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Kayla  Cunningham

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Kayla Cunningham

Goodreads Author


Born
in San Luis Obispo, The United States
Website

Genre

Influences

Member Since
February 2012


Kayla Cunningham holds two education degrees, and she teaches history at the high school level and adult ESL, while also volunteering as a Hostage Crisis Negotiator. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Teaching English as a Second Language and enjoys taking flying lessons with her husband. Kayla has a passion for traveling and meeting people from different cultures around the world. She hosted six boys from China and has traveled to Asia many times. She was born in San Luis Obispo and raised outside the city of Santa Cruz, California. She is an advocate of exploring issues of racism and current events, including the rise in Asian hate crimes caused by the pandemic. Fated to Love You is Cunningham’s first contemporary romance novel. She ...more

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Kayla Cunningham Hello! Thank you for your question. The decision to write “Fated to Love” was inspired by a deeply personal experience that touched my heart and soul.…moreHello! Thank you for your question. The decision to write “Fated to Love” was inspired by a deeply personal experience that touched my heart and soul. As a teacher and basketball coach, I had the honor of hosting six boys from Asian countries who quickly became like brothers to me. Growing up as an only child, their presence meant a great deal to me. My parents welcomed them into our family, and we celebrated holidays, birthdays, and special events together. Some of them are still attending college in the United States, while others have returned to their home countries. I have had the privilege of visiting a few of them in China and Taiwan, and our bond has only grown stronger with time. One of the boys, Jimmy, from China, lived with me for over six years. He completed his degree at an American university and has since returned to China, where he is now married and has a beautiful daughter.

The rise in Asian racism during the pandemic years deeply affected me. I saw firsthand the horrific things that were said to my “brothers” because of their nationality. I felt ashamed and guilty for not doing enough to promote change. I realized that I had a responsibility to use my voice and platform to bring attention to this issue. That’s when I decided to write “Fated to Love,” a novel that not only explores the intricacies of contemporary romance but also delves into deeper themes such as cultural identity, family dynamics, and overcoming adversity. I wanted to take readers on a journey through different countries and cultures, providing a window into the diversity of our world. Through my writing, I hope to honor and celebrate the beauty of these diverse cultures and to share the story of Cassie and Xuan with the world.





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Kayla Cunningham Some of the minor characters in the story, like Cassie and Xuan’s friends, Roxy, Amanda, Sky, Beom, and Nick, were inspired by people I know. Neverthe…moreSome of the minor characters in the story, like Cassie and Xuan’s friends, Roxy, Amanda, Sky, Beom, and Nick, were inspired by people I know. Nevertheless, these characters were created to serve the story, and I made sure to give them unique personalities and traits that would make them stand out as individuals. That being said, I did incorporate certain traits and quirks into the characters that reminded me of people I’ve met in my life. For example, Zhang Xuan’s gentlemanly demeanor and impressive salsa dancing skills were inspired by my husband, who is the epitome of chivalry and always puts others before himself. I also drew inspiration from the people I’ve met from China, Taiwan, and Korea to create Zhang Xuan’s character. I wanted to capture the nuances of their cultures and blend them with his personality to create a unique and relatable character.

I want to make it absolutely clear that the parents I imagined (Richard and Stella) were completely fictitious and bore no resemblance to anyone in my life. They were the product of pure imagination, created with no other inspiration. To put it bluntly, they’re the complete antithesis of my own parents. My father is the quintessential 1970’s California beach boy and hippie. He’s always been the epitome of coolness, exuding an effortless charm that could make even the most jaded person crack a smile. His presence lights up a room, and his charisma is infectious. He has a way of making people feel at ease around him like he’s an old friend you’ve known your whole life. And his intellect is just as impressive as his coolness, shining like a beacon of hope in a dark sky. My dad has always worked hard and made sacrifices to provide for our family, and for that, I’m eternally grateful. Honestly, everybody needs a dad like mine.

