Welcome to my world.
And the world of "Knuckles & Braeburn."
Just realized there’s a chance you might not actually know me. Let’s change that, shall we?
My name is Chris Keilman.
I’m a writer, and I live in a quiet little neighborhood in San Francisco that I deeply love, in a funky old apartment that I can barely afford, and it’s perfect.
I grew up in the Bay Area, so this lush, foggy neighborhood full of statues and streetlamps, colorful victorian homes full of swirling filigrees, is my backyard.
I spend my days working from home as a copywriter, and, when a moment presents itself, I do some combination of getting coffee and walking in Golden Gate park.
Other times, I walk to the various bookstores and coffee shops around my part of town, doing my fiction writing here, there, and everywhere.
For the last few years that has mainly consisted of this middle grade paranormal mystery called Knuckles & Braeburn: the Case of the Cursed Bonanza.
It’s a story of two 7th grade detectives who solve mysteries from out of their treehouse, only to get wrapped up in a perplexing case involving donuts, and possibly a centuries-old curse.
Paranormal shenanigans ensue.
As of writing this, I’ve got somewhere in the neighborhood of 50,000 words written, and I’m working my way through the climax of the story. I often write in a notebook with a pen, or–even better–a no. 2 pencil. It’s a little hard to estimate word count with hand-written work, but that seems about right.
Knuckles & Braeburn is an absolute joy. It’s an idea that struck me a few years ago, and somehow, it’s just stayed with me. Part of my mission here is to manifest these precocious youngers, and their sleepy town of Thistlewood, into reality.
Of course, these characters are already real to me, and their story continues to unfold. But for some reason, it’s also a mission of mine to show people what I see. And to this end, I feel that I’ve only accomplished 1% of that task.
I’m still getting to know who these precocious kids are; I learn more about them every time I sit down to write. They’re layered and interesting and complex and opinionated, and I love them–and I love whatever strange thing this story is going to become.
I ultimately hope to finish the book, and then pursue traditional publishing.
I look forward to seeing Knuckles & Braeburn: the Case of the Cursed Bonanza on a bookshelf in the not-so-distant future.
Until then, I hope you’ll join me on this journey of uncovering one of many mysteries hiding in plain sight, both in the world of Knuckles & Braeburn, and in the mysterious process of creating. I have a feeling that miraculous things await.
Until then, thanks for reading.
-Chris K
P.S. Here’s a quick look at how I make the donuts—um… I mean, get writing done. It’s extremely unflattering.
Great read and inspiring insight into your creative process! I look forward to seeing it on bookshelves as well. From another Bay Area born and raised boy!