Meet Kimberly
Young Adult Speculative Fiction Author
Hello, and welcome! I hope you have a minute to grab a cup of tea (or coffee will do) and come away with me to explore a world where stories celebrate eternal truth.
But first, a bit about myself.
I was born and raised on an imagination-fertile island in the Caribbean as a missionary kid. Stories consumed my days, whether I was romping around outside with my siblings (I have seven), disappearing into the world of books, or sharing a family movie night.
As a teenager, I began to capture the story snippets of my imagination on an old hand-me-down laptop. But then I went to college (studying Christian Ministries with a Business minor) and Seminary (studying Bible Translation) and stories disappeared from my life.
But when I found myself outside of the academic world, God brought stories back to me. And for the first time, I began to wonder if it might just be possible to write an entire novel and publish it.
I’m still on my author journey, but the answer to that question is yes. Yes, it is possible to write an entire book. And it is possible to publish it. (Even if I haven’t quite gotten there yet.)
I’m so excited to share this journey with you.
Awards
- ACFW Genesis Contest Speculative Semi-Finalist 2025
- Carolina Christian Writers Contest First Place for Unpublished Speculative and Young Adult Fiction 2025
- BRMCWC Foundation Award Young Adult Second Place 2025
- ACFW Virginia Crown Awards Young Adult Finalist 2024
- Aurora Contest Young Adult & Sci-Fi Semi-Finalist 2023
Affiliations
- Member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)
- Member of ACFW Upstate SC
- Realm Makers
- Former Young Writer’s Workshop (YWW) Member
Professional Bio
Kimberly Cornelius grew up on an imagination-fertile island in the Caribbean as a missionary kid. Stories have always been part of her life, but she took a break from writing them to study Christian Ministries in college and Bible Translation in Seminary. Now, she works as the marketing manager at a software consulting firm by day and writes her stories by night. She is passionate about sharing eternal truth through story. Kimberly resides in the upstate of South Carolina and can be found online at kimberlycornelius.com and @kimberlycorneliusauthor on Instagram.
Fun Facts
- My parents are my role models for what it looks like to know and love God. There are eight kids in my family, an even four girls and four boys. I also have two brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law, and five nieces and nephews!
- I always wanted to be an actress when I grew up.
- Growing up on a tropical island made me fall madly in love with rainy weather. There’s something so cozy and mysterious and adventurous about a drippy, gray day.
- I used to despise running, but now I love it!
- In my “day job” I’m the marketing manager for a software consulting company my brother owns.
- Some of my favorite authors include Megan Whalen Turner, Jill Williamson, C.M. Banschbach, Bryan Davis, Gail Carson Levine, Jaye L. Knight, Nadine Brandes, and so many more. And of course, the classic greats, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.
- I wrote my first book, a young adult dystopian novel, in 2023 after a friend challenged me to write a book for her next birthday.
- I wrote my second book, an allegorical fantasy, at the end of 2024. After brainstorming and plotting the story, I drafted the entire 86,000-word novel in six weeks.
- If I had enough good books, tea, candles, blankets, fuzzy socks, and munchies, I could probably disappear into a cabin in the woods for about five months and forget to talk to anyone.