1) Who are your role models?
* my role models are: My Mom Tina, Dad Christopher, Gramma Anita Jo, Grampa Cecil and Brothers Nickolie and Thinny. Strong women such as Stevie Nicks, Pink, Nikki Lane, Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Oprah, J.K. Rowling, Ginger Zee, Robin Roberts, Dorothea Lange, Those Dam Kids, The Hystericals, Darlene Brown, My Aunt Teresa, Harriet Tubman, The Butler Ladies & "the showgirls", Dolly Parton, Jackie Kennedy, Caitlyn Smith, Peggy Whitson Lucie Silvas, Elle King, Maren Morris. Strong souls: Elon Musk, Albert Einstein, Ansel Adams, John Muir, Nicola Tesla, Janis Joplin, Dr. Seuss, Kurt Cobain, Woody Guthrie, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, and I'm sure there are plenty more I am forgetting..
2) Where were you raised?
*With my Family on the Carnival and also in a small rural mountain town in California.
3) When did you graduate high school?
* I graduated high school in 2007
4) What are you proud of from High School? * Being a good friend, peer and soul. My mama would always say "mean people suck, being mean is unbecoming, be the friend you wish to have, be the young lady we raised you to be, respect yourself, save a little for the imagination, work hard and have fun..."
5) A memory from High School?
* Cheering my dad's cheer at our last football game of my senior year. My senior year our football team didn't win one game, so my dad made up his own cheer sitting in the bleachers.. "Lets go Trojans hit em hard, don't let them gain another yard. Let's go Trojans, show no fear, we wanna win a game this year".. my squad learnt it..and my coach was pissed.. rebel win! "Walk to the beat of your own drum, you'll enjoy your memories"..
6) Where is the coolest place you have traveled or adventured too?
* The Lava Beds National Monument, by Tulelake Ca. It's lava tubes, you ever want to be humbled? Well go look at what mother nature can create.
7) Where is the coolest place you have lived?
* NASHVILLE! It's like a cultural melting pot. With enthusiastic souls that are unique, original, genuine, down to earth and caring. I had a blast "growing up there" becoming an independent young lady.
8) Your favorite job growing up?
* Being a cake decorator in Nashville. It was fun to create things out of icing.
9) Your least favorite job growing up?
* Being in customer service...it's hard pleasing people all the time..
10) Any defining memories from the past?
* Oh plenty.. loosing my uncle he was tech savi energetic genius. Loosing my Gramma Anita Jo to Breast Cancer she was my creative inspiration. Loosing my Grampa Cecil to Cancer, he was my rock my hidden strength and courage and my music lover. Moving to Nashville, I really felt like it was a place that allowed me to be me, unique genuine ect. Seeing my parents always be parents in some of the most difficult situations in life.
11) Tell me something I wouldn't believe about you?
* My traveling roots run deep. My family is "Irish Sooner Okies Carnies". And I could not be any prouder of my roots and my heritage.
12) How and why did you choose your career?
* I chose being an author and writing because I'm not good at anything else, and when writing it's like I can step away from reality. I like being creative, it works for me, but sincerely I'm not good at grammar so being an author is tough for me too.
13) Where do you want to travel to?
* ICELAND, dream come true would be at The Blue Lagoon. And Ireland too!
14) What is your advice for "before we lose our parents" and for "after we lose our parnets"?
* Before: Enjoy them, there love, advice, wisdom and time. After: don't lay down and die, live a life they would be proud of.
15) How has your definition of success or perspective of success changed over the years?
* "Success is defined differently by each person." That's what I believe and also success is in the eye of the beholder, sometimes just failing a different way or failing a little less than before is still successful.
16) Who are you competitive with and why? (It's ok to say with social media "friends and family".)
* I try my best to be competitive with no one, because it seems like far too many people are competitive. If I do try to beat someone it's usually myself and whatever bar I have raised or set for myself... as my mama would say I always did walk to the beat of my own drum or "go your own way"..
17) Who are your best friends and why?
* My Parents, My Brother Thinny, The Hystericals, and "The Lost Boys" all along the way, my soul sisters and anyone else I accidentally missed out..
