The Little Misfit That Could:  An Author's Journey

I write stories about misfits because I'm a misfit myself. Growing up, I wasn't popular, I was painfully shy, I had braces and pimples, and my wardrobe consisted of my siblings' (and sometimes my brother's) hand-me-downs. In terms of social casting, I was dead girl walking.

Well aware of these marks against me, I did everything I could to avoid being a target for bullies. I laid so low that I disappeared. People didn't even know I was around, which was fine by me, because what you can't see, you can't judge. Over time I transformed myself into the "stone-faced" girl, giving nothing away, appearing bland and dull as the walls around me.

But on the inside, it was a different story. In my mind a world existed that bubbled and seethed and grew and soared and dared to be different. Despite everything, including a self-image that was sometimes more cruel than the meanest bully, I truly thought I could be somebody, somebody special. I came to believe that if I did great things, I'd get noticed in a good way and people wouldn't see all my defects and imperfections. I believed I could be more than what I was...a tiny speck amongst the stars.

It was some time around junior high that I decided that I wanted to be one of those stars myself. And for someone with miserably low self-esteem, I dreamed awful big. The key was to put those dreams into practice. Unfortunately, up to that point, my greatest achievements were winning a 3-Musketeers in a race at my church and beating a bunch of arrogant boys in a tomahawk-throwing contest. Despite this inauspicious start, I was determined to make a go of it.

Joining the basketball team was my first attempt at superstardom. Despite being one of the shortest people in my grade and having only a dirt basketball court with a wood backboard nailed to two wobbly pine tree poles on which to practice, I decided I was going to be the next Larry Bird. But success, fickle creature that she is, didn't exactly happen overnight. To cover my bases, I decided to be a good student, too. I figured if I studied hard enough, maybe I'd be the next Einstein. Until that happened, I made sure to work on my dream of becoming a celebrated author by writing lots of bad poems, several sentimental short stories and endless frustrated journal entries that nobody read. Still, I didn't give up. Year after year, I worked to better myself.

But despite all my hard work, nothing happened, certainly not superstardom.

Until my senior year. That fall, my English teacher sent two pieces of my work to a high school literary magazine and they accepted both (out of 10,000 submissions!). They then awarded the Scotty award to 100 of the best pieces and one of my short stories was included in that illustrious group. In basketball, I sunk the winning 3-point shot against our rivals, whom we hadn't beaten in 5 years. I was later voted team and conference MVP and received more basketball-related accolades than I could ever have imagined existed. And finally, after starting out the year as Salutatorian, I earned all A's for the entire school year (even in my much-hated statistics class) and graduated Valedictorian. I might not have been a real superstar, but I felt like one. And that, as it turned out, was good enough for me.

My later successes, though certainly less glamorous, were even more meaningful to me. While earning a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, I taught college courses, gave speeches, worked on committees, participated in panel discussions and debates, presented workshops, and counseled clients of all ages. Most recently, after giving birth and staying home to raise three great boys, I published my first book, The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Prophecies, a YA fantasy about a teenage girl who struggles with a secret power that threatens to make her an outcast forever.

My transformation from a self-hater into a self-respecter wasn't easy, but it was worth every sacrifice. I chose to make a different life for myself-to show the world, and myself, that I had something to offer. And that's why I write the books that I do...fantastical adventures starring underdogs and misfits who overcome obstacles to achieve a better life. My characters represent the person I've always aimed to be, living a life I've always strived to live-full of courage, adventure, and limitless, magical worlds. My hope is to show through my stories and characters that anything is possible. Even becoming a superstar.

Today I put my heart and soul into writing and being an author. I'm on Facebook and Twitter, have my own website, with awesome book trailers and a blog, I've done BlogTalk Radio interviews, and run several workshops at libraries and schools. I edit and read other authors' works. I've done numerous book signings and book fairs, and am happiest when I can read from my work. I'm a planning committee and board member for New Hampshire AuthorFest, a non-profit organization bringing authors together to promote literacy. I'm also involved in several writers associations and attend writing workshops throughout the year.

