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Kelsey Rae Musick

@kelseyraemusick

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𝓕𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓼𝔂 & 𝓗𝓸𝓻𝓻𝓸𝓻 𝓦𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓻
🖋️ Revising: RED IS THE NIGHT

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Every retreat needs a recap reel. 🖤 by @kelseyraemusick

Every time this group gets together, story magic happens, and every single time, I'm so thankful just to be part of it. ✨

A Novel Bunch (not yet named as such) began in 2024, the year agoraphobia started kicking my ass again. I was mourning 2023 and all the writer events I got to attend, YallFest, etc. I desperately needed something to fill that void, so I brainstormed with my CP, @sabrina.v.bowen, and my local writing friend, @ranakadriwrites, and somehow the idea of an annual writing retreat came up.

I had a small handful of people (from the Instagram writing community) in mind to invite, and I reached out. Despite living in Tennessee, @lizgriffinwords was down! Another friend had to drop out right before we were supposed to book the Airbnb, so I scoured the @wwts.alumni Slack channel for someone in Indiana and found out that @jdwritesbooks lived super close to me and @ranakadriwrites. I messaged her, and despite not knowing any of us, she was game! 😂❤️

We had such a great retreat in 2024, but our group didn't feel complete. In January 2025, Sabrina invited her friend @sewithers_books to sprint with us, and shortly after, I invited @kammi.trout to do the same. That's when everything just clicked. Thus, A Novel Bunch came to be.

I love this group of writers so much. The resilience and dedication of each of these immensely talented people truly keeps me going at times I might otherwise feel like giving up. I already can't wait to see what each of us accomplishes this next year. 🖤 by @kelseyraemusick

Yesterday, I got to see @rootedbymadi again for my annual haircut/color, and tomorrow, I embark on my annual adventure with my writing group, A Novel Bunch. I am so grateful for this group of friends. I'll be writing and revising all day/every day for the next four days, desperately trying to get RITN to its finalized second draft state. At night, I'll be buried in an unannounced @authorkkhavari book. Now, I just need the temperatures to drop so it can really feel like fall. 🍂 by @kelseyraemusick

RED IS THE NIGHT as a movie poster.

When I saw @samscreativecure offering 5 free days of their Canva templates, I jumped on it. I'd seen this one floating around a while ago, and I always wanted to make one for RED. It's a dream for one's idea to become a book, and that book to become a movie. This allowed me to imagine that dream a little more.

For the quotes, I used some judge's feedback from the @thewriterssanctuary writing contest I entered into a while back. I never got the opportunity to share these quotes before, and this is such a fun way to finally be able to do that. (The stars are just part of the template, not real ratings from the judges).

And, who knows, maybe one day, RED will be a movie. Not just a book on your shelf, but a film playing at your local theater. A girl can dream, right? by @kelseyraemusick

This is Ruzha, the main character from my adult dark fantasy horror novel, RED IS THE NIGHT.

I first saw (and cried over) this finished piece back in July, and I've just been waiting for the right moment to share it. So, in honor of applying to @smoochpitig yesterday night (!!!) and today's Application Week community prompt, I'm sharing this absolutely stunning piece by the utterly incredible @warickaart.

This was my second time working with Therese, and every single time I am blown away. This piece is one of two, but the other is a spoiler, so I will be keeping that one to myself for a long while still. In the meantime, feel free to stare longingly at this one with me. 🖤 by @kelseyraemusick

This is an introductory post of sorts.

So, hi. My name is Kelsey, and I’m happy you’re here. Whether you’ve been following me since September 2020 or you just started followed me today, thank you for being here while I pursue my dream of becoming a published author.

I want to talk a little bit about this dream, and the dreams that came before it.

When I was in early elementary school, I wanted to be a singer. I wrote my own songs, practiced them over and over, and performed them for school talent shows. I even convinced my sister and cousin to be in a band with me (and later, a writing club).

Eventually, a second career dream formed: become an actor. At first, I thought, I'll act in movies, get noticed, and then add singing into the mix "more easily" later on since I would already be in the industry. But the idea of becoming an actor quickly became more appealing to me. Why wouldn't I want to play pretend on pretty sets and travel to far away lands just to embody a self other than my own?

Sometime in the fourth grade, after a class assignment to write a "book," my heart decided on its third and final career dream: an author. I would write books, and my books would be made into movies, and I would act in them, and pursue singing on the side.

These three dreams manifested when I was very young. I was quite the dreamer, and truth be told, I still am.

Dreams are like hope.
They are both precious and essential.

I stopped wanting to be a singer professionally sometime in high school when I accepted I didn't have the vocals for it. But my desire to act and write remained, and grew.

I went on to double-major in English and Theatre Acting in college, because I knew that I wouldn’t be fulfilled doing anything else. And while I don’t actively act anymore, my love for the craft is alive and well.

I have always been a storyteller, whether through song or script, poem or story. It's not a choice, but who I am.

And I have always been, and will always be, a dreamer.

Now, instead of living in LA pursuing acting, I’m living in a small town in Indiana writing a book. That book is called RED IS THE NIGHT, and one day I hope you'll read it. by @kelseyraemusick

I am beyond excited to help reveal the cover of HEARTSGROVE, a folklore-infused fantasy romance by @allisonhsaft, releasing March 16, 2027.

When Allison told me her next book was A DARK AND DROWNING TIDE spinoff and asked if I wanted to read it early, my immediate answer was YES (with lots of internal screaming). I've loved every book Allison has written, and this one is no different. In fact, HEARTSGROVE is my favorite Allison Saft book yet.

Scroll to see my review of the book and moodboard. 🖤

Cover art by @marymetzgr
Design by Dave Stevenson by @kelseyraemusick

Georgia writing retreat. ✍🏻🖤 by @kelseyraemusick

"Your love is gentle when everything else in the world is not." - RED IS THE NIGHT, an in-progress, dark fantasy horror novel loosely inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, written by Kelsey Rae Musick.

This stunning artwork of Ruzha and Ivaylo was rendered by @lkclipstone. I've loved Lyndall's art for a long time, and it's incredible to see these two come to life in her style. I am not over this piece and never will be. by @kelseyraemusick

There are very few days where I wish I was somewhere other than browsing books, reading books, or writing one. Sifting through books feels like hunting for treasure, and there's really no greater feeling. by @kelseyraemusick

Trying to mold a first draft into a second draft is WORK. The entire writing process is, but there's something about this step that I'm finding especially challenging. It's enjoyable though, just not occurring at the speed at which I would like. While my capability and motivation waver, my determination to see this story through does not.

Here's a short snippet RED IS THE NIGHT. Artwork is Moon Rising Behind Pines. Painted by Carl Gustav Carus. by @kelseyraemusick

Yesterday was my birthday!

This year, I'm searching for a clear idea of what happiness looks like for me. So far, my year has consisted of revising RED IS THE NIGHT, reminiscing and catching up with old friends, taking myself out of lunch, going to the movies with my partner, and stargazing. All things I want to do more of as the year goes on; but I've also been sick every month so far, and I'd be very happy if that pattern could cease and desist today.

Continuing into 2026, I want to restart therapy and spend a lot more time outside before the weather is too hot for me. I also want to finish the second draft of RED IS THE NIGHT, get feedback from my CP and alpha reader, implement it, and produce a third draft that I feel comfortable sending out to beta readers. This year, I'm manifesting peace, confidence, and growth. by @kelseyraemusick