Career Area: Author/Writer

  • Kelly Moran

    Kelly Moran

    “Success is all dependent on every single individual’s definition… You have to define what that goal is for you, because it’s going to be different for everybody.”

    Kelly Moran is a multi-genre author and founder of Rowan Prose Publishing, based in York County, South Carolina. Since her first book was published in 2005, Moran has authored over 30 titles across paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and light horror.

    Interview

    Transcript

    Emma Plutnicki  00:02 

    So to start, what do you do for work, and where are you currently working from? 

    Kelly Moran  00:09 

    I live in South Carolina. I’m in York, up in the north-central area, not far from Charlotte. As an author, my first published book was in 2005, and I’ve been publishing it ever since. I mostly write paranormal and contemporary romance, but I do have a horror persona as well, who writes light horror books. And in 2023 I started my own small press publishing company called Rowan Prose Publishing, also based out of York. And right now, we’ve got a little over 50 authors. 

    Emma Plutnicki  00:57 

    And so how long have you been doing each? Author you said since 2005 and publishing since 2023? 

    Kelly Moran  01:05 

    I want to say 2005 was my first published book. That sounds about right. But really, in essence, I’ve been writing since kindergarten. I always wanted to be an author, but I didn’t always know that’s what it was. You know, I get these ideas in my head, like I want to be the president, or I want to be a US gymnast or whatever, and I realized it was more the story I was interested in, than, you know, the actual job title. So I always had a creative mind. Other people sit and watch movies or do things, and 10 ideas for a new book pops up in my head. I can’t tell you how many titles I have, like 45 maybe, and I’ve been traditionally published with Berkeley/Penguin, larger publishers like Entangled and Kensington, and then I’m also I’m what they call a hybrid author. I also independently published some of my own work. I have foreign translation rights in seven different countries, and I learned a lot about marketing and design amongst other things. That kind of persuaded me to start Rowan Prose Publishing, because I would get a lot of authors who would ask for advice. So, we’re getting a whole different side of publishing and writing and things like that which never would have been seen before. So, you got the Big Five who are publishing what they want to publish, what sounds good, what’s trending. But a lot of them are not taking on what readers are necessarily looking for. They’re not taking a chance on the smaller authors, debut authors, who are just starting out. They don’t want to put a lot of time and effort into helping an author build a career or working really hard on developing a book to the best of its ability. But unless you’re a big name, a lot of publishers, even with agents, aren’t accepting new and debut authors. I got into conversations with an author, and I’ve been friends with her for a very long time, and we were discussing how can we do this? It was a big undertaking, a huge undertaking, but we’re showcasing a lot of authors that you would not see on shelves elsewhere. You know, you would never have heard about these great, amazing, wonderful stories that bigger publishers don’t just want to take a chance on. And because we were by authors, for authors, we wanted to make sure we were not only showcasing new talent, but using new and innovative marketing techniques that some other publishers don’t. We give our authors a lot more freedom than some other publishers would. So, it was a big undertaking, but I’m really glad we did it. We have some really, really amazing talent. 

    Emma Plutnicki  06:03 

    And is the is the talent that you work with from South Carolina? Or is there any influence of South Carolina within your work, whether that be the clientele or any influence that the state has on your writing? 

    Kelly Moran  06:19 

    In my own personal writing, yes, I have. In my, fact, I’m writing a southern romcom series right now that’s been contracted with Germany for foreign translation. For Rowan Prose, yes and no. We’ve had some really great output from independent bookstores and libraries. I don’t think we have a South Carolina author right now. Publishing is mostly a virtual entity. What I would love to see is more of the colleges and whatnot, like what you guys are doing, showcasing how to properly do this. I mean, there are so many young adults who were me once, who are like, I want to do this. And it can be very dejecting and demoralizing. And it’s, it’s, I wouldn’t want that for anybody. One of our authors, in fact, is based out of Louisiana, and is only 20. She’s in college right now.  

    Emma Plutnicki  08:02 

    Amazing. And within a creative career, I mean, it can be very difficult to figure out what your niche is and also how to find success. So how would you define professional success? Is it the number of books you sell, or is it kind of just something within you of like bringing your words to the page. What does success look like for you, both personally and professionally? 

    Kelly Moran  08:27 

    I think, to be honest with you, success is all dependent on what every single individual’s definition is. Several of my authors are like, I would just love to see my book in a library, and they will be happy for the rest of their life. Some want New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. Some want to be Stephen King or Nora Roberts and be a household name. For each individual person, you have to define what that goal is for you, because it’s going to be different for everybody.  

    Emma Plutnicki  14:15 

    Yeah, no, it makes sense. Did you have any fears when you were starting as an author, or any fears when you started your publishing company? 

    Kelly Moran  14:23 

    Oh my gosh, yes, and I still do to this day. I’ve been in this business for 20 years. A lot of it now is fear for my authors. Like, I remember getting that first bad review. Having somebody navigate that with you when you’re first starting out makes all the difference. It’s kind of like hand holding. Not every reader picks up the same book. They always say to grow a backbone, but, in my opinion, if you grow a backbone, you lose a lot of that emotional edge you can put into your writing. You know what? Cry about the bad review. Drink a glass of wine and start again. That’s all you can do. I mean, one of the funniest things I like to tell my authors is, if you look up on Google the reviews for Stonehenge, it’s got an average 2.5 to a 3-star review. So, look at it that way. There’s going to be people out there who are going to hate, and all you can do is keep going, because for everyone that does, there’s 10 that don’t. It’s easy to say grow a backbone, sometimes you get tougher skin out of it. But that’s what always scared me. I think about that every day, and I think about all my new debut authors and how they’re going through that right now. I tell them the same thing: you’re going to get bad reviews, but you’re going to get great ones, and you’re going to build great readers, too. I think a lot of what they fear the most: rejection and failure, but failure is just like success.  

    Emma Plutnicki  17:43 

    Yeah, that must be pretty cool to look back on. But has there been a significant project that you’ve worked on throughout your career that really stands out as kind of the pinnacle of your creativity, or just one project that has had a significant impact on your life?  

    Kelly Moran  18:02 

    I don’t know if there’s one project in particular, because especially for an author, it’s the little things like, oh my goodness, USA Today reviewed me, or I just won this award, or I’m a finalist in this one, or you collaborate with other authors sometimes to write a compilation and anthology. As a matter of fact, one of my other big pieces of advice is to join a writer’s group, because they have publishing professionals, editing professionals, cover design professionals, indie authors, and traditional authors. And you’ll learn a lot by going to conferences. And some of them are virtual. Some of them are in person. I remember, I think, probably my most pivotal moment that I can think of is I had written and published two or three books with some small press before this happened, and I had written this book, and it was very emotional, it kind of bordered on romance and women’s fiction, but it was a romance, and one of my author friends who I met at a conference had said, why don’t you try submitting it to my agent? I’m like, I don’t know. Okay, let me try. I had hit up hundreds of agents before in some of these previous books, and I didn’t have the reader following. I didn’t have that experience. Most of them didn’t pick me up. So, I did. I submitted it to her agent. She loved it, and that was my first mass market contract. That was my first I’m in every bookstore. That to me, I think, was the most, to date, eye opening and pivotal experience I had, because not only did I get a mass market contract and these books were everywhere, but it was also a two-book deal. That was my moment. So that would probably be the one that stands out the most. 