While I never attained the status of an Einstein or a Larry Bird, I did achieve my dream of becoming an author. I haven't given up on those other two dreams, though.  Well, okay, maybe the Einstein part. But when I'm playing pick-up basketball games at the gym, I feel like I could still be a Bird and soar high above the stars...

My Short Story:

When author, Kristina Schram, was growing up she wanted to be a star. When that didn't turn out quite like she expected, she turned her mind to achieving other goals: Earning her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, working as an Artist-in-Residence at local schools, being a free-lance editor and reader, and publishing her first novel, a YA fantasy called The Chronicles of Anaedor:  The Prophecies. She is a member of several writers associations, but is most proud of her work as a planning committee and board member for New Hampshire AuthorFest, a non-profit organization of authors coming together to promote literacy. Knowing what it's like to struggle with self-doubt and lack of confidence, her biggest dream is to stamp out low self-esteem for everyone, especially young people. "Low self-esteem - not liking yourself - is the number one deterrent to achieving happiness," she says. "So for the sake of a better world, it's got to go." She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, three boys, her mother and various pets, and can also throw a tomahawk if need be. For more information, visit her website:  www.KristinaSchram.com. She's also on Facebook and Twitter!

*Be sure to visit my blog to read about why I'm posting my platform and resume (and why you should, too!).

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Kristina L. Schram, Ph.D.

Author, Teacher, Editor, Artist in Residence, Mom

EDUCATION

1994 - 1999                        University of Akron                                    Akron, OH

Ph.D. Counseling Psychology

1992 - 1994                        University of Akron                                     Akron, OH

M.A. Psychology

1988 - 1992                        University of Minnesota, Morris                Morris, MN

B.A.  Psychology, with a Minor in Spanish

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

1997 - 1998            Counseling Intern. The Counseling Center at the University of New Hampshire (APA approved)

1996 - 1997            Counseling Intern.  The Counseling Center at Baldwin-Wallace College

1995 - 1996            Practicum Trainee.  Counseling, Testing and Career Center, University of Akron

1993 - 1995            Mental Health Aide/Psychiatric Nurse's Assistant.  Portage Path Emergency Services, Akron, Ohio

1993 - 1995            Practicum Trainee.  The Counseling Clinic, University of Akron. 

1996 - 1997            Sexual Assault Support Group.  Baldwin-Wallace College

1990 - 1992            Career Assistant.  The Career Center at the University of Minnesota, Morris

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2010 - 2011                 Parks & Rec Basketball Coach (5th & 6th grade boys)

1995 - present            Workshop Presenter

1994 - 1996                 Instructor, Dynamics of Personality (Psychology) University of Akron

1996                            Teaching Assistant, Pre-practicum for Counseling Psychology.  University of Akron

1993 - 1994                 Instructor, Introduction to Psychology. University of Akron

1991 - 1992                Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Psychology. University of Minnesota, Morris 

ASSESSMENT EXPERIENCE

1997 - 1998                 Learning Disability Assessment. University of New Hampshire

1997                            Anxiety Screening Day. Baldwin-Wallace College

1997                            National Eating Disorder Screening Day. Baldwin-Wallace College

1996 - 1997                Depression Screening Day.  University of New Hampshire & Baldwin-Wallace College

1995                            Psychodiagnostics Practicum Trainee.  Department of Psychology, University of Akron in conjunction with Family Services, Akron, OH

1995                            Assessment Assistant.  Private Practice, Canton, Ohio

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

1999                            Dissertation.  The development of the Counselors' Expectations about Counseling Questionnaire.

1994                            Masters Thesis.  Self discrepancy and its relation to self-esteem:  Integrating nomothetic and idiographic measures.  

