Kris Rafferty

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I am the youngest of four in a rambunctious Irish-American family. I became obsessed with books young, and still retain an image in my mind of the first book I took out of the library. I completed my first short story during “rest period” in first grade, first novel at eighteen, first rejection at eighteen…it took me a long time to believe I could be a writer, and longer to convince anyone else. Meanwhile, I filled the time earning my BA at U/Mass Boston, married the love of my life (who is also the baby of his family), had three perfect children (that I could wax poetic about for days, and often do), and earned my third degree black belt in Parker Kenpo Karate (a life-changing event that took over a decade of challenging my mind and body). I’m a staunch advocate for people empowering themselves, emotionally and physically, to be their best selves, to not rely on others to keep them safe in a world that is not safe. And I believe creating/playing music is the closest thing to creating life that doesn’t eventually lead to diapers and drool. I play classical piano, love summer road trips, am a fanatic for warm water ocean, and one of my favorite things to do is to say I’ll start exercising tomorrow.