Today we’d like to introduce you to Sevyn Waters
Hi Sevyn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story as a writer begins at around six or seven years old. At this age, my life mostly consisted of traveling with my parents around the country, sometimes beyond, while my mom played professional tennis tournaments. A lot of the time, I had to find ways to entertain myself. Sometimes I’d play on my Nintendo DS or watch movies on the portable DVD player. But the boredom always found me in the end.
Then I got one of the best gifts of my life from my grandparents: a binder full of paper accompanied by colored pencils. I know–a bit anticlimactic, but to me, that binder was more magical than any video game or movie. With it, I documented my daily life, from a flight to New York City where the pilot gifted me an airplane-shaped pin to the long hotel hallway that seemed to extend forever after a long day of sitting at the tennis courts. The pages were full of poorly drawn tennis rackets, hotel room doors, and my parents. And always next to these drawings were barely legible descriptions of what I did that day and why I had drawn that particular picture. This hobby became an avenue through which I could express my experiences and observations and in turn, made me a very curious person.
From there, I was writing all the time. At twelve years old, I hand-wrote a fantasy novella about mermaids; at fifteen years old, I wrote a sci-fi book, and at seventeen, a screenplay about a jazz pianist. None of my work was published until I went to Savannah College of Art and Design where I worked at the student digital publication and published several articles, memoir pieces, and poetry.
Sitting here today, I have two writing degrees, several publications, and an upcoming YA mystery series called “The Rosie Carter Mysteries” set to be released as an audiobook by Daydreaming Network in early 2025. I’m very excited!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say that the life of a writer is not so much a smooth road, but a two-lane road (that should be a one-lane road) in the Scottish Highlands with lots of twists and turns. From wrestling with self-doubt in workshops during my masters program at the University of Edinburgh to the struggle of finding freelance work post-graduation, I’d say each one of these twists and turns was purposeful and taught me something. For example, the self-doubt I experienced in workshop actually expanded my view of my writing and made me stronger in my identity and purpose. Though sometimes things are difficult, I try to remind myself that no experience is ever wasted and luckily, I can grow every day if I choose to.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My writing draws inspiration from nature, grief, and the interplay between our internal and external experiences. I’ve published a bit of nonfiction, poetry, and fiction, most recently in “From Arthur’s Seat” in Edinburgh, Scotland at the beginning of 2024. This particular short story follows the magnified milliseconds after a loved one’s death and absolutely holds a special place in my heart as my first international publication.
I would say I’m currently most excited for my upcoming YA mystery series, “The Rosie Carter Mysteries.” Set in the 1930s, the series follows fifteen-year-old Rosie Carter after she arrives at the prestigious Hamilton School for Girls in upstate New York. Together with her prankster best friend Susan, Rosie uncovers mysteries hidden within the school’s walls—from rosebushes that seem to move on their own to missing pearl necklaces harboring dangerous secrets.
My intention for this series is to bring comfort and excitement, as well as a touch of history, to kids and adults alike. There’s something refreshing and stimulating about escaping to a world where life revolves around cozy mysteries and friendship, and I’d like to think that 12-year-old me would’ve loved solving mysteries alongside Rosie and Susan.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I would say that the deepest impact on my work stems from my faith and the people around me rather than luck. I’ve been extremely blessed with a supportive family of dreamers and surrounded by friends who not only encourage me to share my voice, but inspire me with their own creative pursuits.
Some think writing is a solitary art, but I disagree. We need to draw inspiration and learn from the people around us. This web of connections—friends, family, professors, artists, and even passing strangers—has become one of the most influential things in my life and in my writing. I’m just really grateful that I have people around me who genuinely care about me and believe in the value of my work. This support and encouragement means everything and I strongly believe that as creatives and business owners, it’s our job to provide the same to the people around us.
Pricing:
- $30/hour for freelance writing
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Sevyn Michaela-Rose Waters
