Southern Storyteller. Porch-Swing Philosopher. Believer in Second Chances.

I thought I’d tell you a little more about the kind of stories I write—and the woman who’s learning to write them with more heart than ever before.

I’m Kieran—Kiki to almost all the children in my extended family (see my note at the end)—and for a long time, I wrote love stories. Historical and contemporary rom-coms full of spark, banter, and happily-ever-afters. And I loved writing them!

These days, I still do—only now, the love stories live alongside deeper reckonings.
Why? Because over time, my life shifted—as it does for all of us.

My husband went to Afghanistan for a second year-long tour with the U.S. military. My three kids were stretching their wings, choosing to live for extended periods of time in far-off places: my eldest in Spain, my middle child in England, and my youngest in Hungary. My aging parents—the ones I’ve always looked up to—began leaning on me more, a quiet shift that tugged at my heart.

So these days, my stories can’t help but ache a little more. Breathe a little deeper. They follow women through heartbreak and reinvention, through the kind of changes that don’t come easy.

My characters don’t always know what comes next—but they keep going.
With grit. With grace.

And still—always—there is joy. Hard-won but real. My characters face setbacks and soul-searching. They stumble and regroup and learn a few things they didn’t expect to. But along the path, they also find friendship, laughter, and moments that sparkle. By the end, they’ve found something worth holding onto.

Life shines through in my novels. The messy, funny, hopeful, heartbreaking parts of it. And I believe that when a story tells the truth and still chooses joy—that’s when it really stays with you.

This isn’t my debut, but it is a new chapter. After thirteen novels with St. Martin’s Press, starred reviews from Kirkus, Library Journal, and Booklist, and two years immersed in writing and story during my MFA in Creative Writing, I came back more rooted. More open. More me. Ready to tell the kinds of stories that feel more like home.

So, welcome. Truly. I’m so glad you’re here.

And if you’d like to read more about Charleston and my life in this gorgeous part of the world—behind-the-scenes peeks at special places, Lowcountry musings, and bookish ramblings—check out The Charleston Edit. You can find it on my blog and on Substack—whichever porch swing you’d rather sit a spell on.

If you prefer reading on Substack, you can subscribe here and get each post delivered straight to your inbox, sweet tea not included (but highly recommended).

Here’s the note I mentioned up top: One child in the family doesn’t call me Kiki. She calls me Nana! I’m so proud to be a grandmother and absolutely in love with that precious baby! Counting my parents, my five brothers and sisters, the grandchildren, and the grand-children, our family is now up to 84 people, with two more great-grandbabies on the way for my parents. They will have been married 70 years this summer (2025)!

That kind of love—and that kind of story—never stops unfolding, which I see more clearly every time I hold my granddaughter or watch my children build lives with their own loves. It means the world to share even a moment of that with you here.