Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Kessler.
Hi Kristen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always wanted to be a novelist, but pursuing the arts didn’t feel right when I was younger. It might have been a lack of confidence or just a natural bend towards pragmatism in me, but I thought about it for years while I followed the momentum of college, work, more college, more work, marriage, family, career change, and new work.
While these roles bring joy and connection to my life, I still sensed some unfinished business under the surface. I reached a point where I realized no one was going to come to give me permission to be a writer. I just had to start honoring that part of myself and bringing it out. I began carving out space for it little by little, and now I feel like I’m living as my whole self.
I think discovering your creative side is almost like falling in love – some spark ignites and it might be really inconvenient, but part of you just knows it’s right.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s smooth now that I have a routine, but at first, I wrestled with it. I didn’t know what I needed exactly, so I couldn’t communicate it well. Luckily, trial and error is a great teacher!
The main struggle was reclaiming and taking control of my time. I found I worked best if I got up 2-3 hours before my family. It took a while to become disciplined with that, but now I can’t imagine giving it up! I also take a weekend away every few months for a writing conference or book festival to stay inspired and current.
Not everyone in my life was supportive of those changes, which was hard, but a lot of people were. I value those friendships more than ever because it’s vulnerable to put yourself out there. It’s hard to say you want to do something like write a book because people can perceive it in different ways.
I appreciate the struggles though, because it kept forcing me to check in with myself and reaffirm that yes, this is what I want to do.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I write speculative fiction, which involves some sort of supernatural or imaginative element but is set in the real world. I’m so at home in this genre because of my professional background in psychology and theology. I love to tell a story from a perspective of a ghost or a spirit because it can make powerful topics more approachable.
Right now, I’m working on a novel that follows the Muse of unrequited love. She goes through different periods in time to visit musicians and helps them create something with their pain. It was inspired by the story behind Beethoven’s Fur Elise after I found a playlist of remixes someone made. Hearing his melody propelled into all these various styles made me think about how universal his heartache was, and I saw comfort and inspiration in that.
I’ve been researching the stories behind famous songs for this, and it’s been so interesting! It really deepens the experience of the music when you learn what the person was going through at the time.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Atlanta values the arts and has such great venues for them. Every time I’m there, it’s for something related to music, writing, or film. It makes it easy to find connections with like-minded people, which is energizing.
Being from a less populated beach town, I can be overwhelmed by driving in cities. I prefer to use Uber in Atlanta so I don’t get stressed out!
Contact Info:
- Website: kristenswritings.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/kristenswritings
Image Credits
Kristen Kessler
