LORI KEESEY

Lori Keesey is an accomplished writer and entrepreneur who is dedicated to cultivating resilience and helping others. Beginning her career as a newspaper reporter, she later worked in NASA’s media relations department. After the tragic loss of her son, Lori turned to writing to find meaning and healing.

Through her debut novel, Always Think of Me, Lori explores themes of overcoming adversity and finding purpose in life’s challenges. Her work inspires readers to seek beauty in life’s struggles and pursue their dreams without fear.

We sat down with Lori to learn more about her path to resilience. 

Before we begin, tell us who is Lori Keesey?
I’m a writer professionally. Personally, I’m a mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. I started my career as a newspaper reporter and freelance writer and then switched gears to become a communication consultant for NASA.

A few years ago, my career took different trajectory after the unexpected loss of our son in an accident. Devastated, I needed to figure out why he had died at just 33 years old while in the prime of his life. I needed to figure out how to use his death to help others. I started writing Always Think of Me and launched The Accidental Blogger blog. Both explore overcoming adversity and putting meaning to the hard things in life.  

Your transition from journalist and NASA media relations professional to author is significant. What prompted your shift?
We all have jobs to do, and if it hadn’t been for a publicist, how would I have known about a new product? An interesting person? That shift in attitude opened my mind to other possibilities—especially those where I could work from home and do my thing, all while learning something new every day. Working for NASA—perhaps one of the most exciting jobs I have ever had—offered that and more.

The hardest job? Writing a novel. Hands-down. Since childhood, I’ve always wanted to write a novel, but it wasn’t easy for me. The words came, but the story didn’t.

Your debut novel—Always Think of Me— explores themes of resilience in the face of adversity. Explain why you chose that undertone.
The story came after our son’s death. That’s when I started looking outside myself, and my eyes opened to a simple truth: no one escapes adversity. It happens to all of us. I know this isn’t profound, but I’d never really looked at how people deal with adversity because, up to that point, I hadn’t experienced anything that wrenching.

I prayed and discovered that the difference lies in dealing with adversity. We can blame God or someone else for our troubles, but that doesn’t bring peace. Often, it brings bitterness. You know, those “why me” questions, and I didn’t want to live my life like that, looking at others and wondering why their hearts weren’t broken like mine.

A friend once told me, “There is beauty in the ugly.” We must find meaning and purpose in the suffering and repurpose our lives to do something positive. I hope Always Think of Me, and its themes resonate with many and make them think about their purpose.

You state that you hope your debut novel offers readers something much more profound than a story. How do you envision your book contributing to self-care and mental health conversations?
The world is a broken place. Drug abuse. Alcoholism. Physical and mental abuse. The list goes on. People do get involved in toxic relationships. They do lose loved ones. 

The novel addresses these realities, mainly through the character Ginny. She has lost her way, and the protagonist, TC, who grapples with his insecurities, must show her the truth, and stop her from doing the unthinkable. Always Think of Me is an uncommon love story that shows the importance of friendship and do-overs.  

What would you say to someone who is considering whether they are going to pursue their dream?
The only guy I know who’s ridden a bike to the Arctic Circle and climbed a good portion of Mount Everest—twice—has this to say about fulfilling your hopes and dreams: “If you want to do it, do it.” Good advice. If you let fear stop you, you’ll never know what could have been. There is nothing worse than living a life of regrets. 

For more information on Lori Keesey, visit lorikeesey.com