Meet M. J. Kuhn | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with M. J. Kuhn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi M. J., why did you pursue a creative career?
It took me a long time to work up the nerve to actually pursue writing as a career. To be honest, I still feel a bit like a fraud, as I have a day job on the side for stability, still. But once you catch the fiction-writing bug (or probably other artistic bugs, I’d imagine), it becomes impossible to envision yourself living a life without it. When I envision a future without writing, it’s not a future worth having, no matter how much money I might make if I gave myself over completely to a different career path.

Pursuing a creative career is not for everyone. It’s a path filled with lots of hard work for little to no ROI for a very long time. It’s a path filled with rejection, doubt, and people looking down their noses and asking “are you still doing that little writing thing?” If you’re looking for fast riches, accolades, and the approval of your elders, pursuing a creative career might not be the right path for you, haha.

But if you have a creative fire inside you that nothing seems to quench, you’ll have no choice but to take that path anyways.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a fantasy and science fiction author! So far, I have two books out: The Tales of Thamorr Duology. The Tales of Thamorr, (Among Thieves and Thick as Thieves) is a fantasy heist story featuring a treacherous team of thieves on a mission to steal a magical artifact, all while all the members of the heist team plot and scheme to betray their fellows.

My “author brand” is fast-paced fantasy and science fiction. My books aren’t massive doorstoppers. I like to keep the plot breakneck quick, focus on the characters, and keep the story as tight as possible. There’s a place for long, meandering, beautiful tales in fantasy, but my books are not those. If you like a book that feels like a nonstop rollercoaster ride, my books might be for you!

My path to where I am has been a long one. I began writing seriously in 2014, didn’t manage to sign with my first agent until 2017, and signed my first book deal in 2019. With COVID, my book release was delayed by a full year, and then my second book also faced challenges and ended up coming out a year later than I’d like. But, here I am nearly a decade out from day one with two books on the shelf with my name on the spine. My challenges in this tough industry are far from over, but I’m honored to say I’ve found an audience and my books are reaching the readers they’re meant for, and that’s all I can ask for as an author.

Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned:
-Someone hates everything. If you try to make art that appeals to everyone, you will end up with art that appeals to no one.
-Luck is worth more than talent, but grit is worth more than both. After all, if you stubbornly hang onto your dream long enough, your chances of eventually running into a good streak of luck go up.
-Community is everything. Creating art in a vacuum is possible, but miserable.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the Detroit Metro area! So, a few of my favorite spots are:

-The Detroit Zoo (Who doesn’t love a good trip to the zoo!)
-Cliff Bells (This is a jazz club in downtown Detroit. Great music and cocktails!)
-Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Affordable tickets for incredible music in a BEAUTIFUL venue)
-Royal Oak Music Theatre (It’s an intimate theatre in one of the suburbs of Detroit, so if you see someone you love performing there, check it out – all the seats at this venue are great ones!)

All that being said, I’m honestly more of a homebody! I usually am home with a book haha but those are all great places to check out in the Detroit area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shout out my debut author group! My first novel released during the pandemic and lockdowns, when author events, conventions, and writing communities were shut down. Releasing your first book into the world is an emotional, stressful, and deeply unique experience, and the only people who can truly understand it are fellow authors who have gone through those same trials and tribulations. And so, along with Genevieve Gornichec and H. M. Long, I formed an online support community for authors whose first book was coming out in 2021. Through that group, I’ve found support, camaraderie, advice, and lifelong friendship. Without the #2021Debut crew, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I’m forever grateful.

Website: www.mjkuhn.com

Instagram: @mjkuhnbooks

Twitter: @mjkuhnbooks

Facebook: @mjkuhnbooks

Other: TikTok: @mjkuhnbooks