Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Brittany Kelly of Kansas City

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Brittany Kelly. Check out our conversation below.

Brittany, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are definitely a whirlwind! With my daughter just starting kindergarten, mornings are a beautiful mix of chaos and love. We rush around getting her ready for school, while our two playful black labs add to the excitement with their loving energy. I’m balancing breakfast, packing lunch, and making sure everything’s in order, all while trying to sneak in a quick workout a few times a week. It’s a hectic start, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Brittany, a Kansas City native balancing life as a mom, wife, and corporate professional. In my spare time, I’m thrilled to embrace my passion for writing children’s literature. This past June, I launched my first book, “Freckles,” which follows the adventures of my daughter and her beloved duck decoy best friend. Their journey highlights the importance of kindness and celebrating our differences, making it a great read for all families.

Since my first feature in Voyage KC, I’ve been on an incredible journey of creativity and connection with readers, bookstores, and even other authors. I’m excited to share that “Freckles” recently received a Literary Titan Book Award, a testament to the positive messages it conveys. This experience has been rewarding, and I look forward to what the future holds for my new book!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is definitely the one I have with my daughter. It’s been an incredibly rewarding and eye-opening experience! She inspires me daily, keeping me grounded and reminding me of what truly matters. Her unconditional love and encouragement have been my guiding light on the journey to becoming an author and navigating life’s challenges.

Being a mom is both the most fulfilling and the most challenging role I’ve ever taken on, and I absolutely cherish it! It’s a wonderful learning experience, and if you’re a parent in the thick of it, I completely understand the ups and downs. We’re all in this together!

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self not to worry so much about the small things. It’s essential to enjoy life and embrace the fact that it’s perfectly okay to be different and not fit in. As you grow older, it really won’t matter; you’ll find your people and carve out your own path. So, don’t stress too much—just enjoy life and ignore the outside noise!

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that my faith, family, and deep friendships are the most important aspects of my life, in that order. I truly believe that nurturing rich relationships is one of the most valuable pursuits we can have. I cherish every opportunity to express this belief and connect with others. These three elements are deeply intertwined, each one enriching the others in my life.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
My hope is that readers will see the love I have for my daughter reflected in my writing, particularly in “Freckles.” I want them to feel my desire to share this message: that it’s okay to be different. Celebrating our differences is a powerful statement, and I aimed to provide comfort and support to those who may feel out of place. I envision this book leaving a legacy not just for Freckles and Mave, but also for anyone who feels different. Ultimately, I hope it challenges readers to choose kindness and to spread warmth, as that is an important part of my legacy that I want to leave behind me.