We recently connected with Kylie Wiggins and have shared our conversation below.

Kylie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I think I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a creative path. I have this journal from the 4th grade that I decorated to say “Diary of A Future Author.” For as long as I can remember I have been weaving stories, in the copious amounts of journals my parents got me as a child. My dad has always told me that he was 100% sure I would write a book one day so you can imagine how proud he was when I actually made it past a couple pages.

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.

So, I am a Houston Texas based fantasy author. My debut novel, Adorned in Ice came out in may. It is an Arthurian world laden with elemental magic! I also just graduated from Sam Houston State University with my bachelors of science in Criminal Justice (I know right, shocker!) What I would say I am most proud of is the fact that I incorporate mental health into every book I write. What many people close to me know is that I struggle with anxiety and depression. When the going gets tough, I have found solace in writing. I tell a lot of people that writing saved my life, but I don’t think most understand the transformative factor of devoting yourself wholly to creating. I will always be a vocal advocate for mental health and will always let people know that no matter what they aren’t alone. That is my goal in writing, is for people to read about these strong yet deeply flawed and characters think “Hey I feel like that sometimes too.”

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

In writing there are a lot of people who will offer you the end-all-be-all of advice. They will tell you that there is one way to do a certain thing and if you don’t do it the exact way they tell you then you are creating wrong. I’ve now written three books and let me tell you the process has been different for each of them. There is no one correct way to write or be a creative in general. Creativity is what makes us human, it is much like a fingerprint in the way that is will never be the same for two people. I really had to figure out that as long as I am doing what works for me, then I am doing it “right”.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The best resource you will ever have as an author is other authors. Find a group of likeminded creatives and pool your knowledge in a way that is accessible to everyone. I have leaned so much from the other authors at my publishing house, I really feel like S.E. Reed, Melanie Mar, and of course my publisher Brittany have taken me under their wings. I’m only 22, I hardly know how the world works let alone how to navigate the treacherous path of the publishing world. So do not be scared to find others who may know the answers you are seeking, you may find a new friend or several!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kylie-wiggins-author.mailchimpsites.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylie.wiggins?igsh=MWZveGsxeWQzZnpudg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Twitter: https://x.com/kywriteswords?s=21
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kyliewriteswords?_t=ZT-8stoU67XnLi&_r=1