We recently connected with Kasaundra Hamilton and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kasaundra, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
“Writing With Purpose” is a writing workbook that I have created to help others find the means to express their own story and find the power in their voice. Yes, there are several writing courses out there and no I am not an accredited instructor. But I have lived a life where I was told “look pretty & be quiet” “no one cares what you have to say” ” your words will never amount to anything” Those phrases haunted me most of my life. As I got older and braver, I found the strength to share my stories. This act started as a means of therapy for me, and has grown into a passion that I want to share with others. I want people to know that you don’t have to have titles or be a best seller for your words to hold value. The feeling of freedom and strength that one can find from truly expressing themselves is an artform within itself and I want to help as many people as I can to create masterpieces.
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 creative at my core. I am a mother of 3, happily married to a wonderful woman who has helped encourage me every step of he way and support me as I take on the world. I have been writing since I was a child at my grandmother’s encouragement. She always said, ” You can only swallow down so much before you choke on it.” I took that sentiment to heart. Over the past decade I have won several titles and awards in the world of spoken word poetry. I have written & co authored in five books and am currently in the process of my sixth as well as child & youth versions of my Writing With Purpose workbook. I like to think of myself as a poetic therapist. I have lived through several life experiences that might have crumbled most people. I am a domestic & child abuse survivor. I am a rape survivor. I have experienced two miscarriages and was a teen mother. I know it sounds like I’ve been through hell and back. But I have lived, pushed through and come out brighter on the other side. The voice I was once told was worthless has not only helped heal me, it has helped to reach out & connect to so many others as we share our stories and find how powerful words truly are. I feel that my ability to present myself at my most naked and vulnerable allows me to be relatable & comforting. I always have a hug session or find myself in the corner having a moment with members of the audience as they share their truths with me because I left them feeling safe & that means more to me than any trophy I could ever walk away with. I want people to know that while I might not have the degrees or business titles, but I am real. I am a survivor and advocate for hurt people who want to release their trauma and find the beauty in their own voice.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I was married to a man for six years, who literally beat the voice out of me. The day I left him, I was covered in fifteen bruises, a boot print in my back, a fist print in my chest and partial deafness from my husband’s fist. For years I dealt with the hardships of recovering from the affects of the trauma. I was scared to look anyone in the eye, let alone speak up and out for myself. But I started helping others. I volunteered, I wrote my feelings and shared them with any mic that would have me. At first, I got booked because people liked my look. I soon found out they wanted the same things from me as my past demons. Just show up and look pretty. But I used that to my advantage. My looks might’ve gotten me through the door, but my words owned the room. Now no one can ever say my words don’t matter. I have 5 books that say otherwise.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Yes, the life of the starving artist, is cliche but true. There are definitely more stable career moves. But I would rather connect to millions of people. Too many of us are scared, silent & struggling. If I had known about the power of being a creative I would have stepped out on faith and pursued my dreams sooner. I am 43 years old & I can say I am living life at its happiest. It’s not about the stage or spotlight, it’s about helping others. The good I put out into the Universe have come back to me three times fold and I am going to continue to spread my light until I slay the ‘Nothing’ that has been set out to destroy us all. No nine to five paycheck could ever give me that feeling. They say those who do what they love, will never work a day in their life and even at this ripe old age I finally grasped that. I may not be a millionaire… yet. But my life is priceless.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: kas_poetess
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatchKas
- Other: kas_poetess