Christopher Kuhlmey was born on the North Side of Chicago and spent many years immersed in the spiritual world of San Diego, California. He holds a BA in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Ryokan College, and has also submerged himself in the worlds of meditation and plant medicine.

Raised in the punk rock and alternative music scene and shaped by years in the automotive industry, Chris brings a non-traditional, heterodoxic viewpoint to relationships, spirituality, and life.

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Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title came to me instantly. It was the only title I considered. My stories started out as book reports to my ex-wife, but I saw something there which needed to be said. From there, Spirit backed me, keeping the project going until I had four volumes.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

Great! The cover was exactly as I envisioned it, inspired by both 1950s architectural books and the American Gothic painting.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

My ex-wife continually nudged me to write, especially when I was in a rut. She was doing this all while we were separated, trying to figure out our divorce. I’m grateful to her. Any angel card, tarot card, or clairvoyant session I ever had kept coming up that I should write, and I always wanted to from a very young age. For whatever reason, all of a sudden, the words and descriptions came and were shaped over time.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I owned two water filtration businesses, grew up working in an auto body shop, and was an independent auto appraiser while I was working my way through school.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Getting to tell the reader exactly what I’ve learned without outright telling them, unless it is in the context of my experience within the story, or having to work my meanings into a convoluted story, something I see happening often in really great films.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I already made a soundtrack for it on Spotify. Music was a very integral to my work, often giving inspiration to each essay. “The Ghost in You” I first heard from Robyn Hitchcock. I would suggest any reader look up the book on Spotify to hear the soundtrack.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

You love who you love, and often we are left with a lifetime without them. Not only is there no guarantee of being with the person you love the most, but it is very likely you will lose them, and once you break someone there is no going back.

I write using many psychological and spiritual principles. I think my book is for anyone trying to understand relationships, and why the utopian spiritual movement has either been co-opted by government and commerce or hasn’t found any real traction. What is good is often suppressed, while mediocrity ascends if enough money is involved.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I turned in book three, The Retrograde Movement, for editing. Book four, Heaven, is ready, and I am going back to re-shape book two, Journies in Solitude. After that, my first book, the last one to be published, Don’t Tell a Soul, will be published.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Atmosphere has been very responsive. I received some very helpful developmental editing ideas. I would tell anyone what I say at the end of the book: write because you want to write. Take feedback when helpful, otherwise, if people don’t like it, they can f*** off. I wrote because the words needed to be filed in the universal ledger. I didn’t write for a five-part Netflix series or to reach some always-moving audience taste. I wrote because what was inside needed to be said. After that it isn’t up to me who does or doesn’t read my book. I am confident those who need to find it will.

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