Meet Kelli Kassoff

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelli Kassoff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelli below.

Hi Kelli, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

For me, persistence isn’t loud, it’s quiet, stubborn, and rooted in truth. When I released my first book, Unraveled, there were people who questioned why I wrote about pain, or why I was willing to expose parts of my past that others might have kept buried. Some people even went beyond that to label me as crazy, attention seeking, delusional and ridiculous. But what they didn’t (and still don’t) understand is that writing wasn’t an act of rebellion; it was survival.

When the noise gets loud, the doubt, the criticism (the finger pointing), the subtle dismissals, I remind myself who I’m really speaking to: the people who have lived through what I’ve lived through and need to know they aren’t alone. That focus becomes my confidence. I persist because their healing matters more than someone else’s discomfort. People talk to hide their own demons and jealousy. Most of these people have their own struggles and insecurities, its projection at its finest and fragile egos on full display. As Anne Lamott said “If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better”.

I’ve learned that persistence doesn’t mean ignoring the haters, it means outlasting them. It means showing up again and again, creating with purpose, and trusting that authenticity has a longer lifespan than judgment ever will. I keep writing, keep telling the stories of my life, and writing about the most uncomfortable situations that are happening all around us, but we’ve been told to keep quiet. Not me.

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 a writer, and my work lives at the intersection of truth and emotion. My debut book, Unraveled, is a raw collection of poetry/short stories that explores trauma, love, betrayal, and the rebuilding of self. What’s most special to me about this work is that it’s not polished perfection, it’s honest humanity. Every story was born from a real moment, a real feeling, and I think that’s what allows readers to see themselves inside my words.

What excites me most is connection. When someone reaches out to say a line in Unraveled put words to something they’ve never been able to express, that’s the magic. That’s the purpose.

Right now, I’m working on my second book “I Spy A Water Tower”, a collection of emotionally charged nonfiction short stories, and continuing to share my work through readings and events around Texas. In the near term, I have a local book tour to various local book stores, and I am being featured as an author at the Texas Book Festival in November. Recently, I was informed that my book (which recently won two awards and hit the Amazon Bestsellers List) is being sold in London, so I might try to pop over there for an event. Also HUGE for me since I grew up checking out books at the HPL, Unraveled has been added to the Houston Public Library System. I am excited to make my work available to all readers. All of my upcoming events can be found on my Instagram page @author.kellikassoff

I want my brand to stand for vulnerability and voice, for turning pain into art that heals not just the writer, but the reader too. I want to sit in the uncomfortable with my readers and tell stories of truth.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three qualities that have shaped my journey most are vulnerability, resilience, and discipline.

Vulnerability taught me to stop hiding behind what was “acceptable” and instead tell the truth, even when it was uncomfortable. For any artist or writer, that’s where the power is: in the willingness to be seen. My advice is to stop editing yourself before you even begin. Write, create, or build from the place that scares you, that’s where authenticity lives.

Resilience kept me going when rejection or judgment tried to quiet me. I wrote for years, submitting to Literary Journals and I have HUNDREDS of rejections. Every single won lit a fire to work harder, to adapt, but not change my style of writing. Not everyone will understand your work, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t universal approval, it’s staying aligned with your purpose.

And discipline is what turns inspiration into a body of work. It’s showing up to the page on the days when the words don’t come easily. My advice: build a routine that honors your creativity like it’s a living thing. Feed it, make space for it, and it will grow. I try to write at least 2,000 – 2,500 words a day. Sometimes that looks like sitting at my computer and cranking it out, or staring at it blankly, and sometimes it’s walking my dog and talking into the notes app. Get the words out. I also read a ton of various genres. I think it’s important to shape your writing skills by reading the great writers we all admire.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am always looking for people and businesses to partner and collaborate with. I can be reached on Instagram (which is my main platform) @author.kellikassoff or they can send an email to [email protected]. Ideally it’s open minded people who are willing to showcase work by a local author. I always want any collaboration or partnership to be mutually beneficial. Podcasts, interviews, book signing events, author Q&As, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kellikassoff.com
• Instagram: @author.kellikassoff
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelli-kassoff-knop-a59799352/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/kellikassoff

Image Credits

Headshot Photographer: Amanda Liberto