We were lucky to catch up with Kena Sosa recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

I am thrilled to see the widening array of subjects, characters and journeys depicted in literature today. The result is that there is always something new to read about and something new to see! We all know that the same story told by a different narrator, is a different story. This empathy-building trend in literature is one I’m happy to see. A trend I would like to see retire would be remakes in film. The original film holds importance in the time it was created. New audiences would like to see new stories. Overall, I think film fans are growing weary of recycled characters, recycled plots, and predictable outcomes. We can handle much more than what fits a formula or is predictable for profit. So let’s see the industry open up to some new voices and inspire something that truly no one saw coming. There is a parallel phenomenon happening in live music. Tribute bands gather crowds, but crowds are afraid to give original bands a listen. I believe people do want to grow and expand, so let’s allow the unheard some time at the podium.

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

My creative journey began with writing when I was a teenager with poetry and lyrics. I then moved on to short stories before discovering my love for children’s literature. When I became a published children’s author in 2015, I was absolutely elated. After a few years of writing for children, I realized that I had limited myself to one form of expression, when I have many more stories to tell.

After doing some acting and exploring and volunteering on independent film sets, I fell in love with film. So I began writing screenplays. I produced and even directed some short films. While I am still on the learning path, I am very proud of the films and the teams who pitch it to create the final piece. Writing tends to be a solitary art, but film is team-based. I enjoy getting to be part of both scenarios because I get to express myself and then learn from and be in awe of the talents of others.

In addition to the written word, I am also a percussionist and Creative Percussion Artist. I am enamored with the boundless variety of percussion because I will always have a new technique or instrument to experiment on. I currently perform with a semi-professional taiko ensemble called Goisagi. We most recently performed at SXSW 2022 and have an EP releasing this spring called Alight.

When I’m low on ideas to write, I play music. When I have played my musical heart out, I film. Weaving together passions means that even when interests are seasonal, something will be growing to sow. It is amazing how one idea flows into the next. I am currently writing two feature length scripts, and hope to film another short this spring/summer. My newest children’s book is due to be published this year as well. I am so happy to be able to live and grow as a whole and well-rounded creative person, free to harvest the seeds where they inspire me to grow.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

This book was recommended to me by a publisher. I was skeptical but gave it a shot. Guerrilla Marketing for Writers 100 No-Cost, Low-Cost Weapons for Selling Your Work by Levinson, Frishman, Larsen and Hancock. The authors share so many grassroots ideas for authors new to marketing. The unconventional ideas and relentless hustle of this book should make it a must read for any author or creative entrepreneur. Basically, it taught me that unless the door is closed, it is still partially open. Go ahead and knock!

Do you consider yourself a creative person or a business person? What do you want business people to understand about creative people or vice versa?

I think a lot of people consider themselves to be either a businessperson OR a creative person. To be successful, we must be both. As a creative person, it is often sad to see the creator themselves profiting from their work less than the businesspeople who help move the creation along. It is not reasonable to say that creatives should have a business focused mind, or they would cease to be creative. What I would like to see is a more symbiotic relationship between the two. The businessperson should not benefit from the creator’s ideas more than the creative themselves. They both need each other and when balanced can be a healthy and beneficial situation. Yet this is not the situation for most creatives across the fields. No creative wants to recycle their one hit wonders repeatedly for profit. Audiences tire of the same thing time and time again and move on to the next flashy thing. Whereas that creative likely had more to offer but those new ideas wouldn’t work or wouldn’t be profitable. If we support creatives in growth and change and they will build up that audience base with loyalty and true appreciation instead of a culture of throwing away for the next new and very temporary thing. Supporting artists for the long term as opposed to the right now will help us develop legends instead of flashes in the pan.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kenasosa.com
• Instagram: @kenasosaauthor
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kenasosaauthor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kena-sosa-5b4b6318
• Twitter: @kenasosaauthor