We were lucky to catch up with Kassandra Keator recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kassandra, thanks for joining 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?

When I attended my very first author event in 2024, I was super nervous but told myself, as long as I sell at least one book tonight, it would be “okay.” The first hour was slow, and I started to get a little downhearted, but this all changed when a nice woman came right up to my table and said she wanted to buy a copy- mind you, I had barely gotten to talking with her before she was asking to buy! It was such an amazing, exciting moment that I will never forget; it was my first sale in person! By the end of the night, I had sold 17 more copies. I was over the moon.

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.

Since a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a writer. One of the biggest goals I had growing up was to get better at writing so I could publish my own book one day. Through years of practice and school/college courses, I perfected the art I was so passionate about. The road was not easy; I was struggling with many things at home, including the loss of a parent as a teen, and a subsequent, monumental shift in family dynamics that left me feeling alone. This eventually led to me moving out of my home state, Florida, to Michigan to “start over” with the help of my native MI partner and his family. From there, I obtained my college degree and was able to finally finish a story I had been working on since my freshman year in high school: Orchard of the Fox. It had taken over a decade to get there, but I did, and I am so proud of that.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The best thing anyone can do to support your local artists/creatives is to spread the word of their creations as often as possible! Of course, making purchases of their work benefits them as well, but if you are unable to help monetarily, the next best thing is to promote, promote, promote. Another thing that is slowly but surely killing the success of creatives is the growing AI industry. The next time anyone thinks of using AI to create something, consider supporting a human instead. Nothing beats handmade.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding moments I’ve had have definitely been when I hear feedback from readers, stating they really appreciated my book, even mentioning that they saw themselves and their experiences in it. Representation of dicey subjects and lesser-mentioned populations can make all the difference in someone’s life. In 2025, I had someone come up to my table and say, “you are the author I most wanted to see; you had me at found family.” It made my day, and I was so glad to hear that others appreciate the vulnerability. If my stories can be as cathartic for others as they are for me, then my work is done.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/kkeator_books
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kkeator_books?igsh=MTRha3Zsa2g2MXBrbw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565452433430

Image Credits

Photography by Bethany Young