Meet Christy Cashman

We were lucky to catch up with Christy Cashman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christy, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose when I realized one of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative is when my themes resonate with my readers. Not only does it give me a sense of purpose, the most fulfilling part of being creative lies in the paths it opens for self-expression, growth, impact, connection, and fulfillment. The deepest sense of fulfillment arises when something I’ve created deeply connects with them.

One of the aspects I love about writing is the ability to create worlds and infuse them with universal themes relating to relationships. Through writing, I authentically express my thoughts, feelings, and experiences, creating work that resonates with both myself and others. This capacity to evoke emotions, stimulate thought, and inspire change in an audience is immensely fulfilling. The creative process also offers me the gift of self-exploration, enabling me to discover themes that resonate with others.

I embrace the idea that I don’t hold onto a specific traditional degree. While this may be perceived as a weakness by some, I see it as my superpower. Remaining curious throughout this unpredictable journey is one of life’s biggest rewards in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m an author and mother with a diverse background in film including producing, acting, and screenplay writing, which actually led me down the path to writing my first novel. Alongside my creative passions, I find myself on the board of many literary organizations and engaged in various causes I care deeply about.

My debut novel, “The Truth About Horses,” released in August 2023, has garnered heartfelt praise from a wide range of readers, literary circles, and the equestrian community. Additionally, I have authored two children’s books: “The Not-So-Average Monkey of Kilkea Castle” and “Petri’s Next Things,” both inspired by the true story of a heroic monkey who resided in that historic Irish castle.

In 2021, I established YouthINK, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing and mentoring young creatives, bridging them with industry leaders to foster mentorship, artistic expression and inspiration. Originating in Ireland, YouthINK made its U.S. debut last August in Boston with the immersive workshop “Decisions We Make—Macbeth.” I also recently launched YOUthink Creative Wellness Retreats in 2024, providing a spiritual, physical and creative sanctuary for adults while supporting YouthINK’s teen mentorship initiatives. Our next retreat will be the inaugural US YOUthink Retreat on Martha’s Vineyard October 3-6th at Harbor View Hotel. More information can be found at www.christycashman.com/retreats

As the second youngest of ten children, my upbringing in North Carolina sparked my lifelong passion for horses. When not immersed in writing or leading YouthINK teen programs and YOUthink retreats, I can be found riding throughout New England and Ireland. Alongside my husband, Jay, and our two sons, Jay Michael and Quinn, along with our beloved trio of dogs and six horses, we divide our time between Boston, Ireland, and Cape Cod.

Currently, my creative projects are focused on my second novel, “Beulah,” and my third children’s book, “The Cat Named Peanut Shrimp Cookie Fry Muffin Who Lives on Staniel Cay.”

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Focus and Determination: I had to clear my plate of distractions and focus on writing. There would have been no way I could have continued to write if I allowed all the other distractions to continue. My husband says, “You can usually only do one thing well.” And I found that to be true. I found that I clung to things to appear busy or fill a void, and often, sitting by myself and writing was a reminder that life is kind of lonely. Or at least a lot of life can be lonely. So, choosing that every day was difficult, but I learned a lot about myself.
2. Attention to detail: I had to rely on a lot of the observations I’d experienced in life. I had to allow my life experiences I’ve had and the ones I was currently living to inform my art. I really wanted to give my characters unique and diverse voices. Reese especially spoke to me strongly, and I wanted to describe their lives and world in accurate detail. I felt confident in the horse world and that gave me a solid ground in which to plant my characters. The terminology came easily to me, and I could hear the characters’ voices in my head.
3. Passion: I think everyone has a story within them, even if you don’t consider yourself a natural born creative. My passion for writing really helped me hone and develop my voice.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

To name a few, I will always be so grateful for Betsy Horst, Arthur Vanderbilt, and Sally Taylor for reading my early pages and telling me to keep going; that I really had something and not to quit. Many days, they were the reason I didn’t. The early readers are close to my heart because there’s so much trust involved in sharing raw pages. I think when you are willing to be vulnerable with someone, it usually means there is an immense amount of trust involved.

My oldest son Quinn’s blurb might be my favorite. He said, “It’s better than I thought it would be.” I printed it, put nice music to it and beautiful imagery, and posted it along with the blurbs from Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Perrotta, Colum McCann, and Carly Simon. It made me laugh because he was being honest. Quinn would ask me almost every day when that book was ever going to be finished. When I finally had a bound copy to give to him, we both said it felt surreal. It made me so happy to show him that I’d stuck with it even though it took me years to finish.

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Image Credits

Lindsey Ahearn and Michael Blanchard

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