18) Who are your influences and why?
* My Gramparents, because they taught me what living was about. My parents because they raised me to be genuinely me and unique. Dr. Seuss he reminds you it's ok to think outside the box he was a creative Pisces too.. J.K. Rowling because she taught me rock bottom is the solid foundation from which to build from, and failing forward is ok. Inspiring women, Oprah, Ginger Zee, Peggy Whitson, Reese Witherspoon, Hillary Swank, Jennifer Gardener, Ginifer Goodwin, Julia Roberts, Chelsea Handler, Amy Brown, Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, Sacagawea, Belle Star, Annie Oakley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, ect... Singer-songwriters Kacey Musgraves, Stevie Nicks, Prince, Michael Jackson, CCR, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, the mama's and the papas, the doors, nirvana, Janis Joplin, Adele, Pink Caitlyn Smith, Lucie Silvas, Nicolle Galyon, Walker Hayes, Woody Guthrie, Cam, Jon Pardi, Brothers Osborne, Merle Haggard, Kip Moore, Buck Owens, Sheryl Crow, Marren Morris, Elle King, Kelly Clarkson, Elvis, Johnny and June, Thomas Rhett, Brantley Gilbert, Nikki Lane, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Bobby Bones, and so many more because I speak through music so I hear you.
19) What is one thing you have done that you are most proud of? Living and learning through out life... living a life without any "what if's".. yolo
20) Have you ever felt heart break?
* Yes on multiple levels...breaking up with the love of your life is heart ache, loosing your Gramparents to cancer is earth shattering heart break.
21) Have you any advice about grief and mourning?
* Honestly it hurts, it's painful, and each person has to choose how to deal with there emotions, it doesn't get any easier some days you miss them more and some days you just ache but you keep living anyway..
22) What wisdom can you share about peer pressure?
* I always had a steady independent open minded family they always encouraged me to "Walk to the beat of my own drum" and I always have... here is what I can tell you about the "popular girls" they are just the first followers, they are the ones first to put down the trendsetters then like three to four years later when Wal-Mart is selling the trendsetters style the "popular girls" are the first to buy it and rock it as If they are "trend setting" when in reality they are too afraid of other opinions to every be unique... so know they are just the first followers...be genuine, kind, loving, unique, creative and you! Just be you!
23) What is your zodiac sign?
* Pisces♡ #PiscesPhilosophy I love my intuition and spirit.
24) What inspires your dreams and goals?
* The fact that we live in the United States and I believe this is the land of opportunity where dreams can come true. So why not make a promise with yourself and try to reach it... why not?
25) How do you build determination and motivation?
* I disconnect, humanity is crazy and for me I can't stand our lack of compassion...so I #ExploreMore. I go where there is no hum of electricity, where the winds whisper to the pines and the air lifts your spirit. I disconnect from the whole tech savi rat race.
26) What encouraging things do you tell yourself?
* "You have done crazier things at a younger age.." "Just Breathe.." "go sister, flow sister, gotta get that dough sister" "Earn it" "make all your dreams come true" "Music is Medicine" "Rock it" "Life comes with trials and tribulations so enjoy the ride.." "Enjoy the ride" "Wright Rhodes" "Hip Okies"
27) Is your soul and character beautiful? Why? What makes you beautiful and unique?
* Yes, my soul and character are beautiful, because of how I view people and the world. Yes I am genuine and unique and that right there is what makes me me... "don't fit in when you were born to stand out"
28) Is your body, mind and spirit healthy? How so? Any tips on healthy living?
* Yes, and it's because I believe "food is fuel"
29) Quotes to live by?
* "Someone's preconceived notion of you does not define you." "What someone else thinks of you is none of your business." "Rock bottom is the solid foundation from which I built from." "Don't fit in when you were born to stand out."
30) Your advice about love and loving yourself as well?
* Love yourself even when others don't love you, or they wish to change you. You are the only you there is, raised by what you have lived through and experienced. You are your worse critic so don't be so harsh... magnify people's strengths... compliment others and yourself...be the person you wish to see in this world.
Xoxo ♡Kayle Jo