Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Wasyliszyn
Hi Kristen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a daughter of a librarian and schoolteacher, our family had books not fancies. (Our family car was a chicken coop before we bought, cleaned and fixed it.) Creativity is the gorgeous cousin of invention after all.
So, books, and other people’s stories have always fascinated me. I’m more comfortable sharing life with artists, the odd and the heartbroken. They are invariably more interesting to pal around with- keeps life spicy.
Short story long, I graduated UMD with a fine arts degree and as most art kids, bumbled through any job that would have me: processed crab in Akutan Alaska, purchased subprime mortgages, managed Glamour Shots, schlepped tables, owned a clothing store on Lake Street, a deli in the Central Medical building and eventually started Atiki’s Flight Catering. Once that got cooking, I purchased and revitalized a condemned commercial building on Selby to house myself and Atiki’s catering kitchen.
I know what you are thinking.
Why yes.
Yes, it was glamourous sleeping over my business above a bus stop. (See my book dedication.)
Thankfully, I have incredible family and friends, one of whom, Jeff Schmidt (owner of Lizzard’s Art Gallery, see pic) has kept my creative side going by painting with me for 30 years.
In 2020, I sold Atiki’s Flight Catering to the lovely folks at Mintahoe, then decided to write that novel that had been percolating all those years.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No smooth road here.
Once, “done,” with my 77,000-word manuscript, an editor told me I had, “26 pages of a great story.”
Mind you, my brain isn’t exactly, “wired for chronological order,” which made the rewrite absolute torture.
It took three more years.
And while prickly at first, a part of me knew the editor was right.
(My sweet husband Shawn sopped a few of my tears during that “glorious time”. )
Once Why Is My Bra Still On? was finished, I surrounded myself with people smarter than myself. Maria Jette, voice actress, Karen Quale owner of Audio Ruckus, and Valeriya Simantovskaya, cover artist, finished the audiobook and cover and voila, a debut novel was born.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
While a lot of folks were getting therapy and figuring it out in their 40’s and 50’s I was running a 24/7 operation, catering to private/corporate aircraft and all that comes with that high adrenaline lifestyle.
By 2020, I was broken both mentally and physically- which is the BEST time to write a novel -or get cute.
To answer your question, professionally, I am proud that Atiki’s was named “vendor of the year,” by the largest aviation fractional in the world, and the staff I cultivated.
Creatively speaking, I’m awkwardly proud of my debut novel, Why Is My Bra Still On? receiving fortunate reviews by a number of heavy hitting critics. As for the question, “What sets you apart from others?” absolutely nothing with the exception of tenacity.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Once I admitted to myself, I may be a little eccentric, life opened up. So, wear the weird kaftan, drink bourbon and adopt a one-eyed dog- you may only have 20 summers left.
And paint, write or lean in to the things you enjoy, it will liberate you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kristenwas.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kris10mariewas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563148270763
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-wasyliszyn-7630b98/
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kristen-Wasyliszyn/author/B0DHJC2SBF?ref
Image Credits
