Ep 124: Exploring Nebraska with Author Kelly Brakenhoff
Join us as we tour the US through books, one state at a time.
This week’s episode is taking us to the heartland of the US… Nebraska!
Author Kelly Brakenhoff shares hidden gems and surprising facts about the Cornhusker State. From the quirky Carhenge to Nebraska’s largest lake, Lake McConaughy, Kelly paints a vivid picture of a state rich in history and natural beauty. Learn about the friendly Midwestern culture and must-visit spots like the Henry Doorly Zoo and the Willa Cather house!
Our book of the week, Death by Dissertation, stars Cassandra Soto who recently moved from Hawaii to Nebraska. Amidst the culture shock of this transition, she finds herself caught up in a mystery at the local college.
Kelly brings her experience as an ASL interpreter to her stories and she is passionate about representing the deaf community in her books. Her children’s series, “Duke the Deaf Dog,” introduces kids to deaf culture and American Sign Language (ASL) in an engaging way. Plus, her mystery novels feature deaf characters and provide a unique perspective on various cultures.
Ready to explore Nebraska in a whole new way? Let’s go!
Want to support me & my podcast? I’d love for you to Buy me a coffee!
Meet Kelly Brakenhoff
I always dreamt of being an author. Growing up, teachers told me I was a good writer and nurtured that longing in me. For many years, working as an ASL Interpreter and raising four children left little time to write anything longer than an annual family missive.
Although the people on my Christmas Card list looked forward to my amusing letters, they didn’t magically lead to a riveting 80,000 word novel.
From my books, you’ll get to read about Deaf Culture, American Sign language, Hawaii, Nebraska, academia, cooking, baking, religion, sports, dogs and whatever new hobby I’m into next. Life is a great ride, and I’d love to take you down the road with me-one book at a time.
Listen to Episode 124 Here
Exploring Nebraska with Author Kelly Brakenhoff
In This Episode
We had so much fun chatting with Kelly and here are some of the things we talked about:
- Kelly’s favorite things about Nebraska
- Runza – yummy beef and cabbage pockets
- Working as an ASL interpreter
- Her book started as a NaNoWriMo project in 2014
- She started a publishing company to publish her books
- Her favorite mystery series by Janet Evanovich
- Representation of the deaf community in books
- Hoping to publish deaf authors in the future
- Working on new Duke the Deaf Dog chapter books
Books Mentioned in this Episode
Death by Dissertation
Never Mind – Duke the Deaf Dog
The Missing Diamond
Connect with the Author
Kelly would love to hear from you! Here’s how you can keep in touch with her:
Other Resources You’ll Love
More Books Set in Nebraska
Here are 3 ways we keep up with our favorite novels and what’s coming out each month:
- Join Audible Premium Plus and get two free books. You’ll be able to listen to old favorites or new titles each month.
- And, you can try Kindle Unlimited Membership Plan for free for one month. You can find all the new books coming out each month.
- This is one of my favorites. With your Amazon Prime membership, you have access to their Amazon First Reads each month. One free, new book at the beginning of each month! Not a member? Sign up now and get one month FREE!
Let’s Keep in Touch
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