Get to Know K.G. Duncan
Q & A
What's your favorite book all time? Ooh... hard one. There are so many wonderful books! If I had to pick one, I'd go with "Watership Down" by Richard Adams. I mean... an entire story told from the point of view of wild rabbits? What's not to love?
Do you speak any other languages? I am functional in Mandarin Chinese, and I also studied German and Russian when I was an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Linguistics and Philosophy--what do you do with a degree in that? I had no idea... but I did travel to China after I graduated from University, and I lived and worked there for 3 years! That was one of the best experiences of my life! I encourage every young person to live, work and travel in another country surrounded by another culture. It's the best way to grow and become a better human being. Oh, and I found out I really liked teaching and I found my life's purpose. I went back to graduate school and got a MEd degree in education. None of that would have happened if I didn't take the risk to live abroad.
What else do you do in your free time? I can make killer guacamole and chicken tacos... I also still travel all the time. I spend a lot of time with my husky/boxer at the dog park! She is a two-year old pup named "Aloe," and she makes me very happy! I also love RPG games, too. Must be the actor inside of me, but I will roleplay all day and night if I'm with the right group of people. My current distraction is Baldur's Gate 3! Oh, and yeah, I still like the old table-top versions of MERPS. My favorite current character is a catfish swamp shaman who is slowly turning into a tree!
Do you want to ask me other questions? Go to my blog page by clicking on the button below. You can use the Contact me form to connect with me!
What else do you do besides write novels?
Well, I taught English to International Students at UCLA's American Language Center for almost 30 years! Besides that, I grew up in a musical theatre family, and I currently am the Program Director and Executive Producer at the John Raitt Awards for Youth (JRAY)--Think Tony's but for High School musical theatre. In the picture above I am giving a talk at the San Marino Rotary club with my sister and JRAY co-executive producer, Marilyn Gianetti (on the left), and two current USC students and past JRAY Broadway Artists Alliance winners, Selma Elbalalesy and Janina Colucci. Want to find out more? Visit the JRAY website for more information and lots of great pictures!
Other Projects
I have also founded a publishing company called Under the Sun Press. In addition to my YA novel series, "I'm Only Dreaming of Dragons," I am developing interactive, online educational materials that feature specific periods in History and a Viking Board game! Yeah, I have eclectic tastes... My advice for all people is to do what you really like to do. Dive for your dreams and follow your bliss. Bonus if you can get other people to pay you for it! Click below to explore some of my other projects.