Meet Amy Klco

We were lucky to catch up with Amy Klco recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, 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?

My main purpose in life has always been to speak out for those who can not speak for themselves, particularly for those, like myself, that I refer to as tender-hearts.

A tender-heart is someone who tends to feel more than the average person–both the good and the bad. It makes these people compassionate, caring, and visionary. But it can also take a huge toll on the tender-heart, especially living in the world today, where so many seem to be dealing with a lack of empathy.

My purpose in life is to speak out for these tender-hearts. They have so much to offer our world, but they need support to help them see their sensitivity as a strength instead of a character flaw.

I don’t feel like I “found” my purpose as much as it found me. After my own struggles growing up tender-hearted, I became a teacher in 2004. My main goal was–and has been for the last 20 years–to help those students who were different from the average student, including many tender-hearts. I saw how they struggled in school and how most teachers do not understand what they are going through. That was when I decided that I was called to speak up for these tender-hearted children.

Since then, I have spoken to many adults who also identity as a tender-heart, many of whom are now raising their own tender-hearted children. I realized that these adults need support, understanding, and often healing, too.

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?

People often ask me what kind of books I write, and my answer is “all kinds.” I have a young adult fantasy series, an adult romance, a book of futuristic short stories, and a metaphorical book about a tree. I even have a non-fiction parenting book. I never know when or how inspiration will hit me.

But at the same time, when I look back at everything I’ve written, there is a common thread. Each story involves a character (or more than one) who is a tender-heart. They say “write what you know,” and the one thing I know well is the challenge of being tender in a less-than-tender world.

But I don’t just write about these characters because I know about being a tender-heart. I write about them because I want other tender-hearts to know that they are not alone.

If you were to choose one book as an introduction to my writing, I would recommend “It Takes a Forest To Raise a Tree,” a book for all ages about discovering just how interlinked we are.

It addition to my nine self-published books, I also have a few others that are not yet available but are currently being pitched to traditional publishers by my agent.

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

I think the most important quality I possess is the ability to believe in my calling. When I start to feel discouraged, I try to remind myself of my purpose. I believe that, in addition to being given this purpose in life, I have also been given the ability to fulfill it. And it is this belief that helps me to keep going on the days when I question myself and my abilities.

The second ability that comes into play in my writing is my ability to really listen to people. I love to hear people’s stories and have discovered that people love to have someone who is really interested in hearing what they have to say. These stories often inspire my writing.

The last trait that I have that has helped me in my journey is my stubbornness. For better or worse, once I have started on a project, I will stick with it until I am done. This can cause problems in life, to be sure, but it is also, among other things, what allows me to finish writing the books that I start.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am looking for people who are tender-hearts or who have tender-hearted children to speak with/interview. I am considering starting a podcast about tender-hearts and am looking for guests to be on the show. I am also looking for people who just want to share with me their own experiences in this area. If you are interested, you can contact me at enchantmentpress@gmail.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.enchantmentpress.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyklco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyklcoauthor

Image Credits

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