    Emma Plutnicki  21:57 

    Yeah, that’s pretty special. So now, a typical day, what does that look like for you? Do you spend a certain amount of time in your day writing? Are you more on the publishing side? What does a typical day look like? 

    Kelly Moran  22:10 

    It depends on what contracts I have for my writing. At the time, Rowan Prose ate most of my time, and I’m happy to do it. I mean, I love what I do. I’m literally living my dream. I wake up when I feel like it, though it’s usually six o’clock in the morning. I check on my authors, and I check on our social media. I post, but it’s a big balance. Here I have all of these responsibilities, and I don’t want to let my authors down. So, there’s that, and then I have my own books to make sure I maintain for my readers, and I’m still following that dream, and I do still have many foreign translation contracts that I fulfill every year. So what I like to do is start out with, you know, something slow in the morning, I always do our social media accounts, make sure we’re posting, doing things, checking email, and then from there, I like to get into whatever edits we have for our authors. Make sure everybody is doing okay. We’re ahead of schedule, and I’ll usually do two to three hours of writing in the late afternoon. We have three interns who are amazing, who help me out when we get backed up, and two other editors beside me. One of them is an author, the other one’s a blogger earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. We try to make sure we have a balance between work and whatnot. 

    Emma Plutnicki  24:25 

    We maintain that, because I’m sure working from home doesn’t make it easy to separate the work from just your normal day-to-day life, and I’m sure creativity strikes at different times of day and night. So how are you able to kind of have time for your work, and then also have time for yourself? 

    Kelly Moran  24:43 

    It’s really difficult. You have to be very detail oriented. I have a number of my writers who have day jobs, and then they write at night, which is what I used to do. And for me, I’ve always been obsessively organized, would probably be a good way to put it. So, I have schedules. My schedules have schedules, and those have post-it notes that have their own post-it notes. I make myself follow a schedule, because if I can’t do that, then things go crazy. You just have to set boundaries and stick to them, and set a schedule and stick to it, especially if you’re working a full-time job away from your writing career or your publishing aspirations. A lot of people feel really bad because they go to three days without writing or typing something on a page, but you can’t fix a blank page. I mean, writers probably have one of the best and toughest jobs. 

    Emma Plutnicki  27:06 

    Yeah, it’s hard.  

    Kelly Moran  27:10 

    I mean, unless you’re an actor or a journalist, what other job is there where, when your day is done, every single person in the world can leave a review about you. I mean, it’s cutthroat. Let’s say you’re a mechanic, right? Imagine going to the shop every day and you’re changing brakes and oil and transmission work, and then every person whose car you fixed then went on to the largest platform on the planet and says, “One star.” I didn’t like his overalls. That’s how it is. 

    Emma Plutnicki  28:05 

    I can imagine you must have tough skin to, you know, brave in those reviews? 

    Kelly Moran  28:12 

    A dream is a dream, and that’s just one of the things that a lot of people need to take into consideration. A lot of authors don’t even read their reviews for that reason. They don’t even look at one of them. I will, on occasion, pop onto Goodreads or Amazon, but I try not to anymore.  

    Emma Plutnicki  28:35 

    Oh man, oh my gosh, yeah. I don’t know if I could, uh, restrain myself from reading them. But, um, perfect. Well, just as we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to add about your career advice or anything like that? 

    Kelly Moran  28:51 

    Follow your dream? It’s the cheesiest, most cliche thing out there on the planet. Learn your craft, join some writer groups, meet a couple of writer friends, and they don’t have to be in your area. I mean, in this day and age, zoom, or, you know, Facebook chat or whatever. Meet some other authors. Learn how it’s done. We do get a lot of authors who don’t even bother reading our submission page before they send it to us, and I’m sorry, but if you can’t take the time to at least think about what we need from you to submit, then that tells me you’re not going to be open to the other things that need to be done later on. When you’re submitting to agents and publishers, follow their guidelines, because every single one is going to have something different. Think about what your goals are. If this is something you want to do, definitely think about the degree you are earning and how you can get into that world, earning a paycheck while you’re working on your book, while you’re working on submitting and any of things like that. That would be my best advice. I had, I want to say it was something like 80 agent rejections before I got mine. And yeah, and I’ve had a number of small presses all the way up to big five rejections, and most of those came from the series that got me the Spiegel bestseller in Germany, and lots and lots of royalties afterwards. And when you’re stuck, move on to something else. We’re authors, we’ve always got something going on in our heads. Don’t feel dejected, because this is one of the toughest markets to break into. 

    Emma Plutnicki  31:37 

    That’s great advice. Thank you so much. I really appreciate the time and words of wisdom. I’m sure this will definitely help some people who want to become authors in the future. So, I really appreciate it. Thank you. Bye. 

  • Megan Koon

    Megan Koon

    “Everything I produce could only come from me, and so it is a personal contribution.” 

    Megan Koon is an editor, coach, and author Megan Koon is on a mission to help others tell the stories only they can write. 

    Interview

    Transcript

    Megan Koon  00:02 

    So to start, what do you do for work and where are you currently working from? So for work, I am a professional writer, a writing coach and an editor, and I work from Simpsonville, South Carolina. 

    Emma Plutnicki  00:18 

    Nice and how long have you been doing that for? 

    Megan Koon  00:21 

    Well, I’ve been a professional writer at least part time for I guess, I published my first novel in 2019 so around that time, and then I recently in November, decided to go full time with professional writing, writing coaching and editing and all the good storytelling stuff. Nice, exciting. So what is a typical day look like for you? What’s expected of you, and what do you got into on a daily basis? So a typical day for me is, well, I have children too, so I get up going, but then when it becomes time for professional work, I find a place to work that is not my house, because I am not a productive person in my home. So I like to work from coffee shops as a writer. It’s great to be immersed in different kinds of people and hear conversations and see dynamics. So I really like to work from coffee shops, sometimes the library, if I need to lock in, but so I’ll go to wherever it is I’ve decided to work that day, sometimes outside as well, and then I usually spend a couple of hours working on a piece that I’m editing. Often that’s followed by a meeting with whoever I’m editing for. I just recently finished editing a or- developmental editing a young adult novel. So I met with the writer recently, and then I take a break for lunch, and then I like to spend my time writing my own stuff or working on podcast ideas, because that’s something new that I’m working on and yeah, and then often in the late afternoons, after school. I also work with kids. So I will go and work with kids. I work with kids who who have dyslexia and dysgraphia, so they struggle to read and write and so I’ll work with them after school, typically. So that’s, that’s my day. It’s a whole bunch of words. 

