Bio
Author Keyundra Thompson is a single mother from small-town Arkansas. She is both a special needs and medical mom, as well as a former ABA therapist who now works as a special education paraprofessional, life coach, blogger, poet, and author. Her children’s book, Zaire’s Big Feeling About Feeding, highlights her son’s journey with feeding aversions. This book includes interactive family pages and aims to educate readers about children with sensory aversions, provide therapeutic support, teach the importance of a rewards system, and promote awareness of therapies, early intervention, and neurodivergence.
She has also announced the full launch of her first digest publication, which spotlights her home church, New Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Gurdon, as the staple it has long been in Southwest Arkansas. Through this work, she was blessed to pay tribute to members who have been spiritual and cultural trailblazers and who have personally touched her life.
Her third project, titled A Mother’s Call, is set to launch soon. This work is a call-to-response poetic diary with a devotional approach, offering insight into conquering both motherhood and womanhood. Additionally, Keyundra is a lupus warrior, and she continues to thrive in the world of mental health and neurodivergence.
Today, Author K. Thompson as graciously joined us. We’ll discuss her book Secrets To Serenity and listen to highlights of her writing process. Make certain to check out the interview below.
K.W. – Hello, thank you for joining us today. Why don’t you introduce yourself for our readers and tell us about your works.
K. Thompson – My name is Keyundra Thompson. I am a 30-year-old single mom from Gurdon, Arkansas. I have two little angels. My daughter is 7 and my son is 4. I am also a special needs and medical mommy due to my son’s lifelong complexities. Aside from mom life, I am a former Registered Behavior Technician in ABA therapy, now turned special education paraprofessional with the Gurdon School District. I am also a published author and poet, a public and motivational speaker, mental health and neurodivergent life coach, and literary entrepreneur. I attended Ouachita Baptist University, where I studied psychology before having my daughter. Now, with a career change and new ventures, I am furthering my education at Henderson State University by earning my degree in special education. I am a strong advocate for mental health, special needs families, and women’s maternal health. My author journey and my son’s medical journey have both been highlighted on several platforms, including our local KARK and KATV news channels in Arkansas, Gladys Magazine, The Legacy Magazine, The Bold Journey Magazine, and others. I have also had the privilege of speaking on several podcasts, as well as reading and speaking at various church events, library reading days, and youth events.
K.W. – How did you get started? What inspires you?
K. Thompson – I have always been an avid reader and loved to write. Even today, I still consider myself to be a bookworm. I was about 6 or 7 years old when I first began to write music, poetry, and short stories. I’ve always had a very vivid imagination, so that’s always been a huge creative bonus. Also, growing up as a church kid, I was very trained in the public speaking department from birth. A lot of people don’t know that I’ve dealt with stage fright, so I am thankful for those who taught me how to present myself to a crowd, whether I was speaking, singing in the choir, or praise dancing. I am easily inspired by everyday life. I can find the biggest sense of inspiration in the smallest details of life.
K.W. – Can you walk us through your process? How do you approach writing a new book?
K. Thompson – With my children’s book, I wanted to create something real. I wanted the words and pictures alike to touch the readers mentally and emotionally. That is also why I decided to write the book from a child’s perspective. I can speak and advocate all day as a mom, but hearing and seeing what my son goes through from his own eyes would have a bigger impact. I wanted children like him to know that their voices and their feelings matter, and that they are heard loud and clear. Even with making sure the illustrator captures certain things about him, like his big eyes and his emotions showing up, it was critical for this story. History Lane was a simple reflection from my childhood, and my wanting to pay homage to those in my community who I see as cultural trailblazers. I wanted people to know that black history is still huge when it comes from a small southern town. With A Mother’s Call, I wanted a different feel and dynamic. I needed to be healed and encouraged. So I brought my readers along for my healing journey. I wanted to showcase the strength of what happens when women come together from 3 different generations to love on each other and encourage the next. I wanted to showcase different forms of writing and dig deep into the raw truths of womanhood and being a mom. I never approach writing a new book with the idea of “Oh, I want to write a new book”. I am very strong in my faith, and I believe in being spirit-led at all times. My ability to write is a gift, and I honor that by waiting for my spirit man to be intrigued. Sometimes it happens when journaling, reading, watching TV, and sometimes (which is when I feel the most passionate about a project), I get new ideas that come out of thin air. I also free write and jot down story line ideas, but I never actually engage in the writing process with praying and asking God what He needs for me to deliver, no matter the genre.
