Category Archives: writing life

That neurodivergent urge . . .

Posted on March 29, 2025 by kirstincm

. . . and there are a zillion (including painting old pay phones, thanks NOLA), but here’s one that’s close to my heart: the urge to share something you love. So much of my work is about this desire, sharing … Continue reading →

Posted in gratitude, love, music, Uncategorized, writing life | Tagged | Leave a comment

Ten years, one regret

Posted on September 16, 2019 by kirstincm

  Time goes amazingly fast, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s just me. My first novel, The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don’t Mind, came out in September 2009. My kid was 11. I’d been at my job for 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, books, emotions, epic-ness, gratitude, live and learn, Original Fake, privilege, readers, SKY ALWAYS HEARS ME, Uncategorized, WRECK, writing community, writing life, yawp | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

When art creates art, and YOU MEET THE ARTIST (omg!!)

Posted on July 8, 2019 by kirstincm

    The title doesn’t make it clear, but the book does: the title of WRECK is inspired by “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” a song written and performed by Gordon Lightfoot in 1976, about the shipwreck of the … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, characters, emotions, epic-ness, grief, music, November, small world, Uncategorized, writing life, yawp | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The . . . disrespectful? . . . launch of WRECK

Posted on April 16, 2019 by kirstincm

    Launching WRECK has been unlike launching any other book in my career. Its subject matter is hard, and the book isn’t funny (I love writing funny books).  But more than anything, its launch feels a way I can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS, emotions, grief, readers, WRECK, writing life, yawp | Leave a comment

Sometimes you write the book, sometimes the book writes you.

Posted on November 26, 2018 by kirstincm

  Writing is a funny thing. You’d think you’d be in control of the process, but sometimes you’re not. Sometimes the characters do or say things you’re not expecting. Sometimes the book goes in a direction you don’t expect (the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, emotions, gratitude, Stephen King, WRECK, writing life, yawp | Leave a comment

Hello! This is not a blog post. This is a declaration of no more blog posts. Welcome!

Posted on May 1, 2017 by kirstincm

Nine years ago today (May 1), I found out SKY was going to be a Flux book. Suffice it to say (cheesy but true) my life changed that day. Writing young adult novels has been one of the best, hardest, … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, books, epic-ness, readers, Uncategorized, writing life | Leave a comment

“Success:” a pep talk

Posted on September 29, 2015 by kirstincm

    I really dislike the word “success.”  I am super not interested in having people measure my “success,” but it happens ALL THE TIME–it’s a service society offers for free, bless its heart. Of course, when you’re busting your … Continue reading →

Posted in books, help me, Original Fake, writing life, yawp | Tagged , | 2 Comments

#MyWritingProcess blog tour

Posted on March 24, 2014 by kirstincm

Friends!  This week I’m participating in the #MyWritingProcess blog tour, and my friend and fellow writing group member Rachael Hanel got me involved in it.  Thank you, Rachael!  Side note:  if you haven’t read We’ll Be The Last Ones To … Continue reading →

Posted in readers, teenage boys, Uncategorized, writing community, writing life | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Stories that are More

Posted on January 20, 2014 by kirstincm

When is a story More than itself?  This question intrigues me.  CAN a story be More than itself?  I think so.  A story is always More when someone reads it, since the author and the reader are collaborating to make … Continue reading →

Posted in books, help me, writing life | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Mind geography: doors and mirrors

Posted on April 13, 2012 by kirstincm

Characters have to live somewhere, of course, but the question is always where.  When I first started working (cluelessly) on SKY, I gave Morgan my growing-up house, because 1) it was all I could think to do, since 2) my … Continue reading →

Posted in adolescence, books, SKY, small world, there is no place like Nebraska, writing life | 1 Comment