    Emma Plutnicki  02:21 

    Yeah amazing. And so you put on a lot of hats throughout your day and have to deal with your family and everything. So how are you able to maintain a healthy work life balance? Because I’m sure also creativity strikes at different times. So how are you able to manage that? 

    Megan Koon  02:38 

    Yes, that’s a really good question. And honestly, that is an acquired skill that takes time to figure out, because you’re right. Like creativity strikes at random and often inconvenient times, which is one reason I always have my notebook with me. I have a notebook with me at all times, everything, everything’s in here, and so that way I can scribble down or write something or make notes as I go, no matter where I am. But I think that most importantly, when I first started doing this work, I really overbooked myself. I was taking on clients right and left. I was so concerned about making enough money to support myself, that I was just like grasping for people, and then I realized that that was taking a toll just on me and my mental health and all of that. And so I keep a pretty standard schedule every day, like there are blocks of my time, just like anybody else would go to work, I block off segments of my time. This is when I work on this. This is when I work on that, and I try to keep to those unless something comes up. So I think that having a regular schedule, even though this kind of work is more freelance and, you know, I report to myself, I still block off those times, and that’s been really helpful. 

    Emma Plutnicki  04:02 

    Yeah makes sense. And is there any like local professional community in South Carolina that you lean on? Is there like a group of authors or anything like that? 

    Megan Koon  04:12 

    Yeah, so, so there are, there are many groups here. I have just a group of local writers that I have a writing partner who I’ve been writing with for years. She writes screenplays and does short films. I write novels, but we, I mean, we both, we’re both storytellers, so I’ve been working with her for years. And then I also am part of a local group with poets, novelists, playwrights, who just get together, and support and accountability is important too. So there is a lot of local support here. There are certainly national organizations that I could belong to and subscriptions that you can have, but I’ve really found so much validation and support just here in the community, you just have to, you have to seek it, because sometimes these kinds of of groups are not advertising themselves out in the community. So. Yeah, makes sense. And along the way, have individuals in that community, or maybe family members or any other mentors given you any advice along the way, whether positive or negative? Yeah, so so both I have certainly being in a creative field. There are plenty of folks who, for whatever reason that I certainly will never understand, don’t see this kind of work as as valid as something like I was a teacher for 20 years, so as something like that, or where I go somewhere else, and I report to someone, and I do my work. It’s hard for people who are not creatives to conceptualize what it is that I do and and why it’s important and like how I support myself. So certainly over time, I’ve had people give advice out of the goodness of their hearts, but with an obvious non understanding of what I do, why it’s important. But also, I’ve gotten some great advice from those that I’ve worked with, whether it was my novel that I published, and I knew something was missing from it, and I had a friend read it and said, “Oh, well, obviously it needs this”. And I’m like, oh yes, obviously it does. And then I put it in, and then we got published. And then also friends in the writing world who are also more astute in like, marketing areas who have said, “Yeah, you should absolutely start this podcast”. Here’s how you should do it. Here’s how. There’s some tiers. So the thing about creatives, too, is that we bring a lot to the experience, beside, just, besides, just whatever our creative ability, like our creative talent, is. I mean, I’m a writer, but having been a teacher for years, I’m a great communicator. I can help explain things. Some of my friends who are writers have marketing backgrounds or, you know, all kinds of things. And so that’s the nice thing about a community of creatives, is that we bring a whole lot of experience to each other. 

    Emma Plutnicki  07:21 

    Yeah, for sure. And so when you you were a teacher, and then you decided to become a full time author. Did you have any fears when you made that switch? 

    Megan Koon  07:29 

    Yes, it was terrifying, because as sure, you know it’s it’s regular hours, it’s a regular paycheck. I loved teaching. I loved what I was doing. I taught English, surprise, surprise, and I loved doing that work, but I also realized that I was so busy and I committed so much of myself to that work that there was no time for this part of who I am, and I have, since I was teeny tiny, I have known that I am a writer, it is what I am supposed to do. I’m supposed to help other people write, and I did that as a teacher. But, you know, in addition, there were so many other responsibilities. So really, I feel that I was really nervous, but I was taking the bits of my teaching career that I loved the most, and I think are the most important, and deciding to make all of that the absolute focus of my time, and also to be able to devote more time to my own creativity, which just makes me a happier, healthier person. But I was certainly afraid, because it sounds and to my family, it also sounded like this unstable thing, because there are no set work hours. There’s no cont- like one contract that I sign, and so there was some nerve in that. But I’m a person who- I truly believe that if you know yourself and you know what gifts you’ve been given, and you feel compelled by those and you’re using them for good, then the universe will help you make your way. And so I took the leap and and I mean not to say that there haven’t been bumpy times where I’m like, “oh gosh, really is that that’s that’s the amount of income I brought to our family this month”  or “why can’t I find more clients right now?” And there’s certainly those moments, but I have learned through this experience that because I am doing what I am supposed to do, things are shaking out, and not even just shaking out, but thriving now, so yeah. 

    Emma Plutnicki  09:34 

    Amazing. So although you may have those bumps in the road, has there been one project that you’ve worked on that has had a significant impact on you, whether it showcased your like, peak of your creativity, or just continues to leave a lasting impact on your life? 

    Megan Koon  09:52 

    Yeah, that’s a great question. So there are certainly projects that I’ve worked on just my own writing novel writing that I, I love them, I haven’t complete. They’re finished, but not finished. So I have not submitted them for publication or anything, but I I feel very they feel very organic for me and very defining. But I would also say that part of what I do with as a writing coach to help other people write their novels or poetry collections, all kinds of things. Is a book that I just finished, I just finished doing an edit, and now the author has hired me into a writing coach retainer. And as I was working on this book, I this was when I was certain, like, this is exactly what I should be doing besides my own writing, I already know I should be doing that, but I love this work. I loved reading his work, and I loved being able to being able to make big suggestions. It was developmental editing, so I basically went in there and said, “Hey, you have two books here. It’s not one book. You’ve written two, and so we need to chop it in half and do all this”. And I felt so- it made me feel very confident myself, because I was certain that I was correct in all of these things, and I knew that I was helping, and he was so receptive, and so that that project was very affirming, that I not only do I know that I have gifts for writing and I know that I can help people write, but that I really can help people with their their their own career and life defining projects, and that’s awesome.  Yeah and so do you feel, I mean, in a creative field, it’s hard sometimes to know what success looks like. So how do you define professional or personal success? Is it moments like that where you just feel fulfilled helping somebody? Is it more financial, ideological? How do you define success in a creative career? That’s such a great question. I’m really glad you asked that, because having taught for many years, I taught high school, and you would ask the students what success was, and they would always say, you know, it’s this income, or it’s being able to live in this kind of neighborhood. And while, of course, there is a part of success that’s able to independently support yourself, for sure, in the creative field, I would say that for me success, I see success in many different ways, but it usually has to do with- either conveying my story and having someone respond to it, and it meant something to them. So, you know, I publish a book, and people read it and they’re like, “oh, this reminded me of, you know, where I grew up”, or “this was so relatable”, like that success. When I’m helping someone with their writing, they’re- they come back with a revision, and they’re so excited, because they really have accomplished this big thing, and that is success to me, because if nothing, I mean, I I’m, I think I’m a pretty good editor, but I, by all, I am an encourager and cheerleader for everybody to tell their story. I was at a career day for an elementary school recently, and I told them all like the most important thing in life to me is storytelling, whether that whether you and and we do that in many different ways. I do it with words. Some people do visual arts. I mean, some people vocally give talks and whatever it is, but everybody has their own individual story. No one could have ever told your story. No one else will ever be able to tell your story, and the world needs stories. So success, to me, is in any way helping to put stories into the world, whether it’s through my own writing, or helping someone else do it, because I really feel like that. That’s what we need as people, is to have those kinds of connections that we can only get through stories. 