K.W. – Who or what are your biggest influences? How do you stay inspired and creative?
K. Thompson – People are my inspiration. I have also learned that the things I battle with daily in life weren’t meant for just me. I had to learn to allow my testimony to speak to others, and that has been my biggest influence with a lot of my work. My children also play a huge role in who inspires me. They also enjoy being mommy’s muse. As far as other authors and writers, I could name Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, down to Stephen King, Charlaine Harris, Colleen Hoover, Karen Slaughter, Alexandria House, and Carl Weber. In high school, I was obsessed with the Bluford High book series. I knew then that anything I wrote would have a cultural feel connected to it. I have a very diverse love for literature. I keep my creativity alive by continuing to feed my craft. I grew up in a family full of athletes. Sports weren’t something we did by seasons; it was all year long. Even at a young age, our love for sports and drive for competition was fed by playing against each other, watching sports, and even debating. I use that same mentality when it comes to writing. I study the greats, I set goals for myself as an author, and I research events and awards that I hope to attend and achieve. Motivation drives me. I am also very “Type-A”, so I am constantly pushing myself to the next level.
K.W. – What are some common challenges you face? How do you overcome these challenges?
K. Thompson – I would say my biggest challenge was ME. There was a time when I became so engulfed in mom life, having a special needs and medically complex baby, and raising two kids alone, that I threw myself away. I had to remember who I was, and most importantly, WHOSE I was. I thank God for the isolation of COVID, because it gave me time to do a lot of soul searching. I had to learn to tell myself, “YOU ARE HER!! REMIND THEM OF WHO SHE IS!!”. Once I remember who I am, it’s become easier and easier to regain my confidence to walk in my calling. I’m also a small-town, country girl. So, of course, there will be demographic struggles. You’ll hear people say it all of the time, how you can’t make it in a small town, and how you need to move. I was fortunate to travel the world early in life, and experience things some people from my community could never phantom. What broke my heart was when I had a group of male students who were sixth graders tell me how they didn’t set their goals high, because nobody big came from our town. Some said that was why they wanted to leave. Of course, I gave them a history lesson on the greats from Gurdon, but I knew then that I had to stay home a little longer to show them it could be done.
K.W. – How has the industry changed since you started? What trends do you see emerging?
K. Thompson – I still consider myself to be new to the industry, so I can’t say how it’s changed. To some, I am a part of the change. What I will say is that the whole being present on social media and content-creating thing is new to me. I have always enjoyed playing the background. Having to be seen and in front of the camera is new territory. I have grown to like it. I like being able to network, and I love how social media brings communities of parents whose kids deal with certain complications together. They say it takes a village to raise children, but parents need villages too.
K.W. – What advice would you give to other authors?
K. Thompson – If I could give any author advice, it would be, write the book. No story is a silly story. All stories need to be heard. Never be afraid to put yourself out there and build connections. Also, when you are blessed with advice, never gatekeep and do not bless those who are new to the industry. Life works better when we win together.
K.W. – What is your favorite character you’ve written and why?
K. Thompson – Of course, I would have to say my favorit characters are my kids. When I can use them to touch others and speak to other kids its amazing. My kdis are pretty amazing in general. My favorite fictional character would be Danielle who’s in my new book and I would say her baby brother who’s your typical college athlete and womanizer. I can’t speak too much, but their characters will bring life to a lot of people.
K.W. – Are there any upcoming projects you’re excited about?
K. Thompson – I am constantly working on something new. My main goal is to expand my business brand, Secrets To Serenity. I will be launching my author podcast and online bookstore soon. With this podcast, I will be highlighting others and their works, we will have a mental health segment, a segment featuring rehab therapists, and all types of tools that can help others. I am also building my life coaching clientele. I also offer author interviews and book reviews. As far as my writing, I do have a couple more children’s books that I am working getting ready to publish. I am also working on my first Christian romance novel. We love a good love story with self-healing lessons.
thesecretstoserenity@gmail.com
