Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Desi Stowe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Desi, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Writing always existed in my inner nature, however, it’s only been the past couple of years that my inner thoughts made it to the pages of books. I write because stories matter. Fictional worlds don’t only offer us an escape from reality – although that in itself is nothing short of amazing. We also see ourselves in fictional characters. They make us laugh and cry. We love them, we hate them. Either way they sneak inside of our minds and our hearts.

But even more than that, fiction challenges us and changes us. The pages are a low-risk avenue to explore things outside of our normal lives. The words of fiction teach us empathy for situations or people we may not encounter out in the real world. As the characters draw us in, we see things from their perspective. We find understanding and that makes us better as a person, and even as a society.

My professional background is in healthcare. My characters are mostly healthcare professionals trying to balance their personal lives and the unique challenges of being essential personnel. As the pandemic hit and people moved most of their lives to their homes. Health care professionals and other essential personnel kept their usual routines, along with the burden of the unique challenges of the time.

My writing is contemporary fiction, starting post-pandemic. While many of the characters work in healthcare, their struggles are universal to all of us. The characters are often burned-out, struggling to finding their place in the world, and dealing with mental health issues. It’s my mission to relay fictional stories inspired by real life. When someone reads my stories, I hope they relate to the characters and feel seen. Maybe even feel less alone.

Desi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve never been one to keep, or even make New Year’s Resolutions, but in 2023, on New Year’s Day, I decided to write a book. Writing has always been an underlying magnetic force inside me, and New Years was the nudge I needed to move forward. That year, I wrote my first novel, DONE. I never planned on writing beyond that, but when I started writing, it was like I found a long lost friend. After DONE moved to the editing and formatting phase of book production, I felt lost. While washing dishes one day I came up with the idea of my second novel, SHADOWS. The writing returned and it gave me a sense of purpose and calm.

And thus, the Charleston Harbor Series came to life. The characters in my books are all seeking a harbor, a shelter from the storms of life. I went to high school near Charleston and love the beauty and history of the coastal city. It seemed fitting to be the setting of my writing.

Today, I live in Raleigh, NC with my husband and two children. They love that I write and have been a great support and an integral part of me becoming an author. Writing is often a solo endeavor, but I found I needed support. The best books are a team effort, even if the original idea is birthed from a single person. I’m an independently published author, but I knew I couldn’t do this alone. I found an amazing editor at Lightpress Edits and cover designer at Domestic Oddess.

But even still, I needed connections with others in the industry. I tried my hand at a short story writing and wrote Seeking Sanctuary, a short story that exists in the Charleston Harbor Series world. I submitted it to Nicole Frail Books, a small, woman-owned publisher. That story was published on it’s own and also in a New Year’s Eve themed anthology, Another Chance To Get It Right. This collaboration opened the door for connections with other authors and industry professionals. That was exactly what I needed and I submitted another short story though Nicole Frail Books. We Already Have is a short story of tough choices when things are not obviously wrong, but also not right. It released in January 17, 2025 in a Valentine’s Day theme collection Recipes for Romance.

These connections create a community of like-minded individuals who are all telling the stories we all need in our lives. We see love, life, loss, darkness and hope on the pages reflected in our own lives. It creates an empathetic lens of ourselves and of others. Though I’m not a writer by professional trade, I’ve been openly welcomed by the writer community. Sharing stories with other’s is a honor and I’m humbled to be a part of this creative world.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Creative writing is a coping mechanism and beneficial for my mental health. The process by itself is rewarding, even if I never shared it with anyone. Somehow getting lost in the writing of a fictional world, even if it’s a world that reflects real life, soothes me. Even if only for half an hour, I try to write most days.

In addition to the peace writing brings, readers reaching out to me has been incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s through social media, reviews or emails, a reader reaching out to me brightens my day. I’ve had readers leave me heart felt and generous feedback. Knowing that they relate to my characters or felt seen after reading my books is a great reward. The fact that anyone reads my writing is a privilege, it’s not one I take lightly.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

All of us have some level of creative inside of us, even if we haven’t found it yet. One aspect I think people outside of a creative world may not realize is how much non-creative work is involved in writing and other creative pursuits. While the base of the book flows from the mind’s creativity, many other things come into play to make the creativity into a project.

For books, you have editing, formatting, building a social media presence, and sending out newsletters. We have to build websites and integrate everything together. While some of these need a dose of creativity, it’s often a struggle for creative minds. The coordination of everything into a finished book is challenging and I appreciate any help I can get!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/desistowe
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desistowe/#
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551414924964
• Other: https://desistowe.substack.com/