    Emma Plutnicki  14:02 

    Yeah I love that. That’s a great perspective to have. Amazing so just as we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to add, any advice or anything like that? 

    Megan Koon  14:13 

    I would just say that I am in my 40s now. I’ve been writing for a really long time, and I’ve done some other things in the meantime. Teaching, actually worked in IT for a little while, which is very funny, but I was doing communications, so um, and all of that has been well and good, but I am so grateful that I’ve come to the place where I can make space in my life to pursue these creative pursuits, and I wish that I had had more support for it earlier, like when I was growing up from my family or, you know. And so my advice to folks is that if they want to pursue a career in something creative, then know that this is in fact a career. It’s a career it is just as valid as any other career, and it’s, it is one of the most important careers, because we do need stories and we need things of beauty in the world and the the wonderful thing about being a creative is that everything I produce could only come from me, and so it is a personal contribution, but I would just say that if you’re going along and you want to pursue a creative career, and people are acting as if it’s not as valuable, or what does that really mean? If I hear the phrase starving artist one more time, I’m going to just start screeching, but just ignore the naysayers, like you know what you were created to do. You know what your gifts are, and go for them. It’s a legitimate career field, and you should spend your career doing something you love, because that’s how we all spend most of our day as you know, adult, grown up people so do what you love and don’t let detractors try to tell you that it’s not significant, because it really is. 

    Emma Plutnicki  16:03 

    Yeah, thank you. That’s great advice. I really appreciate you taking the time to speak about your career, and you clearly love it. So it’s really refreshing to hear. 

    Megan Koon  16:13 

    Yay! Thank you. [inaudible ] ask me!  Of course! 

  • Cynthia Ford

    Cynthia Ford

    “Each moment that you’re able to get up again and keep pushing, that’s success.” 

    Cynthia Ford is the Founder and CEO of Cynthia O Writing & Consulting, a South Carolina-based firm specializing in writing services, consulting, and speaking engagements. Her company focuses on three core areas; authoring inspirational literature, providing strategic business consulting, and delivering transformative speaking engagements  

    Interview

    Transcript

    Emma Plutnicki 

    So, to start, what do you do for work? And where are you currently working from?  

    Cynthia Ford 

    Okay, I’m working from home, and as of 2023, I left for my full-time job to work on my own business. So, I own Cynthia O Writing and Consulting, and I have three portions of that business. One, I’m an artist in residence for literature. I’m also an author, and also I help businesses with consulting and writing needs, such as grant writing and other additional writing services.  

    Emma Plutnicki 

    Okay, cool and how long have you been doing that for? Since 2023? 

    Cynthia Ford

    Full time? 2023 you know, I have done some other things part time as I was working full time. And I’ve been doing some social media content management as well, just part time until I launched that. 

    Emma Plutnicki

    Okay, nice and where is home for you?  

    Cynthia Ford

    Mullins. 

    Emma Plutnicki

    Okay, nice. And so, what does a typical day look like for you? What’s expected of you on a daily basis, and what kind of responsibilities do you have?  

    Cynthia Ford

    The day, the typical day, really just doesn’t exist, you know, but I do plan things out ahead of time, you know, on my schedule, times to meet with those who are interested in services. I set certain days for that. I also set time aside for researching, for grant writing. So, I just split it up. You know, I split up my day for the first portion of the day is my time where I’m, you know, I had that moment to myself, whether I’m just outside, meditating, reading, listening to podcasts, or just preparing for the day. And, you know, then I’ll begin to do my social media posts for the businesses that I help with that. And then I’ll begin additional things that I have to do for other businesses, whether it’s the grant writing services I’m consulting and reaching out and networking with other people where I can, you know, spread my services. Um, I also save time for writing, as relates to me being an author, so I have another book that will be coming out, so I set aside specifically time just to make sure that I’m on task when it comes to things I have to publish or networking regarding the books that I’m doing. 

    Emma Plutnicki

    Nice and so the businesses that you consult for, are they, oftentimes, South Carolina based, or are they around the country? 

    Cynthia Ford

    So far, they’ve been only South Carolina based. I’m not opposed to, you know, reaching out to other businesses outside of South Carolina. But so far, yeah. 

    Emma Plutnicki

    How would you describe the like local working professional community in South Carolina. Do you have any experience in other places where South Carolina is particularly, particularly unique, or how is that community here?  

    Cynthia Ford

    Do you mean as far as the business, the different businesses in itself, are they unique, or? 

    Emma Plutnicki 

    Just in general, with like, how the working community is in South Carolina. Is there a lot of collaboration? Is it kind of there are cliques of groups? How is like collaborating with businesses in South Carolina?  

    Cynthia Ford

    I have actually seen both aspects of it. I have seen situations where businesses are able to grow because they have networked with other businesses, you know, provided resources to other constituents and, you know, just information that they needed in order to help push them to the next level. So, I have seen that definitely, yeah, you know how they’ll say sometimes not what you know its who you know. I see a lot of that, you know, you know, from just my experiences, from working with other businesses, yeah. 

    Emma Plutnicki 

    And is there a way, if you’re starting out to kind of break through that or grow your network? 

    Cynthia Ford

    Yes, I would definitely say, attend any type of event, whether it’s virtual or in person. A lot of times there are free events that people can tap into, searching through different places, like Eventbrite or just searching online when there, when there are things that are related to what you’re doing or what you desire to do, but just kind of tapping into that. I’ve also found a lot of resources virtually myself, just through podcasts, you know, YouTube, and I have been able to pour into my business just through those things and connecting and investing in myself, the things that I’ve researched through that. 

