We recently connected with Harrison Kayne and have shared our conversation below.

Harrison, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

I love this question. For my entire writing journey, I’ve been surrounded by kind and supportive people who helped me flourish. Kindness cultivated my stubborn determination to keep writing and improving despite any obstacles I’ve faced. There has never been a moment where I considered quitting, and I know that comes from all those who believed in me over the years, as well as my love for the craft. Writing can be lonely work, riddled with self-doubt, and having the ability to look for encouragement from friends, family, and wonderful writer communities can make all the difference.
My parents understood that. Both nurtured my vivid imagination and grand dreams, listening to my story ideas and offering feedback from the very beginning. They told me I could do anything, be anything. I grew up without limitations, allowing me to become the dreamer I am today. Neither blinked when I started writing short stories about death, or witches and fairies. Instead, my mom introduced me to stories where death was a character and urged me to write my own. My dad helped me piece together my first monsters. Even now, if I ever need help with anything, I call my parents. They, alongside my siblings, keep me sane with their endless love and kindness.
KJ Fieler, my friend and co-author, has known me for a long time. We met a few years after I started writing, and she immediately took me under her wing. I’ve always been shy, and I mistakenly thought that writing would allow me to constantly lock myself in my office like some sort of word goblin. I’m great at hiding away for hours at a time and talking to myself. As a result, I struggled to share my work with people outside my family and close friends.
I vividly remember, when I was about twenty years old, Kat very kindly but firmly told me that I needed to send her something new to read. I dragged my feet, came up with excuses, moaned, and groaned about it. Finally, Kat made a deal with me: if I promised to send her a story, she would send me something she was working on, and she did. When I sent her my short story, she was not only kind but honest, took me seriously, and treated me like a peer. It changed things for me; I felt legitimate, like I had a space in the writing world. Over the years, no matter my age or skill, she has always encouraged me to find my voice.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started writing at ten years old. I had a homework assignment where I needed to write a short poem and I was not having it. I wandered around the house, complaining and whining, as children do, until my mom had enough. She sat me down and looked me straight in the face.
She asked if I liked reading.
I said yes.
Then she asked if I liked making up stories.
Another yes.
She then informed me that writing would allow me to make up my own stories, just like the ones I loved reading. So, I wrote a poem about fairies, fell in love, and decided that I wanted to be a writer.
I kept writing. I moved from Florida to Missouri, started working various customer service jobs, and one day decided, under extreme duress from family and friends, that I needed to submit short stories. Then, in 2018, I published “White Lily” in the fantastic Anthea Sharp’s Feyland Tales anthology. The short story collection allowed me to revisit my love of fairy tales and gave me the opportunity to create my own. Suddenly, I wasn’t only a writer but a published author. In 2021, I published “Death’s Tinkerer” in New Exterus. I couldn’t believe it. I hadn’t only gotten published once, but twice, and I did it with one of my odd little death stories. It was an incredible feeling.
I returned to college and took as many literature and creative writing classes as possible. I read and read and read some more. I kept writing and learned to share my work with my peers. I discovered so much about the craft and found my voice.
Now, I’m co-authoring SHADOW HUNTER with KJ Fieler and have a shiny new story, “Adalyn’s Call,” in Anthea Sharp’s The Feyland Tales Omnibus.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I had found a writer’s group earlier in my writing journey. I was shy as a young writer, making it difficult for me to join the community until much later. I missed out on writing friendships but also on many opportunities to strengthen my skills. Writing classes and books have taught me much, but my fellow authors taught me more.
A few years ago, I joined the Inklings, a writer’s group run by Robin Adams. Despite our separation by a handful of states, all the members of the Inklings have significantly impacted my writing through their critical eyes and rabid support of everything I do. They encouraged me to take up space in the writing world and helped build my confidence. I started out too afraid to speak up, and now they can’t get me to shut up. I learned my strengths and weaknesses, how to improve, tell my story to those outside my imagination, and accept feedback. The writer’s group also taught me how to offer feedback and work with new and different ideas. I’m a much better writer for it.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I always knew that I wanted to be a published author. I love writing and will continue doing it until the day I leave this Earth. I grew up on stories, which created this hunger in me and the need to fill my life with them. It taught me that I wanted to share my own stories with the world, to create characters with whom readers could fall in love or admire.
Yet, it can be challenging to stay in that mindset, especially when you experience negative feedback on a story or character you poured your heart into. Or when you start to doubt yourself. Writing is beautiful and fulfilling, but it’s also demanding and time-consuming. So, I made a goal to help me through the difficult times. I wanted to be the best writer I could be without comparing myself to anyone else. The goal forced me to keep learning and improve my skills and abilities. What are my weaknesses? My strengths? What can I learn? How can I be better? Now, this doesn’t mean I’m perfect because I still have a lot to learn, but it kept me focused on my dream. The goal has also helped me stay passionate about storytelling because I keep finding more reasons to love it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://harrisonkayne.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Harrison-Kayne-Writer/100063881957298/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlUMtr__zlU
• Other: Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18631701.Harrison_Kayne

Image Credits

“Shadow Hunter” image courtesy of KJ Fieler

“Feyland Tales” and “Feyland Tales Omnibus” images courtesy of Anthea Sharp

“Exterus” image courtesy of G. Owen Wears