Kryssa Stevenson: Media Kit
As Seen In
About
Born on the north shore of Oahu and raised in Southern Utah, Kryssa Stevenson is a Pacific Island fantasy author and a proud advocate for mental health in the Polynesian community.Â
Her debut novel, Shadowed By Moonlight, was successfully funded on Kickstarter last year and is currently making a splash in the very niche genre of Polynesian-worldbuilding fantasy.Â
Having suffered from years of abuse and PTSD, Kryssa often speaks out against the stigma towards mental heath amongst Pacific Islanders and uses her story to empower others.Â
Contact
tofagalei@gmail.com
351 S 400 E Apt 5
St. George, UT 84770
USA
Photos
Download High Resolution Photos:
Shadowed By Moonlight-Paperback
Topics
The Polynesian Diaspora: As the child of Samoan immigrants born and raised in the States, Kryssa knows from personal experience what it’s like trying to navigate multiple cultures and struggling to find a place to belong. She grew up learning fa’a Samoa protocol and also reading Western literature, and understands the friction that comes when these two cultures seem to contradict each other.
Writing Pacific Island Characters: Having recently published a Pacific Island fantasy, and being a Pacific Islander herself, Kryssa loves to talk to fellow authors about things to consider when writing Pasefika characters. Whether it’s the do’s and don’ts of a particular culture, or tired tropes that are overplayed in the media, this is a topic Kryssa has a lot of personal experience with.
Abuse in the Polynesian Culture: As an abuse survivor, Kryssa understands just how debilitating it can be to be manipulated and taken advantage of by a loved one. She also knows how, in the Polynesian culture, abuse is considered a shameful topic, and often goes unaddressed. She is unafraid to start a conversation about what abuse can look like for Pacific Islanders and how to put a stop to it.Â
PTSD and Mental Health: Kryssa went through years of abuse that had her eating moldy food and picking dandelions in front of the college library just to get by. As a result of those years, she later developed severe PTSD and was unable to work for two years after getting out of that situation. Because of this, Kryssa is extremely passionate about breaking the stigma against mental health. She has found ways to overcome her PTSD by honoring her culture, and encourages others to do the same.
Sample Questions
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Shadowed By Moonlight/Writing in General
What inspired you to write Shadowed By Moonlight?
What kind of research did you do in order to write this book?
How did you get started as a writer?
Why did you decide to pursue indie publishing instead of going traditional?
Tell us about your very first book you wrote as a nine-year-old.
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Pacific Island Cultures and the Diaspora Experience
What is the diaspora experience? What are some differences between islanders born and raised in the islands and those raised in other countries like Australia or the States?
How would you say your experiences differed from your peers as a Samoan-American in Utah? What are some things you wished people in the islands understood about those living in the diaspora?
What are some things you wished diaspora Polynesians better understood about their own culture? What do you think it means to be a “real” Samoan? How has that phrase impacted your outlook on life? Â
PTSD & Mental Health
Tell us a little bit about your abuse story How did that go on to affect you when you were diagnosed with PTSD? What steps did you take in order to overcome your symptoms? How did your attitude towards mental health change once it became such a big part of your life? What was the hardest part about recovery? What advice do you have for someone struggling with PTSD or other mental health issues? Would you say that your life has been improved because of what you went through? Why or why not?