    Emma Plutnicki

    Yeah, of course. And so, you have a lot of things pulling you in different directions. In a creative career like that, it’s hard to kind of know what success looks like. So how would you define personal and professional success in your career? 

    Cynthia Ford

    Well, you know success, of course, and like you said, I am pulled in different directions, but when I can accomplish things that I have set out to do, when I’ve set those goals and they’re accomplished. So those moments are success to me. Trying each day is success to me, because I could have a moment where I’m like, okay, you know, I’m really just not feeling this. But then when you get up and you try again, that’s success. You know, you’ve gotten past the mental things that try to hold you back, or you’ve gotten past any type of barriers that are out of your control. You know, found a way to go around it. That’s success. So, each moment that you’re able to get up again and keep pushing, yeah. 

    Emma Plutnicki 

    For sure, did you have any fears when you came into this career? 

    Cynthia Ford

    I did. I actually it took me a couple of years to do it, and I actually desired to start it in 2019, but it’s like I knew that there was something that I wanted to do. I didn’t know how to get there, and didn’t know exactly what it was, but it was a big jump for me, because I was with the Department of Juvenile Justice for 15 years, and so I went to coastal, you know, I started with teaching, and I did some other things, and I worked with DJ J and moved up to kind of direct the position. So, to actually move from that position where you’re settled and everything is good, to launch out to something where you have to start over, that was a huge leap. So I was afraid, and I was okay, well, how am I going to make it financially? I just couldn’t pull those things together. But I began to prepare financially, mentally, and just began to get all those things together before I took the big leap, you know, just make sure that I was, you know, well, I had a well, um, grounded Foundation, and knew that was what I was going to do. 

    Emma Plutnicki

    For sure, and along the way, when you had those fears and faced challenges, was there anybody there to give you advice, either mentors or family? Do you remember any like, the best advice that you received and also the worst advice? 

    Cynthia Ford

    Yes, the worst advice, I think, would come from, you know, when someone would say, well, just leave. Just do it. Don’t just leave. Just do it without being prepared. And there were times when I could, yeah, I could have left when I first thought about it, but I was no way of where I needed to be as far as when prepared. I could have fell on my face financially, but, um, you know, don’t just leave without being prepared. And some people was like, just go. Let’s go. No, don’t just go. But I also received, one of the best advice that I received was someone that told me, just make sure you stay in your lane. You know you don’t have to look on anyone else’s paper when you know exactly what it is you should supposed to be doing, and you’re grounded in that. Just stay in your lane. You don’t have to copy what someone else is doing, or feel like you have to emulate what the other person is doing, do the best of what you are supposed to do.  

    Emma Plutnicki 

    Yeah, that’s great advice. Very good advice. And so, throughout your career, have you had one project that made a significant impact on you, maybe something that was particularly meaningful, that just kind of resonated with you and kind of stands out as a pinnacle or peak of your career? 

    Cynthia Ford 

    Goodness. Actually, I have a couple, but I would probably say, when I released my second book, Dream Like a Queen. I did that in collaboration with the library, Marion County Library, and it was a tea party, and so I really prepared for that. I bought this gal, and we asked the girls to come out and dress up in their little princess dresses. And we had the library just totally transformed. So, when you went in there, it wasn’t like, oh, just your regular library. It was a magical type thing. And the young ladies were just amazed that we had a station for pictures, a station for painting, arts and crafts. And of course, they got their copy of their book pictures together. So that was, um, you know, huge for me, just to be able to bring literacy to the young people in that format, and for them to see the library in a different way. 

    Emma Plutnicki

    Yeah, that must have been amazing to witness. It was your project come to life. And just overall, as we’re wrapping up, is there anything else you’d like to add about your career? Any advice, anything of that nature? 

    Cynthia Ford

    Well, as relates to great creativity, I first started and see how large of a spectrum that I can go into, as relates to writing. I just thought about, okay, me as an author, you know, I’ve written, I’ve published four books, but I have a living weight, but not knowing, just the expansion of what I can do, you know, I can. I launched out to different workshops where I can teach children and adults literacy, so you can also turn it into speaking opportunities and coaching opportunities. So, I also thought about I had, you know, take myself back to what I truly love and desire in every career or job in.  I love some aspect of it, and I wasn’t afraid to close the door at a certain point. So, when you get to that point where you want to close the door and launch to something else, do that because we have different purposes in life. And you know, just don’t be afraid to tap into that. And if the door closes and it’s your time to move on, move forward. You know, it’s okay to move forward if where you are is no longer serving you, and that’s what I did. I just moved forward, and I was able to see it unfolded to me to different ways how I can launch my writing services and connect into different areas where I love and that was business that was helping youth and helping the community, but also publishing my book and knowing that I can take that book and do different things, teaching workshops, speaking, so it’s not just that one thing, 

    Emma Plutnicki 

    Yeah, yeah. That’s great advice, and it’s an amazing story about how you, you know, arrange your finances and gain the courage to then quit a job that you know you had well established. So it’s really inspiring, and I love it, and I’m glad that you’re, it’s refreshing to hear that you really enjoy your job now. So thank you so much for sharing. Really appreciate it. 

  • Daniel Kline

    Daniel Kline

    “Just jump in and just do it and learn along the way. Don’t wait until you’re don’t. Don’t wait until you feel ready.”

    Daniel Kline is a fitness coach and writer/producer for Starling media in Conway, South Carolina. Daniel has been professionally making films for two years now and offers great advice for those entering a career in the arts. 

    Interview

    Transcript

    Lexi Raines | 00:01 

    First, just give a little introduction of yourself. What do you? Who are you? What do you do for work, and where are you currently working from?  

    Daniel Kline | 00:09 

    Yeah. So my name is Daniel Kline. I am from Conway, South Carolina, and I, as far as work goes, I’m kind of doing two things as most artists are doing. I, my main job is, I’m a fitness coach, but my creative job is, I’m a writer and producer for Starling Media.  

    Lexi Raines | 00:31 

    Yeah, that’s awesome. And, so how long have you been working for, you said Starlight Media?  

    Daniel Kline | 00:40 

    Starling media, like the bird. Yeah, yes. So that’s Starling media is actually it’s my thing. I, I’ve been making films like professionally, both creatively and I’ve done a couple of commercial things, but I’ve been doing film for about two years now, although Starling media was started back in November, so it’s still pretty fresh. But yeah, I’ve been doing film professionally for about two years, but total about four years. First two years was mostly learning.  

    Lexi Raines | 01:14 

    Yeah, that’s awesome. So you said you’re from Conway. So what is one thing that you like working as a creative in South Carolina? Because I know some people, they tend to think that if you want to be a creative professional, you’re going to have to move out of South Carolina. You’re going to have to move somewhere bigger. What does South Carolina give to you that somewhere else wouldn’t?  

