Influential Woman · Author
Kimberly Terwilleger
Housekeeper, Storm Lake
Storm Lake, IA
Her Story
About Kimberly
Kimberly Terwilleger works as a housekeeper in a senior living facility in Storm Lake, Iowa, a role she has held for approximately 30 years across various positions, including a period when she owned her own housekeeping service. Alongside her full-time job, she is a dedicated author who self-publishes romance novels under the pen name Allie DeRay. Terwilleger began writing over 40 years ago as a stay-at-home mother but did not publish her first book until around 2016 after connecting with a friend who had started a publishing company. Her published works include a three-book series of Western and historical romances, a pirate-themed historical romance set in the 1700s, and a murder mystery romance, with a spiritual romance currently in progress. She graduated from high school and later took creative writing classes at community college in her 30s. Terwilleger attributes her success to hard work, dedication, determination, and her faith in God and the universe, and she values honesty and helping those in need, particularly animals through organizations like the Humane Society.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kimberly
01What do you attribute your success to?
Hard work, dedication, and determination. I've always loved stories and imagination. It takes dedication to sit still and concentrate on creating a story when there are other things around the house to do, but once I get rolling into a story, I feel like I'm living in it. I rely on my faith in God and the universe.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Take notes anytime you get an idea so it doesn't go away. Be focused on your genre. If you say you're a historical fiction novelist, don't try to write a memoir unless you use a different pen name for each.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include lots of people using AI creating more books, making it hard to be discovered without scrolling many pages on Amazon unless searching by title. I'm not a marketer and don't want to pay advertisers. Opportunities include authors being discovered for miniseries and films.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and being helpful. If you can help somebody or an animal in need, you should.
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