Meet Denise Kiernan

We recently connected with Denise Kiernan and have shared our conversation below.

Denise, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

Generosity stems ultimately from gratitude.

When I take the time to reflect on moments, actions, people, and more for which I am truly grateful, it inspires me to be a part of creating similar experiences for others. And then in turn, the act of being generous creates situations for which I am also grateful.

Whether small actions or big ones, feeling that you have done something–anything–to ease someone’s path in life, or just lift their spirits for a spell, brings on a feeling of gratitude for the power of human connection. It’s a wondrous cycle of giving and receiving, generating its own never-ending momentum.

Staying aligned with generosity and gratitude also provides valuable perspective checks. Nothing can jolt me out of self-pity, dissuade feelings of insecurity and anxiety, or calm me as well as welcoming and accepting gratitude and grace in my life, and sharing it with others.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a storyteller.

I have written alone, I have written with others. Sometimes those stories are true, sometimes they’re not. Sometimes I use pictures or images, most times I use words. Some of those stories have gone on to become New York Times bestsellers, others sit quietly in a drawer or on my hard drive.

I share stories on a variety of topics, employing different mediums, but my main focus–and one that brings me much joy–is narrative nonfiction. I thrive on taking moments from history and exploring them from a different, unexplored angle. I like bringing the stories of everyday, real people and underrepresented voices to a larger audience. I am continually fascinated and inspired by individuals who find themselves in the midst of history-changing events, who bring their best to difficult situations, and who do so often with little or no recognition.

I am also the host of CRAFT: Authors in Conversation, a live conversation series at Little Jumbo cocktail bar in Asheville, North Carolina. I sit down with writers of all walks for wide-ranging chats. We discuss more than their latest book or project. We talk about approaches, habits, challenges, fears, motivations… The bartenders create a specialty cocktail (or mocktail) for each of my guests inspired by either their work or their personal preference. Audience members get plenty of time to ask questions.

My most recent books comprise a family read on gratitude, exploring the fascinating true story behind Thanksgiving. The adult book and young readers edition are titled “We Gather Together,” and the accompanying children’s picture book is titled “Giving Thanks.”

I am currently wrapping up my latest book which takes place during the American Revolution. I also share a monthly newsletter with curiosities I come across during research, recipes, author inspirations, pictures of my dog, Bruno, and more.

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?

Tenacity and consistency..
(Okay, I know that’s technically two, but I find they’re closely related.)
Keep doing what is important to you, day in and day out. Lifelong habits are formed this way. Staying engaged with your work is the best way to keep doubts and fears at bay as well. Trust that your subconscious is working on the projects at hand in ways you can’t possibly fathom. Don’t wait to feel “inspired.” Show up. Just show up.

A willingness to learn from others.
Surround yourself with individuals who you can learn from. Sometimes this means checking your ego at the door, because these may well be people in your field who have perhaps had more of the kind of success you feel you are seeking. That’s okay. I come from a nontraditional path to writing–no formal training or degrees. I learned invaluable lessons at a newspaper where I worked (for no money) as a research assistant. People were always incredibly willing to share what they’d learned over the years. I also gleaned a lot from just observing. Be a lifelong student of others.

Open and effective communication.
No matter what you do or how you strive to do it, be a clear communicator. That starts with being a good listener, especially during difficult conversations or in uneasy circumstances. Remain ruthlessly aware of the intention behind what you say, share, write, etc. It is the only way to move forward toward an authentic, creative life.

If I were to add a fourth, it would be to avoid comparison like the plague and choose your creative community VERY wisely.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Imposter syndrome and the sometimes paralyzing self-doubt that accompanies it have long been a challenge. What is simultaneously fascinating and frustrating about imposter syndrome is that it does not go away with success–quite the opposite! The more things go well, and the more success I achieve, the louder the voices of the “imposter police” become.

Over the years, I have used various techniques to help ensure that these episodes of anxiety don’t become debilitating. The first is a tool that I use in a variety of situations: journalling. Getting the worries out, starts to get them out of the way. I also write out the worst possible scenario I can imagine. Fun? Maybe not. But effective. I’m as detailed as possible when I catastrophize, and in the end, I usually realize that if these horrible things came to pass, I could handle it and life would go on.

Other techniques are meditation and breathing exercises. I have employed meditation and focused breathing more and more over the years and their effect on my nervous system is incontrovertible.

Finally, gratitude. When I’m worried about how everything is going to fall apart, I mentally list things that I appreciate and am grateful for in my life–especially the supposedly “little” things. Gratitude brings about perspective.

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Image Credits

Mallory Cash Photo

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