PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — Big Sandy Community and Technical College alumna Kaitlyn Wright has turned her creative passion into a full-time career, becoming a successful romance author known to readers as Katie B. Wright.
Wright self-published her first romance novel in 2023, transforming what began as a creative outlet into a career. Since then, she has amassed more than 3 million page reads through Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program across two books and secured an audiobook deal with Podium Audio for her most recent release, Cloudless.
Wright drew inspiration for her debut novel from her time as a student at BSCTC. Bella Rosa is set in Italy, a country she was able to visit through a group trip organized by the college.
“Absolutely changed my life going on those trips, and I accredit that to the school,” Wright said. “I would not have gone on those trips without BSCTC hosting them. That was a really life-changing time for me.”
Wright graduated from BSCTC with Associate of Arts degree in 2016 and participated in the honors program during her time at the college. She later attended Morehead State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a focus in photography in 2018.
“If I had to put one word to my time at Big Sandy, it would be confidence,” Wright said. “I struggled all throughout elementary school through high school with learning. It wasn’t until I got to Big Sandy that I really learned I’m not stupid. I just learn differently.”
Wright credited BSCTC faculty for helping her feel supported and capable as a student.
“The way the professors taught at Big Sandy really agreed with me,” she said. “It made me feel confident in my abilities, and I think that led me to take bigger risks, like writing a book and learning everything that comes along with it.”
Although Wright is now a professional author, she said her journey to writing was not a traditional one.
“A lot of authors say they’ve been writing since they were kids, and that wasn’t me at all,” Wright said. “I started writing in 2021 after my husband asked me one night if I’d ever thought about writing my own book. I said no, but the idea stuck with me.”
After rediscovering her love for reading during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wright said a story idea came to her that “wouldn’t leave her alone.” She taught herself the writing and publishing process through online resources and writing guides while working on her first book.
“I struggled a lot with that first book because I didn’t know what I was doing,” she said. “But I kept telling myself I just needed to get through the first one. That book laid the foundation for everything.”
Wright now has nearly 1,000 sales across her two books and plans to continue writing her Summit State University romance series, which is projected to include four novels.
“I didn’t realize I loved art until I went to Big Sandy,” Wright said. “Taking art history and drawing classes completely changed how I thought creatively. I really do think that love for art is what led me to writing.”
Wright lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her husband. More information about her books is available at https://katiebwright.com or by connecting with her on Facebook (Katie B. Wright Author), Instagram (@katiebwrightauthor) and TikTok (@katiebwrightauthor).