1995                            Poster Presentation.  Schram, K.L.  (1995).  Presented master's thesis at the Great Lakes Regional Conference for Counseling Psychology. 

1993                            Research Assistant.  Department of Psychology, University of Akron

1992                            Undergraduate Honors Thesis.  Examining the predictive value of self and experience discrepancies in measuring well-being:  Is experience a relevant component of the self-concept?

WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS & OUTREACH

2011                                     Moderator at Anthocon: Writing Programs: From the MFA to Private

                                           Workshops  

                                                Chester Library Local Author Night

                                                 Dunbarton Public Library Author Talk

Local Author Event

"A Literary Evening" Fundraiser for Local Libraries

2010                                      Educator Appreciation Event

Book Fair Fundraiser

Author Discussion/Educator Event

Local Authors Night

Book Signing Event

2009                                      New Hampshire AuthorFest (NHAF) Writers Festival

Artist in Residence at an Elementary School

Developing Character ~ Workshop presented at an Elementary School

2008                                       NHAF Writers Festival

Author Reading and Discussion at a Middle School

Author Event at the Barrington Public Library

2007                                   Book Signing Event

Developing Character ~ Workshop presented at an Elementary School

Book Signing Event

Developing Character ~ Workshop presented at an Elementary School

The Art of Transition: How to Make Your Writing Flow! ~

Workshop presented at BPL

NHAF Writers Festival

1997                                      Planning a Career in Psychology ~ Workshop presented at the

                                                 University of New Hampshire

Becoming Emotional ~ Workshop presented at Baldwin-Wallace College

Women and Relationships ~ Workshop presented at Baldwin-Wallace

College

1996                                   Time Management ~ Workshop presented at Baldwin-Wallace College

Fighting Procrastination ~ Workshop presented at the University of

Akron

Suicide Assessment and Crisis Management ~ Workshop presented at the

University of Akron

Rape Mock Trial ~ Workshop presented at the University of Akron

Developing Assertiveness ~ Workshop presented at the University of

Akron

  1995                                 Conflict Management ~ Workshop presented at the All-Campus Leadership Conference, University of Akron

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

2007 - present            NHAF Planning Committee and Board Member.

2000 - present            Freelance Editor and Reader.

1999 - present            Stay-at-Home Mom

1997 - 1998                Eating Disorders Committee. University of New Hampshire

1995 - 1996                 Ethics Committee.  University of Akron

1995 - 1996                 Student Evaluation Committee.  University of Akron 

1994 - 1996                 Mentor.  University of Akron

1994 - 1995                 Treasurer of the Counseling Psychology Graduate

                                    Student Organization. University of Akron

1994 - 1995                 Comprehensive Exams Committee.  University of Akron 

1991 - 1992                 Mental Health/Chemical Dependency Advisory Board.  City of Morris, Minnesota

1992                            Student Action Committee. University of Minnesota, Morris

1990 - 1991                 Faculty Development Committee.  University of Minnesota, Morris

1989                            Inquiry Planning Committee.  University of Minnesota, Morris

1989                            Presented at the Bush Foundation Faculty Development Conference. Minneapolis, Minnesota

1988 - 1990                 Campus Activities Council - Performing Arts. University of Minnesota, Morris

1987 - 1988                 German Club President.

1986 - 1988                 Light and Sound Board Operator and Stagehand. Pequot Lakes High School Theater

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

- Seacoast Writers Association

- New Hampshire Writers Project

 - The Humanities Council

- International Thriller Writers

- New Hampshire AuthorFest

- Student affiliate of the American Psychological Association

(1994 - 1996)                 

HONORS & AWARDS

The Scotty Award for Writing

High School Basketball: 

Team MVP                                                      Conference MVP

All-Conference                                                Tri-City Team

Athlete of the Week                                         Co-Athlete of the Year

Student of the Month

Valedictorian

National Honor Society

Graduated College with Honors & High Distinction

Knife and Tomahawk Thrower Extraordinaire