An Interview with Chef Kitura, author of Grandma’s Handz

Author’s Bio: Chef Kitura grew up in the Midwest about 40 miles north of Chicago and moved to California during her high school years. After graduation she pursued a career as an Electrical Engineering Technician, graduating from Hamilton Technical College in Iowa, before relocating to the Atlanta area.

In 2006, a unique opportunity was presented to Chef Kitura to land a position with a Fortune 500 Company as an Events Coordinator, which catapulted her into a new career in the Hospitality industry, then came the Food & Beverage sector of the Hospitality Industry. BAAM!!! Chef Kitura was reminded of her love and passion for cooking from her childhood years and started collaborating with chefs from various hotels & restaurants to pursue her culinary career. 

Chef Kitura fell in love with the culinary industry all over again. Learning, studying, embracing this passion and absorbing the knowledge of this industry became her full-time focus.

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

Chef Kitura: I’m so glad you asked me this question! My grandmother was my initial inspiration. As a chef, I get asked all of the time where does my love for cooking come from and of course my answer was my grandmother and this is the response that most culinarians give; hence the title of my book, Grandma’s Handz!

 

DL: How do you handle writer’s block?

CK: Interesting question…with this being my first book I feel as though I had quite a few “writer’s block” moments as I wanted everything to be perfect! And then came some folks in my corner that said…GET IT DONE! That required walking away and getting a fresh perspective on what I wanted this book to represent, paying homage to my grandmother and I extended it to my mother as a grandmother and me as a grandmother!

 

DL: What do you think makes a good story?

CK: Hmmm, a good story?!! For me, it has to be something that’s going to keep the audience engaged. Readers enjoy hearing heartfelt stories, true stories that take you on a roller-coaster ride, you know feel-good stories! A good story is a story that your readers can relate to and say, “Yep, I know what you’re talking about” or “I thought I was the only one!” And adds a just enough of that motivation to possibly jump start one of your readers to doing something that they’ve been procrastinating with!

 

DL: What were some of the challenges when writing this book?

CK: My challenges were the recipes! When I’m cooking, I’m adding this and adding that and I’m not measuring as if you’d need to do if you were a baker. In baking, your measurements have to be exact. So now, I had to go back and give precise/exact measurements so that my readers can follow along and prepare the recipes that I’ve provided and be pleased with their end results. 

 

DL: If you could choose a super power, what would it be and why?

CK: Removing hatred from people’s hearts! The reason is I look at the universal language in this order: 1. Food 2. Music 3. Sports! When people get together and these 3 things are a factor… people feel good, they’re enjoying life! I mean, listen, there’s the saying YOLO (you only live once) and I disagree! You die once and you should LIVE every day and enjoy life every day! If hatred was eliminated, this world would be so much different.

 

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers?

CK: Make it happen! Get out of your own way and make it happen. Engage with other authors and ask questions, what worked for them, what didn’t work for them, etc. Don’t try to make your first draft perfect because there are going to be revisions and more revisions but you at least have to start and complete the first draft. Be kind to yourself, this is a new chapter in your life…you’re becoming an AUTHOR! That’s something that you should be very proud of. 

Be the unicorn unapologetically!

 

DL: What are three things you can’t live without?

CK: Faith 2. Family 3. Food

 

DL: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

CK: Wow, just 3? Had to scratch my head on this one because I’m thinking, from a culinary aspect or just life in general?! (LOL, my business coach would say, stop overthinking things Chef!) Ok, so here we go: OMG, you sure you just want 3? Ok, ok…1. Mom Entrepreneur, 2.  Chef and 3. Visionary (yep…I did it (lol))!

 

DL: What new projects are you currently working on? 

CK: I have a spice line and an apparel line that I’m working on and I have two ideas for my next 2 books. I’ve come to the conclusion that books are like tattoos! Once you get one, they’re addicting and you want to get another one. Well, I’m ready to write my next 2 books.

 

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book?

CK: They can get more information here:

• Website: www.allabouttheminis.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allabouttheminis
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allabouttheminis
• Book Buy Links: https://linktr.ee/chefkitura

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

CK: Thanks for your invitation to be featured on your blog!