We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keila Maloney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Keila, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
If I’m being completely honest, the first dollar I ever earned being a writer was when I was in high school. I had a friend who wanted to rap and I charged her to help write it. Fast forward ten years and I’m about to publish my own book. Two very different experiences but the same wild excitement. It took so much to get to this point because I started writing the book about 6 years prior to publishing it. When the pandemic hit, I put all my energy into finishing it and getting it editing which was a long process. I also didn’t know what I was doing. I never Youtubed so many Amazon publishing videos in my life but I was determined. I’m forever grateful for my family and especially my cousin/editor Ashley Cherry-Gray. She saw the vision and pushed me when I wanted to quit. But finally on September 10th, 2021 I became a published author two days before my birthday. Best birthday ever.
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
I started writing at a very young age because that’s how my mom taught my siblings and I to express ourselves. I was born with a disability called Cerebral Palsy and I can’t talk about my craft without shedding a light on this. Having a disability while being high functioning is crazy because my whole life operates in the gray area. I’m taking advanced classes while having speech therapy. I’m at the football games but it’s after staying after school to take a test with extended time. All of these gray area frustrations had to come out somehow. My writings were for myself until I realized how relatable they were in high school because everyone struggles in their own way. I began painting pictures with my words and finally was seen. I felt invisible a lot growing up (outside of my family) so finding this space helped in finding myself. The thing that I’m most proud of, other than publishing my first book, was my second poetry slam in high school. I lost, again, but it didn’t even matter because my cousin/bodyguard Sierra recited it for me while I acted it out and it was the best feeling in the world. Everyone was engaged and giving great energy. I rehearsed it for weeks and the day of, I asked my friends to yell something during the performance and it all came together. That’s when I knew I was doing the right thing. If you take anything from my story it’s to always keep going; forward, always.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
It’s always the reaction or conversation sparked after someone reads something I wrote. Hearing from people I’m close to is always reassuring but being contacted by people I don’t know is special. Affecting a stranger so much that they feel the need to share it with you is such a beautiful experience. That is the thing that always makes the vulnerability worth it.
: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I never wanted to be famous. The thought of fame gives me pre-anxiety. But, my mission is to influence and spark a change as much as possible by sharing my story. I want to show that anything is possible no matter the circumstances. I want m y creative work to outlive me and be around forever. That’s the goal, to just be. Be present and leave an imprint.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amazon.com/Keila-Maloney/e/B0977FYYHH/ref=aufs_dp_mata_dsk
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kadencepoetry/