Meet Paulette Kennedy

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Paulette Kennedy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Paulette, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’ve always loved books and writing, but I believe I found my purpose as an author due to the evolution of my overall outlook on life. My core values developed from my experiences and from the sense of gratitude with which I learned to approach the world. I’ve gone through some difficult things–extreme poverty in childhood, domestic violence, the loss of my first spouse and parent partner to suicide, and the deaths of both of my parents–my dad from Alzheimer’s disease and my mom from cancer. I’ve also had struggles with my mental health and I’m the neurodivergent mother of a neurodivergent child. Instead of becoming resentful or bitter over the challenges and losses I’ve faced, I’ve cultivated a sense of resilience and channeled my emotions and experiences into my work. I would never say I am grateful for the difficult things I’ve been through, but I am grateful for what I learned from them. I’ve also learned that material wealth, prestige, and career success matter less than the relationships we cultivate with those around us and how we connect with others as we do our work in the world. I also think a sense of curiosity and openness has been key to developing my purpose. As an author, my experiences with grief, mental health struggles, etc. help me to get inside my characters’ heads and to relay their stories in a believable, empathetic way that resonates with readers.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a full-time author who writes historical gothic fiction. My latest novel, The Devil and Mrs. Davenport, is set in the 1950s and features a young housewife who develops abilities as a medium after a short illness. Her curiosity about her newfound “gift” helps bring about her personal transformation from a depressed, subservient wife and mother trapped in a controlling marriage, to a vibrant, self-possessed woman in charge of her own destiny. I’m most interested in writing stories about flawed, yet dynamic women who overcome personal challenges and fears through the lens of gothic fiction, which has always been a powerful vehicle for social and feminist commentary.

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

1. I believe my curiosity and my powers of observation helped positively impact my journey. I’ve always been interested in people and how they relate to one another. I was very introverted as a child, and enjoyed “eavesdropping” on conversations and social events more than taking part. And when I wasn’t people watching, I had my head in a book! I still read voraciously, and I read everything–from popular genre fiction to non-fiction and memoirs. I think my curiosity about people and the world, as well as my love of reading, led me to become a writer.

2. I’ve always had a strong, disciplined work ethic. I like to get up early, brew my coffee, and get straight to work in the morning. I usually write for 2-3 hours and leave the rest of the day for spending time with my family. This routine-oriented schedule has helped me face the daunting deadlines in publishing while balancing the demands of family life and running a household. Even when I had a “day-job” I would always rise early to write and have my me-time.

3. I’m a risk-taker/entrepreneur. I’m not sure if that comes from my childhood, and facing the kind of poverty I experienced, or something else, but I’ve always been that little girl on the street corner setting up a lemonade stand! No matter which career I chose (and I’ve chosen three creative careers in my lifetime!) the end-goal was always to start my own business. It just felt right to me. Not because I can’t take direction, but because I like the feeling of control and flexibility that being self-employed affords me. I can work anywhere and I love that.

My biggest advice is to stay curious. To watch and listen more than you speak. And no matter what it is that you want to do, approach any new experience or goal with openness and humility, a willingness to learn (and sometimes–fail) and confidence that you will find your purpose with time and discipline.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

As a person with ADHD and an anxiety disorder, overwhelm is familiar to me! When I feel overwhelmed, I force myself to slow down. I approach life minute-by-minute and one step at a time. I remind myself that I can only control my actions, and my choices, and not the choices anyone else makes, or how someone else perceives me. And when it comes to big tasks, I break them down into smaller ones, For example, if I have a big revision to complete on a novel, I’ll tackle 20 pages at a time. Take a break. Then tackle 20 more. I use this strategy for lots of things, not just my work! If I have company coming and want my house to be ready for guests, I’ll take a few hours to clean and organize just one room. Then move on to the next. Before I know it, I’ve met my goal. You can start with something small, like organizing the drawers in your desk. I also use the Notes app on my phone as a running to-do list. It’s so satisfying to check things off from a list and to see visual proof that you’ve completed something. People often comment on how organized I am. But there’s chaos inside my head 24/7. Staying organized helps me combat the chaos.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://paulettekennedy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pkennedywrites/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorpaulettekennedy/

Image Credits

I took all of the photos myself, so no need for image credits