    Daniel Kline | 01:40 

    I think South Carolina is actually a really great place to be a filmmaker, because one of the largest hubs in the world for filmmaking is Atlanta, which is practically our back door. I mean, it’s a little bit further for us because, you know, or at least makes them in Conway, but, I mean, it’s, yeah, we got Atlanta right in our back door, which means a lot of, a lot of film companies are, you know, they do kind of like sub out in a bunch of different areas that are nearby. So like, Charleston is close to us, Wilmington is close to us. And actually, most of the work that I do is up in Greenville, which is about an hour and a half from Atlanta, and so we get a lot of, like, Atlanta productions that film in Greenville as well. So I think we’re, like, we’re at a really great position to, you know, have, like, a really affordable living and, you know, also be very close to where the action’s at.  

    Lexi Raines | 02:37 

    Yeah, that’s amazing. So I’ve actually heard a lot of filmmakers and producers, there is a big hub for that in Greenville right now. So how would you describe the professional community up there?  

    Daniel Kline | 02:56 

    Oh, gosh. I absolutely love my filmmaking friends. I mean, I’ve met producers, I’ve met filmmakers that are kind of on both sides, so it’s not 100% but the community that I’ve, I’ve met, and I’ve worked with, and I’ve really, you know, dug roots with, there are some of the kindest, most giving people. Like, they freely give their time. We, we pretty much exchange time, like, I’ll work on your project if you work on mine. And everyone really gives 100%, sometimes 110%, and it’s just a really fantastic community, and I’m just, I love being part of it, and they welcome me as a local, even though I’m three hours away.  

    Lexi Raines | 03:38 

    Yeah, South Carolina really is just like one big community. I feel like, no matter where you’re from, we’re all very close with each other, which is awesome. So kind of moving a little bit, how do you define your professional or personal successes in your creative endeavors?  

    Daniel Kline | 03:58 

    So as far as filmmakers go, there’s a lot of talented filmmakers out there. And, I mean, there’s a lot of talented filmmakers that are way more talented than I could ever hope to be. So I learned pretty early on that my why, my why is, what’s going to make me different. And so like professional success would, would, on the surface, be, you know, like having a successful film, you know, film that wins awards and everything but personal success. I, I’m really passionate about people, and I think if I’ve got an award winning film, but my film was a miserable experience to work on, then I failed. And so that’s, that’s kind of how I am choosing to define my success; is just being a team player, being a, creating a positive work environment, and also just creating a product that shows love. You know, when I say shows love, like you can tell that people loved it when they worked on it. And I think that, and I think that really shows in the final product as well.  

    Lexi Raines | 04:58 

    I completely agree. I- I’ve seen movies in the past that you can just tell the actors, the people on set, they weren’t super passionate or happy about it, but I feel like it always makes the biggest difference.   

    Daniel Kline | 05:12 

    Yeah, absolutely.  

    Lexi Raines | 05:13 

    Yeah, so you said that you’ve been making movies for a while now, seriously, and just outside of that, what was your biggest fear when you first decided to pursue this career?  

    Daniel Kline | 05:30 

    I think the easy answer would be fear of failure. But I’m going to dig a little deeper, and I’m going to say my biggest fear is creating a product that I think is great, and people not liking it. Like, if I look at the final product, I’m like, “alright, this is awesome. This is my best work”, and it just absolutely flops. I think that’s the biggest fear.  

    Lexi Raines | 05:53 

    Yeah, I feel like that is a- that’s a big fear for a lot of people. But, so on a more positive note, like, what’s a defining moment you’ve had in your creative journey? Like, was there a particular project that made a significant impact on you, or was it something you produced that really showcased your creativity?  

    Daniel Kline | 06:17 

    Yeah, so my- I would have to say that the most defining moment was probably my first project, my first short film. It was, it was that big step where I went from wanting to become a filmmaker to actually being a filmmaker. I took I’d been, I had spent like, two years learning. At that point, two years learning and not doing anything. And everyone was just saying, “Just do it. Just do it. Just, you know, just push through. You’ve got stuff, if you’ve got a phone, you can make a film,” and so we just did it. I wrote something that was accessible, that had like a little creative spin on it, and something that we could film like, pretty easily in a weekend, and we just put a lot of effort into it, and it was, it was pretty good. Like, it’s, it wasn’t like the best thing, and you can tell it was like our first thing ever. But I got to show it to our, my filmmaking community up in Greenville, and these are people who, like, work full time in it, and like, they, like, some of them were actually wowed by it. They were like, “wow! Like, who, who did this? Who, you know, who edited them?” Like, it’s, my brother edited it. He’s never edited anything in his life and it was just like, it, it ended up being such a really cool thing, because we just, we just did it, and it’s been entered into film festivals. We just won Best Short and Best Director for it couple months ago. And so it’s like it was a really defining moment, because it was just that moment where I realized, you know, we can do this.  

    Lexi Raines | 07:47 

    Yeah, that is amazing. That’s so special. Congratulations on that.  

    Daniel Kline | 07:52 

    Thank you.   

    Lexi Raines | 07:53 

    So, what is, while you were on this path, was there any like advice you received, like good advice, bad advice?  

    Daniel Kline | 08:05 

    That- the advice, the best advice that I received was, was just do it. There’s a lot of, there’s a lot of creative people, not just filmmakers, but there’s a lot of creative people who are afraid to take that first step, but I mean, really, there’s no reason- there’s no time like the present, and there’s no reason why you can’t, and especially if you’ve got a phone in your pocket, you can do most of your creative work to some capacity. And, so the best advice and the thing I always just tell people who ask me what to do, just do it. Just jump in and just do it and learn along the way. Don’t wait until you’re ready. Don’t wait until you feel ready.  

    Lexi Raines | 08:43 

    Yeah because- I feel that. Like you’ll never feel ready.  

    Daniel Kline | 08:48 

    Yeah, I had about a dozen people tell me that in a day, and I was like, “Okay, I get it. I get it.”  

    Lexi Raines | 08:55 

    Yeah, so along with “just do it” you obviously, you said you were a fitness instructor, so you have another job. How would you- How do you balance your day? Like walk us through a typical work day for you. That is an awesome, an awesome balance. So when you’re shifting into more of like, your creative mindset later in the day, what does your process look like for when like, you’re writing these movies, producing them, what does what does that process look like?  

    Daniel Kline | 09:11 

    Oh my gosh. So my day usually starts at 4am, which is rough. I’m not a morning person, but you know, I have to be, but no, my day usually starts at 4am and I just basically work between four and seven sessions. So my day, usually, my professional day usually ends around 11 or 12- 11am, or 12pm, so I mean, I’ve got the the last half of my day to do anything creative, you know, anything creative that I want and so it does allow for a lot of time, and, but- and the gym that I work at, they know, they know what I do. They know what I love to do, what I want to do and so, like, anytime there’s a project, I can freely take off and, you know, go pursue that. And I- So I, it’s a really awesome job to have, yeah.   

