We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kerry Kriseman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kerry, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I have two meaningful projects:

1. My book, “Accidental First Lady.”

2. My role as a volunteer puppy raiser for Southeastern Guide Dogs.

I never envisioned I would write a book. However, after my husband’s particularly contentious 2017 re-election campaign for St. Petersburg, Fla., mayor, people began asking me, “How do you do this?” As in, how did I live a public life, as a political spouse. This was his 8th campaign. No one had asked that question until that election. I used to give a stock answer, something akin to a 30-second elevator pitch. Over coffee with a friend, I was asked that question. When I told her how it really felt to be the wife of a prominent politician, she suggested I write a book. After three years, during which I underwent major surgery, chemotherapy treatments and radiation, I published my book. For a new, unknown author, I’ve had success, by the industry standards. Aside from publishing and the events and notoriety that followed, what has been meaningful is the reactions from readers. The book is more than my life as a 22-year political spouse. It’s about resiliency, faith, perseverance, building my brand amid stereotypes and learning experiences.

Regarding my role as a Southeastern Guide Dogs puppy raiser, this has been an opportunity to positively impact someone else’s life. We have raised 12 dogs for Southeastern, pup-sat countless ones, and fundraised for this organization. I believe in their mission, and support them because they provide guide dogs, veteran service dogs, kids’ companion dogs, Gold Star Family dogs, public service (K-9, facility therapy dogs), for free, so that there is no burden on clients.

The pup lives with us for about a year, goes almost everywhere with us, and learns commands through daily training and twice-monthly meetings. It’s a labor of love, but it hardly feels like work. It’s always sad when it’s time to return the pup to campus for advanced training, but I live by the motto, “We may love the dogs, but someone needs them more than we do.”

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a communications professional. I’ve worked in the news industry and in the non-profit sector. I’m currently the public relations manager for Creative Clay, a St. Petersburg non-profit that creates equality through art by making the arts accessible to people with disabilities.

I’ve always been a writer, in a sense, using my craft either for work, volunteerism on boards, or when I wrote my book, “Accidental First Lady.”

I love helping people, even if it’s me, to tell their stories. For the past 14 years, I’ve told the stories of the Creative Clay artists, who make, market and sell art throughout the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I worked for 10 years before becoming a stay-at-home parent for 10 years. Throughout that time, I immersed myself in volunteering. I held leadership roles and board of directors positions in the Junior League of St. Petersburg. When my kids were at preschool or napping, that’s when I did my League work. I treated this time as an opportunity to hone my skills while I wasn’t employed outside the home.

While there were some women whom I considered mentors, I wish I’d reached out to more professionals, so that I could cultivate relationships and continue professional education in advance of returning to work.

Regarding my creative journey, my most recent example is the publishing process. I consulted a few people before writing my book, but if I were to embark on this journey again, I’d utilize more resources available to me. and to believe that I WAS an author, even before my book was published.

When I was finishing my book, a friend and mentor asked me how many words I’d written. When I told him I’d written about 60,000 words, he said, “Congratulations, you’re an author.” That transformed the way I approached finishing my book, seeking an editor, and ultimately, a publisher.

There’s no room for imposter syndrome in creativity. You have to believe in yourself first. Always keep an open mind, and be open to new relationships and opportunities. The post-publishing phase has been fun, with author events and speaking engagements where I get to talk about my life, the writing process, and my journey to publishing.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The best story I can share the one where I continued to work on my book throughout the period when I was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I was fortunate to feel great throughout most of those 6 months, but sometimes didn’t feel like writing. I still wanted to make progress, so I would send queries and pitch literary agents.

I also became involved in the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance as an advocate leader and a speaker for the “Survivors Teaching Students” program. After I was wrongly told I had 7-8 months to live, I vowed that if it did get to live, I would do what I could to help others in their fight against cancer.

I felt it was my duty as a survivor to give my time, talent and even money when possible, to help.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kerrykriseman.com/
• Instagram: @kerry.kriseman.author
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.kriseman
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-kriseman-53814b153/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KKriseman