Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kyle Casey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Kyle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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?

I became a middle school teacher and an author to help give support to our rising generation. To often adults say that teenagers are what’s wrong with our society, they are dumb, incompetent, lazy, and violet. Well what can we do? Instead of accusing them of all these things, let’s find ways to help them out, give them good examples to follow. This is one of the reasons why I became a teacher. I love being around them and helping them out. I also write novels that focus on this age group.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My story starts when I was in 3rd grade. We were reading a book as a class and would take chapter tests every time we finished a chapter. I can read just fine and on grade level, however my comprehension wasn’t the greatest. I ended up failing most all of the chapter tests. During Parent Teacher Conference shortly after we finished the book, my teacher told my parents that I wasn’t very good at reading and comprehension. From that moment on it was instilled in me that I couldn’t read. My parents had me use audiobooks to try and help, but my mind would still wander and I would miss details. I hated reading my whole life until I reached 27 years old when I picked up a book again, willing to try it. I LOVED IT! I discovered I could read, no one was testing me on it or telling me I had to finish by a certain time. I continued one book right after another and couldn’t put them down.

When I take my kids to bed, I would tell them stories that I made up. One day my wife mentioned to me that I should write them down and turn it into a book. In 2023 I wrote, illustrated, and published 3 children’s books. That was huge for me! I always thought it would be fun to publish a book, but that was just the beginning.

As a middle school teacher, I have the summers off. During the summer of 2023, I was kayaking on a lake near my house when I got an idea for a new story. I came home and told my wife all about it and she was ecstatic! She told me it was a really good idea. Her enthusiasm fueled my drive to write. I wrote all summer and into the school year. I found a love for creating new characters. I was so wrapped up in these fictional characters lives that they started to become real to me. I hired an editor and had a few people beta read it for me when I finished. They all loved the story and wanted more. In April 2024 I published my first novel for middle school students called Paralleled Mavericks Mission.

I have a background in graphic design so I designed my own cover and marketing materials. You can purchase all of my books on Amazon, and you can find Paralleled on Barnes and Nobel. I am currently writing the 2nd book to Paralleled. I have a 3rd book planned as well to create Paralleled into a Trilogy.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No it definitely has not been smooth. I hated reading all through school and struggled with tests and reading. I got A’s in school but I also don’t feel like I learned very much. When I got to college I worked long hours into the night so I could pay for my education.

I originally graduated with a Bachelors in UX & Graphic Design, but after working in that for a few years I switched careers to become a middle school teacher and love it! I had to go through a long process to get my license to teach, and I ended up going to get my masters degree in technology and education.

I also got married and have 2 step daughters. That in of itself is a challenge to have step children but I love them and they love me.

I am so proud of myself though for discovering the love I have for reading despite what happened in elementary, and I came full circle to write and publish my own books! I love writing and creating new stories and adventures for people to experience.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a middle school teacher. I teach 7th – 9th grade students about Engineering, Robotics, Technology, and Design. Often times when I tell people that I teach middle school, their response is usually “Oh im sorry”. Teenagers get a bad wrap, especially middle school. I believe that these are some of humanities funniest and brightest minds. Yes they do have incredibly weird slang words, but they have so much to offer our society, but most people don’t let them cause they put them in the shame box.

I graduated in design and after working in the graphic design field for a few years, I discovered that I could do more with my life. I wanted to be a positive change to the world and a positive influence. On night I had a dream that I was a teacher and that has stuck with me. After that night I looked into teaching and how to get a license. It took 3 years to get my professional teaching license for the state of utah, but I got it and I am so proud to be a middle school teacher.

I would also consider my writing as a professional career that I am pursing and would love for that to become more in my life as I continue to write and publish more books.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One thing I have had to unlearn is not getting defensive and allowing for feedback to drive how I move forward. I used to get so defensive with people when they would talk about my designs or edits for my books that I write, or observations as a teacher. I have found though, that is the way I can improve and become better.

The very first version of my Paralleled book was good, but it is AMAZING now because of suggestions from my wife and my editor.

I have become a better teacher because i’ve learned to take critiques and feedback so I can become better at what I do.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Word of mouth so far is my best new source! I’d definitely like more resources on how to expand my horizons on how to get more people to read my books!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cozmicbooks.com
• Instagram: @cozmicbooks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kylecasey6377