    Lexi Raines | 10:05 

    That is an awesome, an awesome balance. So when you’re shifting into more of life, your creative mindset later in the day, what does your process look like for when like, you’re writing these movies, producing them, what does that process look like?  

    Daniel Kline | 10:22 

    Yeah, you asked about writing and producing. I could, I could talk for hours about either so I’m going to choose one. I’m going to shorten it. I mean, writing, writing is, is just a bunch of planning. That’s all it is. It’s just a bunch of planning. You plan on conversations and everything, and then you write it out. So I’m actually going to shift to producing what my day looks like as a producer. It’s a lot of- it’s a lot of boring office work. It’s phone calls. It’s making sure that people’s schedules align. It’s making sure that money is where it needs to be. It’s filling out spreadsheets, creating spreadsheets. I like to use this website called Milanotes. I know a lot of people use it to, like, take notes and everything it’s, it’s where I like to have, like, a different- it’s basically like a giant virtual cork board that you can, like, put different files and draw different lines between things. It looks like a crazy conspiracy theorist board, but- that’s, but yeah, it’s basically just filling in information and just making sure that everyone’s caught up on everything.  

    Lexi Raines | 11:27 

    Yeah, so, that seems like a lot to juggle. What are some habits that you have, that you’ve developed that you think would be beneficial for others wanting to join this field?  

    Daniel Kline | 11:47 

    I think the- the best habit for people who are wanting to join the field, if they’re starting from scratch, the- probably the best thing that I did for myself, and I, like, I would absolutely recommend, is I keep this, this rolodex spreadsheet. I created- I created this spreadsheet that anytime I, I basically just got on set, anytime I could, like, I volunteered, I like, met people, shadowed people, and I spent, like, two years working on sets, different sets, without getting paid, just to, like, meet people. And so what I did was, every time I worked with somebody that I enjoyed with- enjoyed working with, and that I would want to work with again, someday, I would put their name, put their information in spreadsheet, put how I met them, and then, I also had a line that was like, this is the last date that I talked to them on, and I kept all of those dates within a month. And so, like, if it’s been about a month since I talked to somebody, I would text them say, like, “Hey, what are you working on? How are you doing?” and that spreadsheet quickly grew into, like, 100 lines. And that was 100 different connections that I you know, people that I kept in in contact with, and that, after about a year and a half of investment, that- that became work, like those people started calling me for- for work, and those became paid projects. And so, like, so, I mean, bottom line is, however you want to do it, like, find your community. Write down, write down a list of people that you want to work with and stick with those people.  

    Lexi Raines | 13:26 

    Yeah, that’s actually a really, a really clever idea. I haven’t- I wouldn’t have even thought to do that. That’s so smart. So do you have any questions that you wish we would have been asked- we would have asked you?  

    Daniel Kline | 13:47 

    Oh, no, not really. I think that covers everything.  

    Lexi Raines | 13:50 

    Okay, awesome. And my last question for you today is, do you have a creative that you’d like to nominate to be interviewed?  

    Daniel Kline | 13:57 

    Hmm, well, I’ve got a whole Rolodex full of them. Yeah, I’ve got, I’ve got one. I think she’d be really cool person talk to. But Yasmine Lee.  

    Lexi Raines | 14:11 

    Yasmin Lee?  

    14:12 | Daniel Kline  

    Yeah.   

    Lexi Raines | 14:14 

    Awesome.   

    Daniel Kline | 14:15 

    She’s a filmmaker up in Greenville. She’s an Emmy Award winning person, really, yeah, she’s and she’s really cool. Worked with her several times.  

    Lexi Raines | 14:24 

    Okay, awesome. Yeah, send us, send us her information, and then, yeah, I will hear this if you can. Thank you so much for your time. It was really great interviewing you. I’m going to look into your work. You seem so passionate about everything, I’ll be looking for your name out there.   

    Daniel Kline | 14:46 

    Thanks. Appreciate it.  

    Lexi Raines | 14:48 

    Thank you so much for your time. I hope you have a good. rest of your day, stay safe in the snow. Supposed snow.  

    Daniel Kline | 14:59 

    Alrighty, bye.  

  • Kelly Moran

    Kelly Moran

    “Don’t give up. A reader can’t read a blank page and rejection is just a step toward the story you’re meant to share.”

    Kelly Moran is a hybrid author, small press publisher, and international bestseller living in York, South Carolina. Through her company, Rowan Prose Publishing, she champions emerging writers and tells stories that resonate globally.

    About

    Kelly Moran is a seasoned author and founder of Rowan Prose Publishing, a small press that uplifts underrepresented voices in the literary world. Based in York, South Carolina, Kelly began her professional journey in 2005 as a novelist, publishing over 30 titles in paranormal and contemporary romance, and even light horror. She is a hybrid author having published both independently and through major houses like Penguin/Berkeley and her books have earned international acclaim, particularly in Germany, where she is a household name.

    In 2023, Kelly launched Rowan Prose to support debut authors often overlooked by large publishers. Her goal is to provide a welcoming, professionally rigorous publishing experience that balances author freedom with editorial excellence. With over 50 authors on her roster, she works daily to edit, market, and nurture literary careers from her home office complete with the “commute” past two dogs and a pot of coffee.

    For Kelly, success isn’t measured solely in sales or bestseller status, though she’s achieved both. It’s found in the emotional connection readers form with her work readers who write to say her characters made them laugh, cry, or feel seen. She champions inclusive storytelling, often weaving in themes of disability, anxiety, and social justice into her romance novels.

    Her advice to aspiring creatives is simple but powerful: follow your dream. Whether you’re writing at 5 a.m. before work or querying your 80th agent, keep going. “Rejection will come,” she says, “but so will the right readers and maybe even your dream contract.”

  • Cynthia Ford

    Cynthia Ford

    “Each moment that you’re able to get up again and keep pushing, that’s success.” 

    Cynthia Ford is the Founder and CEO of Cynthia O Writing & Consulting, a South Carolina-based firm specializing in writing services, consulting, and speaking engagements. Her company focuses on three core areas; authoring inspirational literature, providing strategic business consulting, and delivering transformative speaking engagements  

    About

    Cynthia Ford is a South Carolina-based writer, consultant, and founder of Cynthia O Writing and Consulting. After working for 15 years at the Department of Juvenile Justice and in education, she made the leap into full-time entrepreneurship in 2023. Her business includes grant writing, content development, social media management, and author services anchored by her deep love for literature. 

    Cynthia is also an artist-in-residence for literature and a published author with four books to her name. Each day looks different in her world, but her work always blends planning, creativity, and community connection. She sets aside time for writing, client meetings, content creation, and self-reflection, often starting her mornings outdoors or with a podcast. 

