Page 41 - September 2019
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LEANNA LISTENS
Meet Ken Coomes
Leanna Lindquist, DTM
Ken Coomes originally joined Toastmasters in 2011. He currently is a
member of Daylighters and TV Toastmasters. I first met Ken when I was
a member of Daylighters.
What brought you to Toastmasters? What can you
I didn’t think I needed Toastmasters, but tell me about your guests?
a friend of mine was trying to get enough We’ve had Kate Ristau, an excellent local author
members to charter a club, and I said I would who writes in the YA genre. She’s also President
help out. Boy, was I wrong (about not needing of the Willamette Writer’s Group. One of our
Toastmasters.) I went from being somewhat local independent publishers, Author Ben
comfortable with public speaking to being a Gorman of Not a Pipe Publishing broke ground
more confident and improved public speaker. for publishers everywhere when he chose to
Even better than that, my wife loves the fact publish only female authors for a year. Historical
that I learned to be a better listener through the non-fiction writer John Bronson and Naomi
program. Inman, professional writer and PR Princess
were on the show. I interviewed Heather Ames,
Tell us about The Write Stuff TV program outstanding mystery writer, and Marvin Mitchell,
As a member of TV Toastmasters I turned my wordsmith extraordinaire, who published a
sometimes host role into my own segment, The children’s book. We have more authors lined up,
Write Stuff. It focuses exclusively on writers from a variety of genres. I hope to get at least one
and those in the industry. I bring authors, agent on the show, perhaps a reviewer, an editor,
professional writers, publishers – anyone in the and a representative of a traditional publishing
writing industry – on the show and we talk about house. The Write Stuff is still young, and I have
all things writing. If anyone reading this writes big plans for the show.
or serves in the industry in some capacity, and
wants to appear on the show, please let me know. What is it like to be a published author?
My email address is lupusgnome@hotmail. Until you’re on the best-seller list, maybe
com (or lupusgnome@gmail.com), cell phone even afterward, writing is a labor of love. It was
503-515-5747. We have guests lined up through satisfying for me to get my message out there
the rest of 2019, but it’s not too early to line up for others to read. Once I did that, I received fan
a spot for next year. mail, and that is amazing. I received emails from
VOICES! | SEPTEMBER 2019 41
