Konn Lavery shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Konn, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are the same throughout the week, except on a weekend morning. I wake up, feed the cat, make a cup of black coffee, and I write. Often people ask how I write so much and regularly, and now you know the magical secret ingredient! Repetition hones all pursuits: exercise, skill, and, my passion, horror novels. If I did not dedicate five to six days of the week to this method, I don’t think I would be writing the way I do. Too often, the day derails as the hours progress into the night.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Konn Lavery. I am a graphic designer and web developer by trade and a horror and dark fantasy author by passion.
I’ve been freelancing as a web/graphic designer since 2014, so working from home is nothing new to me. I help clients with their logos, branding, trade show displays, stationery (business cards, brochures, envelopes), book and album covers, and with building websites. My web work specializes in custom WordPress themes. I also work within systems that fit a client’s budget or are their preference, such as HubSpot, Wix, Squarespace, or a premium WordPress theme.
As for the writing, I’ve been crafting creepy fiction my whole life. I started perusing it professionally in 2012 with my first release, Reality, which I self-published after graduating design college in 2010. Since then, I’ve had 14 novels, 56 short stories, and 4 audiobooks released. My award-winning fiction has reached the bestselling charts on Amazon and in my hometown of Edmonton. My writing has been self-published and published by Canadian, United Kingdom, and American publishers. Each story is housed within the expanding universe known as the Macrocosm, spanning across time and space.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
There have been many moments that have helped shape how I see the world and reinforce it. My parents have had a great impact on me with their caution, open-mindedness, and common sense. For a single moment, learning about evolution through a dinosaur documentary (I cannot recall the name of if) as a kid sparked an “ah-hah” moment about how vast, ancient, and large the universe is and how minuscule we are.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Project burnout. My college instructors talked about it, friends talk about it, I’ve talked about it and have written a blog post about it. Project burnout is a common side effect in the creative workforce, where deadlines and the volume of work suck you dry. Your brain grinds to a halt. You cannot start ideas. Numbness runs through your system. This happens to everyone I know, and it is a challenge to manage because, unfortunately, we need to eat food and keep a roof over our heads.
For healing, doing your absolute best to avoid project burnout is your best shot. Learn to say no. Deflect, delay, and negotiate about additional work. Revisit the scope of a project to ensure you and your client/boss are on track.
If you end up with project burnout, take time to accept it and embrace it. Get lazy. Order your favourite food. Lounge around and binge for hours on end. Or go hike up a mountain and ignore the world. You’ll come out of the burnout with a sense of newfound life.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d say so. Friends say so too. Clients and readers who grow into friends say the same thing. Of course, when you first meet, let’s say, a lead or a client or a current or potential reader, you act professional and stay on topic. At most, the personal version of me makes a few more jokes and curses.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
When I’m creating. With writing, sometimes drawing, or making music. When you’re in the creative flow, it almost feels like a trance or a form of meditation. Your entire focus is on the piece of art you’re making. You’re in the moment and can hear each sound and are aware of everything in view. Nothing else in your mind is present other than creating.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://konnlavery.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konnlavery/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konn-lavery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/konnlavery/
- Other: Design Portfolio: https://www.revealdesign.ca/
Image Credits
Nadia Dzyakava
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