Her whirlwind adventure was made even more unbelievable when she signed with fabulous agent, Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency and, shortly after, Danielle Ellison of Spencer Hill Contemporary bought her debut.
This innovative, mixed-media art project has given Kelsey an incredibly unique opportunity to join two of her passions: writing and making music with her husband as half of the folky, indie-pop band Wedding Day Rain.DAMSEL DISTRESSED, and the companion album of original songs, Imogen Unlocked, are scheduled for release in October 2014.
Hi Imogen! I love that you're a big fan of musicals. What musicals are your favorites? (My top three are Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and The Last 5 Years.)
When I want to cry, I listen to “Without You” from Rent
When I want to laugh, I listen to anything from Once Upon a Mattress
When I want to rage, I scream through the entire cast recording of American Idiot.
If you could choose one song from any musical to have stuck in your head for the rest of your life, what would it be? I'll go first: I'm obsessed with "This is the Moment" from Jekyll and Hyde and have been known to listen to it on repeat!
What was your best stage experience?
My favorite stage moments are the ones that don’t include me! I’m a techie. As a matter of fact, my friend Grant calls me Sound Goddess. I was even the youngest head sound technician in my school’s history when I worked solo last year as a sophomore.
I love the theatre for letting me be myself, and not requiring me to be a star. I don’t DO onstage.
But I am obsessed with the “backstage badger tumblr.” It’s the funniest thing ever. OMG.
Do you want to continue working in musical theatre in the future? Where do you see yourself in five years?
God, in five years, I just want to not cry all the time.
Is that TMI? Sorry. Not trying to make things awkward.
But, it’s just so hard to imagine that 5 years from now will even happen. I mean, I know it will, but I just have NO idea what I’ll be doing. Maybe college? Maybe not. My dad is already all over me about applying, but it’s so stressful. I really don’t know. I think if I do go to college, I’d really want that theatre connection. It’s probably the only thing that could make a scary new place actually feel comfortable.
Straying from my favorite topic (Because I could go on forever!), what's your favorite non-musical related memory?
Before my mom died, we spent a LOT of time putting on performances for my dad. Even after I turned 10 and I started wanting to spend more time with my friends or whatever, I couldn’t say no when she wanted to put together a little song or dance for our one man audience.
Sometimes, I wonder if I might have loved performing if she hadn’t died. I used to like it. When I was with her, that is.
If you were having a bad day, what five things would you put in a box to look at in order to find happiness?
I can’t imagine looking at something ever making me happy.
Can I EAT what’s anything from the box? That’d be cool. A pizza, some chocolate, my journal, a comfortable hoodie, and more pizza. That should do it.
What advice would you give a fellow teen dealing with depression?
I have no idea. Depression is freaking hard. We’re all just trying to do the best we can, you know? I guess the only thing I can say is that I have been in therapy for 5 years, and only recently have we found a set of meds that works well, and that supports the work I do with my therapist.
It won’t EVER be easy. Ever.
But sometimes, some days suck a little less than others. And I get to thank myself for that—I get to thank my own hard work.
And I think that counts for something.
~*~
from DAMSEL DISTRESSED
by Kelsey Macke
They’ve
been lying from the start. From the first time we hear the words “once upon a
time,” we’re fed the idea that these girls— these gorgeous, demure,
singing-with-the-wildlife girls—get a happy ending. And I get it. Poor thing
had to do some chores around the house, fine. But the idea that she needs a
magic old lady to come down and skim off the dirt so the prince will see her
beauty? That’s ridiculous. Maybe she should have been working on her
lockpicking skills instead of serenading squirrels. She could have busted out,
hitched a ride to the castle, and impressed the prince with her safe-cracking
prowess.
Sorry,
magic-fairy lady. She didn’t need your help. The deck’s already stacked in her
favor. Why? Because she’s the golden girl. She’s the star. No one cares about
the stepsisters’ stories. Those girls don’t get a sweet little ending. They get
a lifetime of longing.
Seriously.
Hot
girls get the fairy tales.
Hot
girls like my stepsister.
~*~
O F F I C I A L I N F O:
Title: DAMSEL DISTRESSED
Author: Kelsey Macke
Release Date: Oct. 14, 2014
SUMMARY:
Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.
When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.
While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.
And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.
Enhance the experience with the companion soundtrack, Imogen Unlocked, by the author's band, Wedding Day Rain.
DAMSEL DISTRESSED is the story of Imogen, a girl who's survived the years after her mother's death by focusing squarely on her best friend, Grant, musical theatre, and lots of cheese. The book is full of humor and heart, and also contains a few surprises. Full page sketches are scattered throughout the novel, and each one contains a QR code that corresponds to a song from the book's soundtrack. Imogen Unlocked is a 12-song album of original music written by the author and her husband Daron as their indie-pop band, Wedding Day Rain. Together, the book Damsel Distressed and the soundtrack Imogen Unlocked work together to tell the story of a girl who might just make her own Happily Ever After, if she can just hold herself together.
Imogen Unlocked Track Listing:
1. Heavy
2. No Goodbye
3. Something About
4. Sinking
5. Don't Wake Me Up
6. Let Me Go
7. My Strength
8. Unseen
9. Always Speak Too Late
10. The End is Just the Beginning
11. Breathe Easy
12. Edge of the Fall
~*~
from DAMSEL DISTRESSED
by Kelsey Macke
They’ve
been lying from the start. From the first time we hear the words “once upon a
time,” we’re fed the idea that these girls— these gorgeous, demure,
singing-with-the-wildlife girls—get a happy ending. And I get it. Poor thing
had to do some chores around the house, fine. But the idea that she needs a
magic old lady to come down and skim off the dirt so the prince will see her
beauty? That’s ridiculous. Maybe she should have been working on her
lockpicking skills instead of serenading squirrels. She could have busted out,
hitched a ride to the castle, and impressed the prince with her safe-cracking
prowess.
Sorry,
magic-fairy lady. She didn’t need your help. The deck’s already stacked in her
favor. Why? Because she’s the golden girl. She’s the star. No one cares about
the stepsisters’ stories. Those girls don’t get a sweet little ending. They get
a lifetime of longing.
Seriously.
Hot
girls get the fairy tales.
Hot
girls like my stepsister.
~*~
Win...
a GIANT PRIZE PACK!
It includes a signed copy of DAMSEL DISTRESSED,
a copy of the CD Imogen Unlocked,
posters, buttons, and artist cards!
(US ONLY)
a GIANT PRIZE PACK!
It includes a signed copy of DAMSEL DISTRESSED,
a copy of the CD Imogen Unlocked,
posters, buttons, and artist cards!
(US ONLY)
The character interview idea is so cool! I loved this book, and I can't wait until I can get my hands on a copy of it again! :)
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