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Local author ‘writes from the heart’

Courtesy photo / Erin Kelly’s first book became available for pre-order Jan. 9 and is due to be released May 4.

Many people set out on their career paths in an effort to impact those around them, while others touch the world by pursuing their passions.

One Altoona writer has turned her passion into a career and is now reaching more people with her message each and every day.

Erin Kelly, 32, of Altoona was born in Korea with cerebral palsy. She is now employed as the social justice editor at the Good Men Project in addition to writing a monthly column for the Mirror and being on the brink of publishing her first book.

Kelly’s journey as a writer began at a young age, as she was searching for a way to be heard.

“I had difficulty expressing myself,” Kelly said via email. “I had a voice, but it was barely loud enough for others to hear. I felt I wasn’t being heard or understood the way I wanted to be. So, I started writing when I was a kid (6 or 7 years old). It started as just a hobby and a personal reaction to my disability, but it evolved into something much more meaningful as I grew older.”

After graduating from Penn State Altoona in 2009 with a degree in Letters, Arts and Sciences, Kelly set off in search of a job.

“I started to apply for jobs that didn’t quite fit my skill set when I was in college,” Kelly wrote. “Not having the outcome I had hoped for inspired me to work even harder to become a writer.”

In 2012, Kelly was hired by her mentor and fellow writer, Cameron Conaway, to work for the Good Men Project, an online publication which was one of her first “big writing jobs.”

“Erin’s trajectory as a multi-genre writer is a result of hustle and heart,” Conaway said. “Few non-writers understand how difficult the industry can be. Achievements come only after countless quiet setbacks, and Erin handles these setbacks with grace and with a relentless desire to move forward. All of us, her readers, are better because of it.”

Today, Kelly writes a Mirror column, “The View from Here,” which is published the first Thursday of every month. In her column, Kelly focuses on her goal of teaching others to develop a better understanding of those living with challenges.

“In reading it, I want people to feel comfortable in interacting with people who have challenges,” Kelly said. “By sharing my every-day stories and natural situations, I feel their comfort level is increasing. By using laughter and ease, they have become more open with me. Whatever else people gain from it, I hope it’s something they can utilize in their own lives.”

Recently, Kelly has taken her writing career to the next level. Her first book, titled “How to Wait,” became available for pre-order Jan. 9 and is due to be released May 4.

The book is a collection of poems about life from Kelly’s point of view.

“The poems focus on everything from getting out of bed in the morning to dealing with family and friends — all done with my usual twist,” she said.

Many are inspired by the angle Kelly takes in her book, focusing on subjects that people often hesitate to discuss.

“She has turned her attention in recent years to disability issues, empowering those with disabilities and educating readers who do not have personal experience with a disability,” Erin Murphy, professor of English at Penn State Altoona, said.

The publishing of her first book is a major milestone for Kelly, and it has impacted not only her but also those around her.

“We are so proud of Erin and her writing talents, and we love the fact that she gets to share it with others,” Debbie Kelly, Erin’s mother, said. “Erin writes from the heart. Her stories have given her the opportunity to not only be a good writer but also a good teacher.”

Kelly hopes that her book will inspire others to look at life from another perspective.

“I want to offer readers a glimpse at what life is like on the other side — an opportunity to see how a day in life occurs differently for those with challenges,” Kelly said.

Kelly said that her main goal is to continue growing and working toward publishing more books. Her efforts thus far have not gone unnoticed.

“Erin is one of the hardest-working writers I know,” Murphy said. “I am lucky to count her as a former student, a fellow writer and a friend.”

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