Creative of the Month

            Pamela K. Knudsen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Location: Laguna Beach, California

 

Creative Vocation:  Author. 

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-How did you become interested in becoming a creative person?

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It’s been in the works for decades. I loved writing as a kid. Writing assignments in elementary school, especially essays, the “write about your summer” type of assignments always enthused me.

 

And I used to make books for my parents as gifts. I
thought about becoming a journalist, but ended up in a transactional paralegal position, which involved a lot of technical/business writing. I enjoyed drafting legal
documents and ghost writing letters for attorneys, but it didn’t quite fulfill my need for creative expression.
 

So…I took creative writing and copywriting courses. I started writing short stories and sharing them at a monthly event called “Dime Stories” where participants would write a short story of no more than 500 words and read it to the Dime Stories audience.

 

One of my stories was selected for publication in the local newspaper, and that’s when I knew I had to keep writing creatively. About a year into Dime Stories, an idea came to me for a children’s book. Up until then, I’d never entertained writing
a book and then I couldn’t get the idea out of my head—and my heart.

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I felt a calling to expand my writing endeavors. And that’s when I knew had to write a book.

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-How would you describe your work?
Most of my published work has been personal essay. My most recent publication is a short story personal essay in the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, which came out in 2025.

 

I had a short run writing feature articles for a local magazine, which was such a great experience and I loved it, but the magazine folded after a year. I also did some freelance copywriting for a few years and learned that I would much rather be a storyteller than writing promotional copy.

 

 

 

 

 

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In 2023, my children’s book idea came to life with the publication of Two Cats, a Mermaid and the Disappearing Moon. It’s a tale of two cats who are baffled when the full moon vanishes from the sky, so they leave the safety of their garden to search for
the missing moon. The theme is a magical adventure with a scientific spin.

I also have two blogs about a couple of my passions: cats and historic cottages. In my blog, Cat Lady in the Canyon – Crazy Cat Lady Redefined, I debunk the crazy cat lady stigma.

 

In Cottage Memoirs, I write about the enchantment and challenges of living in a tiny century-plus old cottage.​​​​​​

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-Who, or even what, would you say is your main influence in an artistic sense?
  
I’m influenced by memoir. True life stories can be so riveting. I’m influenced by authors with amazing stories that know how to write them like Cameron Crowe. His life story is compelling. He wrote for Rolling Stone magazine when he was only
sixteen and interviewed some of the greatest musical legends. I’m influenced by his courage and determination to follow his passion. I loved his memoir, The Uncool.

I also admire the writings of memoirists Pam Houston and Dani Shapiro, and am influenced by personal essays published in The Sun magazine. I’ve read so many amazing stories that are beautifully written.
 

Books from childhood influenced me in how I wrote Two Cats. I wanted the story to  capture the essence of the classics in the way it read and in the artistry of the illustrations. I went with a hybrid publisher so that I could have artistic control, and I
found the process so rewarding. It was beyond exciting to see my vision come to life in each illustration. The illustrators did a beautiful job of interpreting how I wanted the book to look.​

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-What inspires you and brings you the most satisfaction in doing your creative endeavors? 
 

I think being a creative person, the need to express is just always there, so I’m easily inspired by interesting, humorous or heartbreaking life events. The writing process is a thrill for me, from shaping the first sloppy draft into a moving story with just the right words and lots of rearranging and deleting.

 

It’s so cool when the perfect ending or expression of emotion comes to me after hours or days of coming up with nothing.
It’s like a magical download that comes into my brain from the ethers. Connecting with people through my stories is incredibly satisfying. I’ve been so moved over the years at comments on my blog posts in which people express how relatable my stories are, from the humorous to the melancholy.

 

I had no idea of the joyful connection with kids that my children’s book readings would bring. At the end of my first reading at the local Boys & Girls Club, a little girl came up to me and said,
“Thank you, Miss Pamela,” then hugged me. I’ve had kids talk to me about their cats and ask questions about the story. It’s so moving to see that my book stirred their curiosity and sense of wonder.

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Socials: IG: @pamelakwriter; @twocatsamermaidbook

Websites: pamelakknudsen.com; catladyinthecanyon.com

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