Apples and buckeyes remind me of the places I call home: Ohio and Washington state. I grew up in the “buckeye” state of Ohio—in the countryside—surrounded by apple trees. My mother was a Spanish professor and my father was a chemist/inventor who traveled the world. They both inspired me to pursue lifelong education goals, and while in college, I developed an interest in Spanish literature. When I graduated, I attended The Ohio State University for my doctorate degree. On this campus, I met my husband, Nathan. We settled in Springfield, Ohio, which is where our son Alex was born in 2002. I continued to work full time at a local community college, designing and delivering courses online and in traditional format for English Composition I, English Composition II, Regional Studies of Latin America, British Literature to 1800, and all levels of Spanish. My committee and volunteer work often involved intense editing projects, serving on Alex’s elementary school board, publishing a textbook, and presenting at conferences. I did as much writing and editing as I did teaching!
In 2016, Nate was presented with a fantastic job opportunity in the state of Washington, which is where I now live. I still missed my students, so I signed on with Pearson Publishing to teach English composition part-time and online as a writing center instructor. Later, I took on a lead role, which consisted of training a team of tutors and monitoring their work. In November of 2021, I accepted a full-time copywriting job with Funko Headquarters in Everett, Washington, working for various licenses, including Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, and I stayed there for three happy years before returning full-time to consulting work.
In my spare time, I continue to write fiction, and my short stories have been published in international literary journals, magazines, and anthologies. My first book of fiction, The Places We Haunt (Potter’s Grove Publishing), was released June 30, 2020. It was reprinted in 2024 by DarkWinter Press/Baxter House editions. I also have another collection called, Twenty-Four-Hour-Shift: Dark Tales from on and off the Clock (2023, DarkWinter Press). Currently, I am a proofreader for Flash Fiction Magazine and a concept editor for Running Wild Press. Just for fun, I also keep a blog that describes my humorous attempts at DIY projects: “Fixin’ Leaks and Leeks.”
Daily, I set a goal to write, even if it’s only for five minutes. My favorite place to write is on the couch, in the living room. On the mantel above the fireplace are jars of buckeyes that my family and I brought with us from Ohio. Through the sliding glass doors, just to my right, I have a view of the yard, where we’ve planted palm and banana trees in honor of the apple tree we left behind.
(My complete, up-to-date resume and samples can be accessed through this portfolio link: Cecilia Kennedy, Portfolio)
Paper/Rock Writing 