    One of the most meaningful moments in her career was launching her second book, Dream Like a Queen, through a collaboration with the Marion County Library. She hosted a tea party for young girls, complete with princess gowns, crafts, photo booths, and story time. That event helped children see the library as a magical space and brought literacy to life in a new way. 

    Cynthia encourages aspiring creatives to prepare thoughtfully before making big transitions. She’s learned to stay focused on her path, resist outside pressure, and build a foundation rooted in her strengths. Whether through consulting, writing, or workshops, Cynthia continues to grow a career that brings value to others and joy to herself. For her, success is not measured by accolades, but by impact and the courage to keep going, even when it’s hard. 

  • Walter Curry

    Walter Curry

    “Stay in your lane. Don’t try to ride somebody else’s, because if you do, you’ll get run over.” 

    Dr. Walter B. Curry, Jr. is an award-winning author, educator, and historian based in Columbia, South Carolina. Through Renaissance Publications, he documents African American family and local history, connecting ancestral narratives to broader historical themes. 

    About

    Dr. Walter B. Curry, Jr. is the founder of Renaissance Publications and a dedicated historian and author focused on preserving African American heritage in South Carolina. A Columbia native, Curry began writing in 2018 and has since published multiple award-winning books that blend family ancestry with local history. His works, such as The Thompson Family: Untold Stories from the Past and The Awakening, trace powerful intergenerational narratives rooted in Orangeburg and Aiken counties. 

    With a background in education and business, Dr. Curry transitioned from teaching to a full-time literary career, driven by a deep calling to uncover hidden histories and share them through exhibitions, books, and public presentations. He also serves as author-in-residence with Aiken Center for the Arts and is a speaker with South Carolina Humanities. 

    Among his proudest moments is the 2020 debut of his first historical exhibition, which drew record-breaking crowds at the Aiken County Historical Museum. Dr. Curry encourages young creatives to guard their minds, focus on growth, and honor their calling with discipline and integrity. His motto: reflect, refine, and remain rooted in purpose. 

    Dr. Walter B. Curry, Jr. is deeply committed to uncovering and sharing the hidden history of South Carolina’s African American communities, especially through ancestral narratives. He believes that growth both personal and professional, is the most important measure of success for creatives, not awards or recognition alone. His grandmother’s wisdom, urging him to “stay in your lane,” shaped his path and continues to guide his approach to writing, teaching, and collaboration. For Curry, storytelling is not only about the past but also about building community, cultivating purpose, and helping others discover their gifts through history. 

    Contact

  • Madison Wu

    Madison Wu

    “The best outcome is when I’m not worried about how it’s going to be professionally, we need rawness, weirdness, and vulnerability.” 

    Madison Wu is a self-employed author based in North Carolina, crafting poetry, fantasy, and contemporary stories centered around inclusivity, vulnerability, and self-discovery. 

    About

    Madison Wu is an independent writer whose creative work spans genres from poetry to fantasy to contemporary fiction. Working from her home in North Carolina, Madison began writing professionally in 2022 and quickly realized that creativity could be both personal expression and a path to purpose. A disabled, Asian-American member of the LGBTQ+ community, Madison brings an intersectional lens to her stories, aiming to reflect voices often underrepresented in mainstream media. “The lack of representation I see around me contributes to my desire to put more representation out there,” she shares. 

    Her self-published poetry collection born from a challenge to overcome fear became a symbol of boldness and healing: “If you’re afraid to get published, write 100 poems and publish it… then you can’t say you’re afraid anymore.” Madison sees creative success not in viral attention but in emotional resonance; “Someone bought extra copies of my book to give to people they meet. That’s success.” 

    Balancing her work through routines grounded in music, pacing, and personal discipline, Madison’s artistic life centers on authenticity. “Don’t let whatever anyone says scare you,” she advises new writers. “When you focus on what feels right, that’s when you reach another level.” 

  • Evelyn Berry

    Evelyn Berry

    “It’s just that when we’re conceptualizing art, we always think of it as something that has happened, but not something you can do in your own life, like in the current moment. So Don’t wait for permission. Just start working and start sharing.”  

    Evelyn Berry, poet and educator from Columbia, SC, uses her voice to champion authenticity and queer Southern storytelling. Through workshops, editing, and her acclaimed poetry, she inspires writers to embrace vulnerability and speak truth to power. 

    About

    Evelyn Berry’s story is one of authenticity, resilience, and artistic devotion. A poet and editor raised in South Carolina, Evelyn began writing seriously at 16, publishing in local journals and never looking back. Today, she is the author of multiple poetry collections, including Grief Slut, and forthcoming Tea for Tea, Evelyn’s writing is deeply informed by her identity as a queer Southerner and her commitment to storytelling that uplifts marginalized voices. Beyond her books, she leads creative writing workshops for festivals, universities, and nonprofits, and works as a freelance editor and library communications strategist. 

    Evelyn’s writing is confessional and political, shaped by her experiences as a queer person in the South. “It’s impossible for pretty much anything I write not to be viewed by others as political,” she said. In a world where many discourage political storytelling, Evelyn insists on honoring the truths of lived experience. Evelyn’s work reflects a deep love for art and advocacy. As she shared, “All of our lives are very political,” and her writing unapologetically reflects that truth. 

    She emphasizes that success is “writing something that people respond to… that might change how they think or how they feel.” Her advice to aspiring artists is simple yet bold: “Don’t wait for permission. Just start making and start sharing.” 

    Through her books, mentorship, and community work, Evelyn creates space for voices often silenced. Her story is a reminder that art is both personal and communal and that creativity, when wielded with courage, can shift culture. 

  • Caleb Wygal

    Caleb Wygal

    “If the car accident hadn’t happened, I couldn’t have asked for a better career for me.” 

    Mystery author Caleb Wygal turns personal tragedy into literary triumph through the Myrtle Beach Mysteries series. 

    About

    Caleb Wygal is a full-time author living in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, and he’s mainly known for his Myrtle Beach Mysteries series. His journey to becoming a successful writer was anything but straightforward. It all kicked off during some quiet moments at a slow office job and took a serious turn after a bad car accident that almost derailed everything. 

    Caleb talks about how a traumatic brain injury made him relearn the basics, walking, talking, and even writing his name. Doctors said he’d never hold a full-time job, but he proved them wrong. Some folks say his stories helped them learn English or get through tough times in the hospital. 

    What started as short stories born out of boredom has turned into a popular book series, thanks in part to the strong author community around South Carolina’s Grand Strand. From writing on the beach to getting featured on local TV, Caleb’s journey is packed with creative twists, small-town inspiration, and some pretty memorable moments, like when he spilled the beans on a local talk show that one of his murder victims was based on the host. For Caleb, success is simple: paying the bills and bringing joy to his readers. With each new mystery, he continues to prove that storytelling is not just an escape.