We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kai Storm a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kai thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
Picture it lol New York City February 2011 and I just signed a contract with an independent publisher to put out my first book.This was especially important to me because prior to signing my current contract, I luckily grew out of a previous contract with a so-called small publisher that intended to steal my story.Based on newfound connections I gained in the literary game, I was able to gain a real education on how things should really go therefore my deal with my new publisher worked out successfully for me. Between February and May of that year was right around the time where being an author became real for me. I was literally running around NYC, promoting my book and getting pre orders when suddenly, my publisher texted me about my first royalties being paid the next day on PayPal. I couldn’t believe it…$522 hit my account and I jumped for joy. I did have to turn around and spend that money on the Harlem Book Fair that year but I still remember it as a joyful occasion.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m an author of six novels, writer of erotic blogs and podcaster for Motherhood Sex Marijuana The Podcast. I’m most proud of my accomplishments as a writer but I feel like I’m an all around entertainer. I have my own YouTube channel but the success of both my channel and the podcast channel is very important to me as they both bring a lot of possibilities. I also write for Fuego Magazine, a new entity in the cannabis business which is all female owned. The main thing I want everyone to know is that I go for mine ALWAYS. I”ve written small pieces for three collaborative novels, I’ve worked on blog talk radio and I make it my business to attend networking events to not only introduce myself but also my brand.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Being recognized when you think no one sees you. As an artist on the come up, it feels good to see a random stranger say I READ YOUR BOOK or I’VE SEEN YOU ON YOUTUBE. I remember the first time I was walking somewhere and a woman approached me because she read my first book. I didn’t remember her but she certainly remembered me, remembered buying the book from me and getting my autograph but just the fact that she remembered made me feel like a celebrity.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I started my journey as an artist earlier because I feel the art would have had more popularity therefore I would have been more of an independent artist and making money off my art. Even at my first street book fair, I got the feeling like I came into the game when it was losing its popularity. I always had a YouTube channel and it is only now that I realize that if I had put more time into growing the channel, by now my reach on there would be much greater. Everything in due season, ya know.
Contact Info:
- Website: Motherhoodsexmarijuana.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Motherhood_Sex_Marijuana
- Facebook: Facebook.com/MotherhoodSexMarijuana
- Twitter: Twitter.com/Motherhood_Sex
- Youtube: YouTube.com/MotherhoodSexMarijuana
Image Credits
AlaniPhotography