Some people write a book to share their story. Katelyn Curran wrote hers to reclaim it.
Katelyn is an author, writing mentor, and speaker whose work sits at the intersection of drama, story, and reclamation. This week on The Chaotic Middle, she shared how writing her memoir became a path to healing, and how she now guides other survivors through the same process.
Entrepreneurship in Different Forms: From Home Cleaning to Trauma-Informed Mentor
Katelyn’s path to becoming a published author was anything but a straight line.
She started her own home cleaning business at 20 years old. At first, it was about survival. Her first biological daughter was born as a micro preemie, so daycare was not an option. As a single mom, she needed income a minimum-wage job couldn't provide, so cleaning houses it was.
She described self-employment as a ride. Some months and years are strong, and others are dry.
Even though she was proud of her business, she has always been fascinated by mental health and psychology. As someone who is autistic and has ADHD, she wanted to understand how people worked and what made them tick.
When she finally decided to write her memoir, she discovered how powerful writing could be for processing her own trauma. That discovery pointed her toward the work she does now.
"In using that to process my own trauma, I realized how healing that is."
Moving from home services into writing mentorship was a scary shift after so many years in the same industry. Her advice is to be patient with yourself and with the world, and to be willing to pivot when life changes.
Her family life changed quickly too. She went from being a single mom of one to a mom of five in a matter of months. Katelyn credits her husband as an equal parent and the main reason she can run a business while raising five neurodivergent children.
"Even being able to go out and network is because I have him to stay with the children."
Setbacks Are Just Data
Katelyn’s life has been full of ups and downs. When asked about how she rose above everything that had been thrown her way, her answer was simple. She just never gave up. She used to see setbacks as failures, but she now sees them differently.
"I don't see setbacks as failures. It's just data. It shows us what works and what doesn't, and to just keep pushing."
She became a mom at a young age, so quitting was never an option. Someone else truly needed her to succeed, so no matter how tired or defeated she felt, she needed to keep pushing through for them.
Her children also helped her through her own mental health struggles. Katelyn was honest that they have been a big reason she kept going on her healing journey.
What "Trauma-Informed" Really Means
Katelyn's approach to mentorship is trauma-informed. To her, that means staying attuned to each person's triggers and moving at a pace that honors them. The goal is to heal, not to retraumatize.
She loves therapy, but she pointed out that some approaches push people to relive painful details. Her intake calls start with a different question: what are your basic guidelines?
From there, she and her client work within those boundaries. Those boundaries can shift over time, but the starting point is always comfort.
"We're not trying to retraumatize you. We're trying to heal that."
Holding Space Without Absorbing It
Heavy conversations are part of Katelyn's daily work. She is deeply empathetic, and she admitted that she struggled with this early on. While hosting her own podcast and interviewing survivors, she noticed she was taking on their pain. She called it "error and correction."
Now she uses grounding practices before and after every one-on-one session. These help her separate her energy from her client's story. She still cries with her clients and celebrates with them. When the session ends, she reminds herself of one thing.
"This is their journey, not mine. I had enough of my own journey."
What It Really Takes to Publish a Book
Katelyn's memoir, Quiet Rebellion, was published through a smaller publishing company. She also created a companion journal and self-published it through Kindle Direct Publishing.
The hardest part for her was the waiting. Once the manuscript went to editing, it was out of her hands. Then it went to publication, and she waited again. When the publisher finally emailed to say printing would start that Friday, she went from not knowing the timeline to being a published author in a week.
"Seeing it on Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, I was like, this is me. This is insane."
She also shared a reality check for anyone dreaming of publishing. With a smaller publisher or self-publishing, you handle promotion. That includes social media, bookstore outreach, launch parties, and signing events.
"It's another full-time job. You have to be prepared for that."
Telling the Whole Story Out Loud
Katelyn's memoir covers real events from her life. She prepared for possible backlash by doing nervous system work in the months before publication. She also changed the names of anyone she wrote about negatively to protect herself legally and avoid unnecessary drama.
Writing the book was not always easy. She would write a chapter and read it aloud to her husband, and many of those nights ended in tears. That process helped make it healing.
“Healing is not always fun. Most of it is crying."
Today, she can read much of the book without getting overwhelmed. For Katelyn, that is proof of growth. Her story is no longer an open wound.
She is also already working on her next book, which explores how purity culture and the abuses she endured shaped her.
Answering the Chaotic Questions
At the end of every episode, I ask each guest the same three questions.
If you could go back in time and talk to your 2005 self, what would you say to her?
“Oh goodness, 2005. That was so many lifetimes ago… don't believe them. It's probably what I would tell her. Everyone around me was trying to convince me that I needed to change everything about myself because I was just the weird little girl. So, don't believe him. It's actually really fun being weird.”
A new mom comes to you for advice. What's the first thing you tell her?
"Do not try to do it alone. We were made for villages. We were made for communities. Find yours. You might not have one, but stop trying to do it alone. You will hurt yourself. You'll burn out. It's not good for anyone.”
What do you hope your kids remember about you from this time period?
"That I showed up, even on days that it was hard. I wasn't perfect, but I was still there."
Where to Find Katelyn
The easiest way to find Katelyn is through her website. You'll find her book, her mentorship offerings, and links to all of her social media accounts, including Instagram, there.
Her memoir includes a trigger warning at the beginning, so please put your mental health first if you decide to read it.
Your Story Is Worth Telling
Katelyn's story is proof that writing can be a powerful tool for healing. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a reminder that they are not alone. And if you've ever thought writing a book was easy, send it to them too.
If you want to hear more stories about incredible women doing incredible things, check out The Chaotic Middle anywhere you listen to podcasts, including:
