Author Interview: Rhonda McKnight

By Linda H on Jan 5, 2010 in Fiction, Recipes

Rhonda, thanks so much for taking part in this ‘booking and cooking’ interview. First up, the book part, then we’ll get to that wonderful recipe for Broccoli Cheese Casserole.

My first question: Beginning, middle, or end? What part of a novel is your favorite part to write?
I admit to loving the end. Why? Two reasons, the first being whatever the issue – it’s resolved and the second being – I’m almost done writing. LOL.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be?
Wow, that’s an interesting question. I thought about all my favorite books and decided I didn’t want to be any of the characters because they are either very wounded or so complex they need therapy, so I opted for one of my favorite mystery gals – Vernetta Henderson from Pamela Samuels Young’s books – Murder On The Down Low being my favorite in the series.

Given a choice, would you go see a movie or read a book?
Read a book, read a book, read a book.

If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?
A piece of chocolate candy. I’m turning into one at this point. Chocolate with nuts.

In the news story of your life, what would the headline say?
Today’s headline would read: Local woman realizes her dream of being published.

What is the best advice you ever received?
“You can do anything you set your mind to.” – my mother.

Please share a favorite recipe.
My favorite and my family’s favorite of mine is my Broccoli Cheese Casserole. It’s very easy to make.

BROCCOLI CHEESE CASSEROLE

1 head of broccoli
1 can cream of celery soup
2 eggs
4 oz. Cheddar cheese, grated
2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated (or just 8 oz of cheddar)
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 med. onion, chopped or 1 tbsp of onion powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 cup Ritz cracker crumbs

Lightly steam broccoli and set on paper towel to dry. Once broccoli is dry, chop it. (I don’t use the stems). Mix everything except cracker crumbs and butter. Pour in sprayed or buttered 1 1/2 quart casserole dish or a 13 x 9 pan. Melt butter and mix with crumbs. Spread crumbs over the top of the dish. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Yummy!

Thanks for having me, Linda.

You’re so welcome, Rhonda. Thanks for sharing.

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Rhonda McKnight is the author of the novel, Secrets and Lies (Nov. 2009). She also owns Legacy Editing, a free-lance editing service for fiction writers and Urban Christian Fiction Today, a popular Internet site that highlights African-American Christian fiction.

About her new novel, Secrets and Lies:
Faith Morgan is struggling with her faith. Years of neglect leave her doubting that God will ever fix her marriage. When a coworker accuses her husband, Jonah, of the unthinkable, Faith begins to wonder if she really knows him at all, and if it’s truly in God’s will for them to stay married.

Pediatric cardiologist Jonah Morgan is obsessed with one thing: his work. A childhood incident cemented his desire to heal children at any cost, even his family, but now he finds himself at a crossroads in his life. Will he continue to allow the past to haunt him, or find healing and peace in a God he shut out long ago?

Read more about Secrets & Lies on Rhonda’s Web site.