When Kerry Kriseman’s husband decided to run for local office in 1999, she became more than a supportive spouse—she became a public figure navigating eight campaigns, raising children under scrutiny, battling cancer twice, surviving a house fire, and constantly challenging the assumption that she was merely “arm candy” or someone “keeping the home fires burning.”
Twenty-two years later, Kerry published “Accidental First Lady: On the Front Lines and Behind the Scenes of Local Politics” through St. Petersburg Press, a hybrid publisher. But she made one critical mistake: she kept her book almost a secret while her husband was still in office, missing the crucial window to build her audience before launch.
In this episode of Jolene’s Books and Writers Talk, Kerry shares:
Why political spouses (especially women) face persistent stereotypes—and how her memoir challenges them
The most difficult scene she ever wrote: conveying real struggle without sounding privileged
Her self-taught journey into author marketing after publication
How she maintained her writing practice during chemotherapy by focusing on queries when she couldn’t write
What she’s learning about dialogue and storytelling from Elena Ferrante as she contemplates fiction
Her next potential project: a memoir about 15 years raising guide and service dogs
Kerry’s story offers invaluable lessons for memoir writers about authenticity, resilience, and the importance of starting your author platform early. Whether you’re writing political memoir, navigating hybrid publishing, or simply trying to find your authentic voice while telling a complicated story, Kerry’s honest reflections will inspire and inform your journey.
Plus, find out why she’d invite Jimmy Buffett, Michelle Obama, and God to her dream dinner party.
Listen now and discover what it really means to be the person beside the politician—and how to turn that experience into a story that matters. - Visit the authors SubStack: https://kerrykriseman.substack.com/
Jolene’s Books and Writers Talk is sponsored by Southern Dragon Publishing Services. Subscribe for weekly conversations with authors and publishing professionals about craft, creativity, and the real life behind the books.
