Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaci Curtis.
Hi Kaci , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a KC native. I was raised in the northland, graduated from Park Hill, and got my A.A. at Maple Woods Community College. I worked as a 911 operator for KCPD for over 5 years, until I moved to be with my husband, who is active duty military. As a military family, we’ve lived all over since then: California, Mississippi (twice!), the island of Guam, and now Virginia. Through it all, KC has been the only home that we’ve been able to return to.
I trace my love for writing back to the second grade, when I wrote my first short story. My teacher, Mrs. Gustafsen, laminated it for me, and even helped me tape a school picture onto the back page, for an ‘about the author’ section. In high school, I was lucky to have more teachers who encouraged me to pursue creative writing (shout outs to Mrs. Capra, and Mr. Snelling!)
After getting my degree, I started writing novels and querying them to agents. Each time, I learned more about the process, and I handled rejection better. With each novel, I crafted more submissions before eventually giving up and moving on to a new project. My recently released novel, Along the Trail, symbolizes the first time that I decided to dig my feet into the sand against the pressure to give up and add it to the growing pile of unpublished books.
I realized that as long as I continued to submit, and to learn and work on my craft, that publication would come. And remarkably, it was that simple (and that hard!) Today, I’m excited to be able to say that I’m a published author, and hopeful that there are many more books to come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a writer requires developing a thick skin. Hearing the phrase “thanks, but it’s not for us” is common, and I’ve read it in many rejection letters over the years. Sending your writing out into the world can feel like peeling back your skin to let strangers see inside, and that can be a scary thing! But at some point, if you want your work to be published and read by others, you have to take that leap.
A struggle that I face regularly is simply finding the time to write. As a military spouse, I can go weeks or months being the only available parent at home. Since we currently live far away from our family and friends in KC, I lack the same support system that I grew up with. I’ve been lucky to forge friendships with some fantastic military families who’ve been with us at various points along this ride, but the reality is that writing often takes a backseat to the needs of my family, especially when my husband is away.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a writer, and now a published author! My historical fiction novel, Along the Trail, was just published on October 22 (with the Wild Rose Press). I’ve published short stories with ‘Amazing Stories,’ and ‘Bewildering Stories,’ and also published articles about my time living on the island of Guam with ‘Stars & Stripes: Guam.’
I’ve also contributed blog posts to the non-profit, Mission:Milspouse, Writing about my experiences as a military spouse and mom was a great way to connect with other spouses and highlight some of the unique challenges that military families like mine face.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Don’t give up on yourself too quickly (or ever!) Too often, fresh authors just starting their journey to publication give up after a few rejections. They sting – but rejections are a necessary part of being an author, and they mean that you’re putting yourself out there and submitting your work! Keep going, despite your doubts, and don’t let your inner critic keep you from creating.
Pricing:
- 19.99 paperback
- 5.99 e-Book
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kacicurtisauthor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kacicurtisauthor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCurtisWriter
