GENERAL QUESTIONS                                                                                                    

“You’ve lived in so many countries—what shaped you the most?” Every place left its imprint, but my heartbeat has always been Ethiopia. I lived there during my most formative years, and it shaped my identity in profound ways. The people, the culture, the resilience—it never left me. In many ways, it’s still home.

“What was it like growing up with a CIA father and a bohemian mother?” It was my normal. Structured discipline on one side, free-spirited creativity on the other. It wasn’t until I returned to the U.S. that I realized not everyone grows up navigating that kind of contrast… or outrunning a warthog. It gave me adaptability, perspective, and a sense that “normal” is always relative.

BOOK-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

“What is Every Family Has a Kenny about?” This book is about growing up in extremes and learning that no matter how extraordinary life looks from the outside, every family carries something, and there’s strength in that.

“Why did you decide to write this book now?” It was time, and it was a long time in the making. I spent decades in marketing telling stories for corporations, celebrities, and athletes. Now, for the first time, I’m telling my own story. Going back to Ethiopia was the closure I needed.

EXPERIENCE QUESTIONS

“You’ve witnessed coups, disasters, and historic moments—what stands out most?” Being in the Philippines during the First Quarter Storm against President Ferdinand Marcos, when an angry mob surrounded our car, threw rocks and rotten tomatoes, and rocked it on its wheels. Up until that moment, every Filipino I had met had been warm and kind to my family. What struck me was realizing their anger was not toward us, but we were still in the crosshairs. They were fighting their own government. As a child, it was my first real understanding of how powerful collective anger can be, and it shaped a deep sense of empathy I carry with me to this day.

“What’s the most surreal moment of your life?” There are many, but one stands above the rest. As an 8-year old child in Rome, I witnessed a hijacked plane, taken by Palestinian rebels, explode next to me. It was one of those moments where reality does not feel real, and yet it stays with you forever.

ADVOCACY & IMPACT QUESTIONS

“You’ve worked on legislative change—what drove that?” My advocacy began with animal safety and environmental protection, values rooted in my family. My parents instilled compassion for animals, and my grandfather, an early environmentalist and eco– logger, taught me the responsibility of protecting what we leave behind and the importance of planting trees. But the turning point was personal. When my son survived a hit and run and lost part of his foot, anger became action. I channeled that into changing laws to protect other families. That is when my voice found its purpose.

“Do you see yourself as an activist as well as an author?” Absolutely. Storytelling raises awareness, but action creates change. I believe everyone has something they care deeply about, and when people step into that, real progress happens. If more of us used our voices with purpose, the world would be a better place.

CHALLENGING QUESTIONS

“Was your upbringing more chaotic than enriching?” Looking back, it was both. There were moments of chaos, but they came with an extraordinary education in cultures, perspectives, and resilience. In the end, it was far more enriching than anything else, and that is a gift.

“Was writing the book therapeutic or difficult?”  YES—both!  It was incredibly therapeutic, but that does not mean it was easy. Some parts were hard to revisit, but working through them also brought clarity, release, and a sense of peace.

RELATABILITY QUESTIONS

“Why will readers see themselves in your story?” Because it holds a little bit of everything, and that is what life is. Love, loss, humor, heartbreak, resilience. No matter where you come from, there is a moment in this story that will feel familiar.

“What does ‘Every Family Has a Kenny’ mean for everyday people?” It means no family is perfect, and every family has that one person or moment that challenges everything. It is about the dynamics we all recognize, the imperfections we live with, and the way those experiences ultimately shape who we become.

AUTHOR & CRAFT QUESTIONS

“How long did it take you to write this book?” Too many years. I would start and stop, balancing it with being a working mom and putting life first. For a long time, returning to Ethiopia felt like something I would do someday. When I finally went back, it gave me a sense of closure and clarity. I knew it was time to take my writing seriously. It also helped having a supportive husband who said, finish your damn story.

“What was your writing process like?” It was very organic. Many chapters began as simple bullet points of moments or themes I wanted to capture chronologically. I would email myself notes when away from my computer, often at the most unexpected times. Looking through old diaries and family photos also unlocked memories and emotions that helped bring the chapters to life.

BONUS: QUESTIONS

“What makes your story different?” It is not just one story, it is a life lived across cultures, crises, and deeply personal moments. It blends global events with intimate experiences in a way that shows how the extraordinary and the everyday exist side by side.

“What do you want readers to take away?” That even in the most complicated or painful situations, there’s strength and often more resilience than we realize. We learn more about ourselves and lessons from the hard days.