By: Seraphina Quinn
Kerry M. Kwiecinski is an author with a life story as rich and complex as the characters in his books. His journey from a small-town boy to a published author is one filled with experiences that shaped not only his personality but also his writing. Through the lens of his life, we can see how his upbringing, his career, and his personal struggles have all contributed to the depth and authenticity of his work.
Kerry was raised in a middle-class family where he learned the values of hard work and perseverance. His early life was marked by active participation in organizations like the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. These experiences instilled in him a sense of duty, discipline, and a love for the outdoors, which would later influence his writing.
As a young man, Kerry faced a turning point during the Vietnam War. With a draft number of five, he was almost certain to be sent to war. However, he was also offered opportunities by both West Point and the Naval Academy, reflecting his potential and the respect he commanded. Despite these offers, his father, a Lieutenant Colonel, advised him against going to Vietnam, deeming the conflict senseless. This advice led Kerry to pursue a different path, one that would eventually take him to college instead of the battlefield.
Kerry’s college years at Central Michigan University were challenging. Enrolled in a rigorous curriculum, including junior calculus and Advanced Placement courses, he quickly realized that the academic demands were intense. His experiences during these years were marked by a constant struggle to balance his studies with his personal life, especially against the backdrop of the social unrest caused by the Vietnam War.
One notable experience was his involvement in ROTC, which he initially joined but soon left due to the hostility he faced from anti-war protesters. This period of his life was chaotic and difficult, but it also forged a resilience in Kerry that would later be reflected in his writing. Despite the challenges, he managed to graduate on time with a diverse range of studies, including geology, geography, math, biology, and chemistry.
After college, Kerry’s career took him all over the world. He worked in technical fields, dealing with high-level executives and technical experts from various industries. His work was demanding and required a great deal of precision, something that also became a hallmark of his writing style. Throughout his career, Kerry wrote numerous technical papers, a far cry from the creative writing he would later pursue. However, these experiences honed his writing skills, particularly in crafting clear, concise, and impactful language.
Kerry’s work in the technical field was a significant part of his life, but it was not without its frustrations. The technical world, with its strict structures and demands, often left him feeling constrained. This frustration, however, fueled his desire to write creatively, to break free from the rigid frameworks he had operated within for so long.
Kerry did not begin his journey as a novelist until later in life. His decision to write was not motivated by a desire for fame or financial gain but rather by a deep-seated need to express himself and to see if he could craft a coherent story. His novel, Yesterday Revealed, is a product of this need—a story born from his life experiences, his reflections on the past, and his understanding of human nature.
The characters in Yesterday Revealed are deeply personal to Kerry. Kip Green, the protagonist, is inspired by a childhood acquaintance, while Susie and Techie are amalgamations of various influences from his past. These characters are not just figments of his imagination; they are extensions of Kerry’s life, shaped by his memories and the people he has known.
Kerry’s approach to writing is methodical. He views writing as a way to explore the complexities of life, using his characters to delve into themes of love, duty, and the passage of time. His writing process is influenced by the great authors and thinkers he admires, such as Hemingway, Ludlum, and Shakespeare, whose works have left an indelible mark on his literary style.
Kerry’s personal life has been as complex as his professional one. He married and had two sons, both of whom have gone on to achieve success in their own right. His younger son, known by his stage name Griz, is a successful music entertainer, while his older son has made a name for himself in the medical marijuana industry. Kerry takes great pride in their accomplishments, attributing some of their success to the freedom and guidance he provided as a parent.
However, Kerry’s personal life has not been without its struggles. His marriage eventually ended in divorce, a painful experience that he rarely discusses. Yet, even this part of his life has influenced his writing, giving him a deeper understanding of human relationships and the complexities that come with them.
One of the most significant influences on Kerry’s writing is the relationship between his parents. He describes them as being polar opposites—his mother, a right-brained, creative individual, and his father, a left-brained, logical thinker. Their dynamic, often tumultuous but ultimately loving, provided Kerry with a unique perspective on life. This yin and yang, as he calls it, is something he strives to capture in his writing, where he seeks to balance the emotional and the rational, the past and the present.
Kerry’s writing is not just a reflection of his life experiences; it is also a philosophical exploration of the human condition. He is deeply influenced by philosophical questions, such as whether form follows function or vice versa. These questions permeate his work, offering readers not just a story but also a deeper contemplation of the world around them.
Kerry M. Kwiecinski is a writer who has lived a full and varied life, and his work reflects the richness of his experiences. His journey from a technical writer to a novelist is a testament to his belief in the power of storytelling and the importance of reflecting on one’s past to understand the present.
As he continues to write, Kerry remains focused on his original goal: to create stories that are coherent, engaging, and thought-provoking. He does not seek fame or fortune; rather, he writes to explore the complexities of life and to share his insights with others. For Kerry, writing is not just a profession; it is a way of life, a means of making sense of the world and leaving a legacy that will endure long after he is gone.
In the end, Kerry M. Kwiecinski is more than just an author; he is a storyteller whose work is a window into the soul of a man who has lived, loved, and learned. Through his books, he invites readers to join him on a journey of discovery, where the past is revealed, the present is understood, and the future is always on the horizon.
Published by: Holy Minoza