Unfortunately, the narrow-minded, hateful personalities of Ashley and Brett were based on real people I’ve met, unlike the character of Raylan, who is entirely fictional. I drew on my own experiences and relationships to create authentic and relatable characters and infused my travels to different parts of the world into the story to create a vivid and immersive setting.

I did not write Cassandra, the protagonist, to be a thinly veiled version of my own life, but I’ve infused her with some similar interests and traits, such as my passion for volunteering and love of basketball. Growing up, I dreamed of being an ethnobiologist and studying cures for cancer and other diseases in the Amazon Rainforest, inspired by the movie Medicine Man, as Cassie states in the story. By drawing on my own experiences and passions, I aimed to create a character that readers could connect with on a personal level.

When it comes to the characters in my book, each one is an original creation. As for the places in the books, the locations in Colombia, and California — the hospitals, the restaurants, the beaches and other locations, actually exist.(less)
Average rating: 4.62 · 53 ratings · 44 reviews · 1 distinct workSimilar authors
Fated to Love You

4.62 avg rating — 53 ratings2 editions
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Once Upon a Broke...
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Unravel Me
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Ugly Love
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Siduri by J.J. Vason
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This book was fast-paced and full of surprises. Siduri is a gripping dark fantasy that skillfully weaves together themes of family secrets, survival, and the supernatural. The story centers on Siduri, a young woman who, after her mother’s tragic deat ...more
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Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
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“Sometimes people rise above their past, sometimes not. And sometimes the people you least expect it from—like Raylan and my father—have a way of surprising you in the end.”
Kayla Cunningham, Fated to Love You

“I want you to know I have never loved anyone like I love you. More than Darcy loved Elizabeth or Heathcliff loved Cathy. I just don’t want to make you a widow.”

“I never really understood why Brontë is considered to be a romance writer. We were required to read Wuthering Heights in high school and I always believed that her novel showcased the bleakest aspects of human nature. The story provided readers with a small yet unforgettable glimpse into the depths of human cruelty. Personally, I never considered the story romantic because the love shared between Cathy and Heathcliff was fatal, not just for themselves but for those around them. Their souls were incompatible, and they were a toxic pairing. Despite their love, passion, jealousy, and desire for connection, they were unable to recognize this fact.”

“I was never a fan of Victorian romance novels.”

“It was never one of my favorites. It’s often viewed as one of the great romance novels of all time, but I think it represents something darker: the fatal, selfish side of love, obsession, and abuse. To this day, I have not encountered a more accurate depiction of how love can become selfish.”

“Why do you say that?” Xuan asked.

“Because I think you have to love someone in the way that I love you to truly understand what love means... and to understand how wrong the story is. My soul and yours are the same in a way that Catherine and Heathcliff’s could never be. Widow or not, I will never stop loving you, Xuan. You have mesmerized me. My very soul has been entangled completely by you over these past three years. If Brontë or Austen could write the greatest love story of all time they’d write our story. And whether you marry me or not, how I feel about you will never change.”
Kayla Cunningham, Fated to Love You

“Xuan being there didn’t make any sense. This wasn’t a fairy tale. Handsome boys don’t just magically appear screaming your name the moment you need them.”
Kayla Cunningham

“You are my heart, my life, my entire existence."
-Ash”
Julie Kagawa, The Iron Queen

“The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”
J.M. Barrie, The Little White Bird

“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.”
J.M. Barrie

“To live will be an awfully big adventure.”
J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

“So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!”
J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

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Comments (showing 1-5)    post a comment »
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message 5: by Kayla

Kayla Cunningham aprille wrote: "Hi, thanks for the add :) :)"

You're welcome! Nice to meet you.


message 4: by Kayla

Kayla Cunningham Sophia wrote: "Thanks for friending me, Kayla!"

Happy 4th! Can't wait to see some of your reads and recommendations!


message 3: by Kayla

Kayla Cunningham Sophia wrote: "Thanks for friending me, Kayla!"


Excited to meet you! I look forward to our "literature friendship."


Sophia Thanks for friending me, Kayla!


aprille Hi, thanks for the add :) :)


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