,
relaxing and enjoying time free from
work commitments. Donald Kemp
is not most people. Kemp keeps busy
with writing projects, a passion that
began more than five decades ago.
A Fayetteville resident for 40 years,
Kemp is originally from Michigan.
His serious writing began in 1968
with a series of articles in a Rochester
City newspaper about his own heart
bypass surgery. The articles lead to
his first published book "I Live With
A Mended Heart." At the time of his
surgery, Cleveland Clinic was the
only place to get have the procedure.
Kemp's book was inspired by his own
procedure and his life in recovery.
Kemp has also produced other
works such as articles for maga-
zines and newspapers during his
time living in Michigan. As well as
writing, Kemp explored his story-
telling ability by directing plays in
California, which he describes as "an
explosion of emotion to see what is in
your mind come to life on a stage."
His first full-length novel,
"Rendering," is a mystery thriller
published in 2016. The inspiration
behind this novel was a newspaper
article about three inches high. The
book took Kemp seven years to write.
The book developed over time while
he was participating in a writing
group that met every two weeks. The
group would "toss chapters over the
hot coals," Kemp recalls as a way of
challenging authors. Since that expe-
rience, Kemp said he chooses to stick
to shorter books and writing projects.
His next book "Senior Touring
Society," was published in 2018. It is
a comedy about elders going to and
from a stage play.
Kemp has also written three chil-
dren's books, specifically for his
grandchildren. He wrote them each
year that his military son was sta-
tioned at Fort Bragg so that he could
read them to his grandchildren at
Christmas.
With two books waiting to be
published, Kemp doesn't plan to
slow down any time soon. He said he
has a bunch of stories and ideas that
he keeps organized on little slips of
paper around his office.
Kemp offers one steadfast rule for
aspiring authors: make time to write
every day. "Even if it is one hour, or
just writing notes, writing every day
will get your ideas down on paper."
Kemp also offers a tip he learned
from reading one of his writing
inspirations, Ernest Hemingway.
Known for his economic prose,
Hemmingway's writing is minima-
list with few adverbs or adjectives.
Hemmingway made a special effort
to write in simple and direct langua-
ge. Kemp said he tries to follow that
philosophy too.
Kemp's book are available online
in e-book and soft cover formats. For
more information visit https://don-
kempauthor.com/
Editor April Olsen contributed to
this article.
AUDREY HOGUE, Up & Coming
Weekly Intern. COMMENTS? Editor@
upandcomingweekly.com 910-484-
6200.
Donald Kemp
LITERATURE
FREE HEALTH CARE • for uninsured Adults
call 910.485.0555