Ep 12: Author Kristin Harmel on losing identity, finding her voice again, and the life behind her latest bestseller
Bestselling author Kristin Harmel opens up about losing and rebuilding identity during breast cancer treatment, and the friendships that carried her through it. Daryn and Kristin chat about asking for help, receiving it without guilt, and letting friends hold your hope when you cannot. Kristin reflects on her comeback to writing, how community fuels creative recovery, and the small habits that kept her grounded as a parent and a writer. You will hear practical ways to support a friend in treatment, plus how to come back to yourself with patience and purpose.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
- ✅ Practical ways to rebuild creative identity after a life shock like cancer
- ✅ Tiny habits to restart creativity post chemo brain
- ✅ How Friends and Fiction lifts authors, readers, and indie bookstores
- ✅ Why a vulnerable author’s note can hit harder than a plot twist
If you’re looking for inspiration, insight, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the most trusted voices in journalism, this conversation delivers.
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Timestamps
- 00:00 Kristin Harmel on losing identity, finding her voice again, and the life behind her latest bestseller
- 02:17 Ms Lou’s Cabin on Georgia’s coast
- 07:02 Why her books make us cry and the twist this time. Author’s note that hit different
- 08:16 Diagnosis in October 2022, chemo brain is real, and the fear of not finding the words again
- 10:10 Colette’s identity crisis mirrors Kristin’s. Who are you if you are not the thing you do
- 11:26 Parenting through treatment and protecting a 6 year old from adult fear
- 17:02 How the writing faucet turned back on. Confidence, groove, and the next novel arriving easier
- 21:20 How Kristin made the leap from People magazine to published novelist
- 24:01 The Paris outline method. Studying structure by outlining successful novels
- 29:24 Friends and Fiction origin during early COVID, lifting indie bookstores, and building a 300k reader community
- 33:29 Collaboration over competition. Why author friendships grow everyone’s reach
- 43:19 Kristin’s book recommendations and why early reads feel magical
- 45:00 Call with sister Kallan Kagan
- 52:01 TikTok Shop wall anchors and renter friendly hacks
Key Takeaways
🔹 Friendship is a lifeline. Let people carry hope when you cannot
🔹 Identity is bigger than work. Build anchors in values, relationships, and daily rituals
🔹 Recovery is not linear. Track tiny wins and stack them until momentum returns
🔹 Structure unlocks flow. Simple outlines make room for surprise on the page
Resources and Mentions
- The Sea Stone Sisters https://amzn.to/46WWi1M
- Friends and Fiction Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsandFiction
- KristinHarmel.com https://kristinharmel.com/
Guest Bio
Kristin Harmel is a New York Times bestselling author of World War II historical fiction, including The Book of Lost Names, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Paris Daughter, and The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau She co founded Friends and Fiction and champions readers, bookstores, and resilient creativity.
