We recently connected with Julie Kusma and have shared our conversation below.
Julie, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My mission as a writer is to help explain the human condition as much as life is often experienced as difficult and challenging. It doesn’t need to be. Life is about perspective and all the meanings we each assign to every event. This is the source of our suffering. It’s what Buddha referred to as attachment, what ho’oponopono refers to as data, and what I refer to as layers that veil and cloak true sight.
I write about this in several ways. One is through my psychological horror stories, where I share and reveal misperceptions and how these impact decisions and actions. I also like to point out that the real monsters are misguided humans. Two, in children’s stories, I write solo and collaborative with Derek R. King. I hope to aid understanding of the layers and offer guidance on removing them so each individual can shine brightly in their lives, whatever that means to them. Derek and I also write inspirational art books like Honey: Words to Heal and Mend, based on the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi and the art of Kintsugi.
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’m a writer, mainly speculative fiction pieces of psychological and paranormal horror. But I also write Children’s Picture Books and storybooks, along with educational and inspirational books too. I have a few short story collections. The first two, Stuck That Way & Other Quandaries and The Many Worlds of Mr. A. Skouandy were both awarded Literary Titan 5-star Gold Awards. The third, The Cooked Crone & Other Mystifications will release November 1st of this year. I also have a holiday horror trilogy, That’s Creepy, Santa! available on eBook only.
My solo children’s books, Pigglety Pigglety Poo, Where Wildflowers Grow, and The Circus is in Town were written while I completed my master degree, and Which Witch Are You? An Inspirational Halloween Oracle just released this September 1. My collaborative Children’s books with Jill Yoder include A Perfect Place for Scary Monsters to Hide and Eggie’s Easter Counting and Color Fun. My collaborative Children’s books with Derek R. King include The Enchanted Faerie Realm, The Poetry Mouse, Alphabites: The Alphabet One Bite at a Time, and Jaggy Little Babies.
Also written with Derek R. King is The Darker Half, Volume 13, the award-winning Honey: Words to Heal & Mend, Santa’s Claws, The Darker Half, Volume 12, Our Christmas: Traditions, Memories, & More, Unchaste, The Darker Half, Volume 11 (now shelved in five UK university libraries), Abracadabra, The Lighter Half, Volume 1, Our Trees: Botanics, Beliefs, & More, Amore, The Lighter Half, Volume 2, Our Planets: Moons, Myths, & More, and Our Halloween: Mysteries, Monsters, & More.
In whatever form my writing takes place, I try to always deliver a unique perspective and, if I can, information lost to time in mainstream knowledge. The ancients were wise and I want to reshare as much of this as I can. in my writing.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I haven’t always been a writer. My first job was a a drafter for a custom kitchen company. That’s really my first love— drafting. I had the desire to become an architect, but I allowed this dream to be derailed. Next I acquired my cosmetology license, which I still actively hold. After that, I worked in sales. I have been a Human Resource Director. I’m a stained glass artist and have worked for a builder creating transoms for new build homes. I have owned an online Feng Shui business and have had two Etsy shops, all before finishing my degrees in my fifties and working as a full-time writer.
These pivots in my careers were mainly due to relocations and taught me several things. One, humans are resilient. Two, it’s never too late to change direction. I’ve done it a lot but I’ve settled in with writing and won’t ever do anything else for a living.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I find, and I believe this is true no matter what one’s career is, be consistent, be friendly and helpful, and deliver what you promise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://julie-kusma.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/juliekusma
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/juliekusma111
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/julie-kusma
- Twitter: twitter.com/juliekusma
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JulieKusmaAuthor
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juliekusma Pinterest: http://Pinterest.com/juliekusma GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/juliekusma Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/juliekusma