It’s been two years since the release of my memoir, When They Tell You To Be Good, and the journey has been transformative. In this video, I reflect on what writing this book has taught me about masculinity, Black mortality, and personal growth as a queer Black man. Through confronting grief, toxic masculinity, and abandonment, I’ve come to realize that the answers we seek often lie within us, and writing has been my way of reclaiming that power.

Join me as I share the key lessons from my memoir and how they continue to shape my understanding of survival and resilience. Whether you’ve read When They Tell You To Be Good or are discovering it for the first time, this video offers a deep dive into how writing can be a tool for self-discovery and healing.

Imagine a novel that combines the magical realism of a children’s literary classic like Bridge to Terabithia with the emotional complexity of coming of age through grief, similar to The Fault in Our Stars. This is the tonality found throughout Cassandra J. Kelly’s debut novel, The Clearing, released in the spring of 2024.

In this episode of THE CREATIVE HOUR, host Prince Shakur sits down with Cassandra J. Kelly to delve into her captivating narrative. Cassandra, who holds degrees in journalism and environmental science from Ohio University, continues to call Ohio home and enjoys spending time in nature with her Australian Shepherds, Bonnie and Eva.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Clearing opens with Sadie and her mother struggling to get by in a beat-up car in Juniper, Ohio. From there, the story transforms into a young woman’s adventurous escapades in the woods, the reconnection of a family torn by loss, and the harsh realities of a failing healthcare system. Sadie’s journey of caring for her ailing mother, exploring the woods, and coming of age resonates deeply with readers.

To buy... "THE CLEARING" by Cassandra J. Kelly: https://bookshop.org/a/23229/9781633377776 [affiliate link]

Join us as we explore:

• The complex themes of staying and leaving one’s home.
• Growing up at a young age and how surrealism can save us.
• How Cassandra avoided cliché tropes in narratives dealing with illness.
• The surrealism of childhood.
• And how writing can be a transformative, healing process.

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

02:55 - How did you grow up? And get into writing?

05:35 - How "THE CLEARING" started as an idea

10:32 - On discovering Sadie as a main character

13:25 - Coming of age through grief and writing

19:35 - Family dynamics and psychology in "THE CLEARING"

24:21 - How to write illness consciously and avoid tropes

28:30 - Surrealism in nature and as a means to navigate trauma

32:56 - On Sadie's character arc

40:43 - Your favorite character in the book?

44:35 - A sequel to THE CLEARING and What's Next

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | CASSANDRA J. KELLY holds journalism and environmental science degrees from Ohio University. She continues to call Ohio home and loves spending time in nature with her Australian Shepherds, Bonnie, and Eva.

It's finally season three of The Creative Hour and I'm so happy to bring this podcast back in a new form. In season three I'll be breaking down the many different aspects of my life as an author and writer, whether it be getting published, navigating book tour, working on fiction after publishing, a memoir and much more.

If there any particular writing questions, you want to see explored in this season let me know.