For K.T. Anglehart, the desire to tell stories showed up long before she called herself a writer. As she shared on the Project Seed Money Podcast, she always knew storytelling would be part of her life, she just didn’t immediately know what form it would take.

As a child, K.T. imagined becoming an actor, drawn to the humor and emotion of the stories she loved. That changed after a school storytelling competition revealed something important: she loved telling stories, but not performing them. Writing, she realized, was the right home for her creativity.

Inspired by magical and witchy worlds like Harry Potter, Charmed, and other fantasy stories, K.T. began writing her own tales. The turning point came later, during her master’s program in creative writing. Faced with deadlines and structure, she committed to writing a book as her thesis project. That manuscript eventually became her first published novel.

Rather than pursue traditional publishing right away, K.T. chose to self-publish. After working with professional guidance through the Women in Publishing Summit, she went on to create her own imprint, Magic Dwarf Press, named in honor of her late rabbit, Magic. From that point forward, she took full ownership of her publishing journey, continuing to self-publish her fantasy series.

Throughout the conversation, K.T. speaks candidly about the challenges of self-doubt. Even after publishing multiple books, those voices don’t disappear. Writing, she explains, is personal, it’s putting a piece of yourself into the world and waiting to see how it’s received. What helps quiet that doubt is community: supportive family, friends, and fellow writers who remind you why the work matters.

Routine has also been key. K.T. treats writing like a job, setting timelines and showing up even when fear is present. She doesn’t wait for confidence to arrive first, she works anyway.

One of the most impactful moments in the interview comes when K.T. addresses first drafts. Too often, writers quit because the early version of their work feels “bad.” Her perspective is simple and freeing: first drafts are supposed to be bad. They’re for telling yourself the story. Each draft has a purpose, and improvement comes through revision, not perfection at the start.

K.T.’s journey is a reminder that writing success doesn’t require certainty, only persistence, support, and the willingness to keep going.