We were lucky to catch up with Kaylee Stepkoski recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kaylee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it, and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Taking risks and following your dreams may sound overly used, but in this world, after these past few years, taking a big jump is intimidating. I was homeschooled through middle school and high school, along with starting college at sixteen. Graduating high school with my AA was the start of my journey–I had found my passion, writing, but had no idea how to go about it. I was the tomboy homeschooler, who wanted to be a police officer, but a dream changed my life. My first bestselling book was published when I turned eighteen, and that book came to life from the dream I had. I met Ever, the main character. Deep down, I knew I had to see where this new path was leading, so I applied to complete my BA, focusing on writing. However, that was the year of 2020. COVID hit, and the world changed. I was homeschooled; I wanted that “college experience” everyone raved about, but if I went, I would lose job offers I received after marketing myself to bestseller, jobs I was working towards. It kept me up at night–do I go the traditional path, or do I follow my dream of becoming an author and working in the publishing field? It took a lot of prayers, but I chose to go the path less traveled. My family supported me, but I had many people who I cared about pushing back on my decision because “You can’t live without a degree,” “Dreams don’t make money,” and “Being a writer isn’t a job.” I know these people were merely trying to help me understand the big leap I took–sure, it wasn’t exactly a secure path to take–but in the end, it was where I was led. Years pass, and I’m now a 5x Bestselling Author with five published books. My network has grown as I’ve met a community of people just like me–going off on a path less traveled. Is there risk? Yes. Is it easy? No. However, the risks and trials built me into who I am now. The world may push for a one-size-fits-all path, and it may be a rough course as COVID added drama and change into the mix, but I saw the light as long as I kept my eyes on the path God set for me.
It doesn’t matter what the world tells you. If a dream has been set on your heart, don’t ignore it; run with it, and don’t let anyone stop you. We have to take risks. We have to dream. Life is short, so why let it go to waste? Seeing reactions from my books is great–I love hearing the excited comments about my stories–but what I love the most is seeing the inspiration in my readers’ eyes and hearing they’re going to take the leap–following their dreams. I never thought my story could lead to a mission, but I’ve learned that’s the adventure of taking a risk–discovering a new path. My hope is that anyone who reads my books or hears my story can see that.
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?
My name is Kaylee Stepkoski. I am a twenty-two-year-old author and entrepreneur. I first started writing at seventeen and published my first book at eighteen, the first book to my bestselling sci-fi series, The EVER Series. To be completely transparent, I was never into books, but I loved adventure–hiking, biking, overlanding, rock climbing, SCUBA diving, football, and anything active outside. Exploring the outdoors, the adrenaline rushes, and the strategies in a sport were and still are my passions. So, when my parents heard I was sitting and writing a book at seventeen, you would have thought I had grown wings! They were shocked, but I had a mysterious dream that pumped my adrenaline. I had to see it through. Five years later, I’m now releasing the finale of The EVER Series and still writing action-packed stories to my heart’s content.
When writing a fiction genre like sci-fi, world-building and detailed descriptions are vital if you want the reader to stay engaged, and when I was a brand new writer at seventeen, I was constantly complimented on my visuals, being told my story came to life. I then realized how my type of writing set me apart.
My parents homeschooled me and my younger sister through middle school and high school for many reasons, one being to customize the curriculum to our passions and even our learning styles. I have Auditory Processing Disorder. My brain struggles with focusing on what/who I’m supposed to be listening to. I tend to hear the music, the running car, the singing bird, and the conversation across the room rather than the person who is sitting right in front of me and talking. I had a hard time with certain subjects in school because of it, but I grew and learned to work with it. My sister has Dyslexia. She is very visual, and her creativity has always been beyond mine because of it. We were both treated a bit differently because of our disorders, but when I began writing, I discovered the advantages. Each chapter I read to her as I wrote, she’d listen and stop me if she lost the image I was trying to depict. She helped polish my writing skills. For example, when I wrote, “There was a knock on the door,” I’d lose my sister immediately. I lost her at “There.” She can’t picture that word; no one can. Though, when I wrote, “Banging on the door jolted me out of my seat,” she could see it. She could see the action. She could picture the scene in her head. I learned to clean up my writing and focus on showing, not telling. We both saw the beauty in our disorders. My Auditory Processing Disorder comes with mild Dyslexia, so when we both saw the gift of it, we ran with a new drive to use our disorders as gifts, as I do with my writing.
Today, when I have family, friends, fans, and readers asking about my books or for advice for their writing, I always share my story. It’s okay to be different. I don’t mind talking about my disorders because they don’t define me; they just make me unique. They make me who I am. I love lacing pieces of myself into my characters for my readers to see how they grow and become stronger. Embracing who we are and how God made us are beautiful things that can impact more people than we realize, and that’s what I hope to share through my platforms.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I first started marketing myself as an author on social media when I was publishing my first book, EVER. I knew that would be the best way to grow my audience and build a community, but I will say that it was not an easy start. It was definitely a learning curve. I had a personal social media, but posting about a trip you took and then a book you’re publishing are totally different. In the beginning, I would only post quotes from my book and maybe pictures that would reflect the story, but it was all very basic, nothing very deep. I just figured that was how it was done, and then people would come. No, there’s a lot more than that. Building your platform isn’t about the number of followers you have. It’s about the connections with your audience and from your posts. I began posting pictures of myself with my books and then videos that were relatable and intriguing, and that’s when my audience grew. People want to know about you. We’re nosey humans, after all! We like to know the details and how someone came to be. We’re curious! I learned the 80/20 rule. Your content should be 80% personal–who you are, what you like, what you do, where you go–and 20% business–your products, product details, etc. I thought it was strange to post personal content more often, but I realized I am the brand. I’m the tall, tomboy, sci-fi-loving girl who has purple books and probably is a bit too loud for her own good. My brand makes me unique and catches people’s attention. Establishing your brand involves both yourself and your brand. It makes you stand out uniquely as your audience connects with you.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is for aspiring writers and other creatives to know that, no matter who you are or where you come from, you are capable of success. I’ve had friends leave, family doubt, and peers shake their heads because they thought I was making a mistake–pursuing to be an author. Though it hurt me, I won’t let that hold me back. Along the way, I’ve built a whole new community that only encourages and keeps me steady. Even when the world and people around you cast doubts, that never means you should quit or hide. The doubts and fears…don’t let them stop you. Don’t give in that easily. This dream has a great purpose. There’s no coincidence. The journey may not be smooth sailing, but it’s so worth it when you see your dream become a reality. So, don’t quit and run with it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.KayleeStepkoski.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleestepkoskiauthor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KayleeStepkoskiAuthor/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylee-stepkoski-031438183
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNj3K7o_p70RRArayqq_5w
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/KayleeStepkoskiAuthor/
- Threads: https://www.threads.net/@kayleestepkoskiauthor
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kaylee-Stepkoski/author/B07T9MF18F?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Image Credits
Shawna Peto Photography: AnotherVisionandbooks.jpg , EVERSeries.jpg , Kaylee-24.jpg, Steposki-59