We caught up with the brilliant and insightful K E Garland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, K E thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I write for women to be seen, specifically Black women.

On a political plane, women are oftentimes left out of a conversation that directly impacts their well being. An obvious topic is the right to have an abortion. Overturning Roe v. Wade, for example, sent a clear message that what the majority of women want doesn’t matter, even though we’re discussing women and their bodily autonomy. Therefore, I have written personal essays that humanize women and this type of issue.

On a culture plane, Black women are oftentimes left out of a conversation about mental health. We are still seen as a human beings who may not have mental health issues or mental illnesses. But we do, and because mainstream society doesn’t always include us in these conversations, we suffer. Therefore, I write from a lens of a woman who was born from a woman who lived with schizophrenia and who has lived with undiagnosed mental health issues. Similarly, I write personal essays and publish books to illustrate what this means for the Black community.

K E, 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?

Initially, I was an English teacher. I was so good at it, that I attained three degrees, including a terminal degree (Ph.D.). Approximately four years after I graduated with a doctorate, I wrote a blog post for a women’s blog. To my surprise, the blog went semi-viral, and that’s when it clicked that I’d gone left, when I should’ve gone right. I should’ve been a writer. That was 2014.

Shortly after, I began a personal blog on WordPress called Kwoted. On that blog, I began to parse out parts of my life, including issues with my mental health and relationships. Two years later, I independently published a book called, The Unhappy Wife. I interviewed 11 women about their lives and how they came to be married women who were unhappy. Then, I fictionalized their stories and created an anthology. The 12th woman was myself. My initial purpose with this anthology was to show how women are sometimes the creators of their own demise.

A year or so later, I independently published and edited an anthology called, Daddy: Reflections of Father-Daughter Relationships. With this book, I invited women to tell their dysfunctional stories about their relationships with their fathers. With this book, I wanted to show the importance of families of origin. Sometimes, women who have negative relationships with their fathers end up being “unhappy wives.” I included myself in this anthology as well.

Blogging, publishing these two books, as well as being featured in others’ anthologies (e.g., Chicken Soup for the Soul, All the Women in My Family Sing, etc.) prepared me for writing a full-length book.

In September, 2023, I published my debut memoir: In Search of a Salve: Memoir of a Sex Addict (NEW Reads Publications). This book allowed me the space to weave many topics that I’d been thinking about together as one cohesive story. For example, although “sex addict” is in the subtitle, my memoir is a story about Black family histories, identity, grief, self-discovery, and relationships. It provides an origin story of how I became an “unhappy wife,” as well as how my relationship with my own father contributed to how I lived as an adult.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I was advised to become an English teacher because I “loved reading and writing,” as opposed to being an English major. I wish that I would have known that there were other careers for people like me, who loved to read and write. I really had no idea that I could’ve been a journalism major, for example, or even gotten an MFA, as opposed to a masters in teaching English. Additionally, I wished that I would have known that writers can seek grant funding for their endeavors. That’s something I recently found out.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media should be an extension of one’s life. What I’m going to say may sound a bit weird, but I feel as if I can be weird here. I am a Gemini, which is a sign known for being a natural communicator. My rising sign is Leo, which is known for being in the spotlight.

I’ll also add that I am an extrovert. Lastly, I really, really, really like connecting with people. My point is, social media is aligned with my personality, in general. It is not a chore for me to create sites and interact. I literally have and maintain three blogs: a personal one, a community one, and one with my husband about travelling. Additionally, I’m on IG and X.

Here’s what I’ve learned is helpful:

1. Engage authentically with people. When I began blogging, I didn’t just like people’s posts. I spent 1-2 hours a day reading and commenting on ALL blogs. It’s something I still do to this day. This is not a strategy, though. As I mentioned, I actually like engaging with people, whether I know them or not. This builds connection, and eventually, community. There are many people I’ve never met on WordPress, who I consider a friend and confidante. We have conversations outside of the blog. I function similarly on Instagram (and when I was on FB, I did, too).

2. Create content that is authentic. I don’t only write about or share about publications or beg people to buy my books. I talk about my marriage, my Gen Z daughters, and myself, in general. On IG, you’ll find vacay photos and reels, not because I want to shift the algorithm, but because I really want people to see this cool thing I did in Aruba or wherever. People are invited into my life, as much as I want them to be, and it’s not from a fake social media stance. I give my honest opinion about life and what’s going on. If I’m struggling with friendships, then I say that. If I’m feeling overwhelmed by the world, I share that, too.

Social media is an extension of my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: kegarland.com
• Instagram: @kegarland
• Twitter: @kegarland
• Other: Blogs kwoted.wordpress.com navigatingthechange.com

Image Credits
Maria Mili Tarji Stewart