Casey Belsly Kane, B.S. biology ’07, is like a multifaceted diamond — she shines in the sciences, in teaching and in writing. She recently combined her talents in these areas (and her Chapman student experience) to write
Changed
, the first installment in a young adult book series. Here, Casey shares her inspiration behind her novel and her career.

casey-cane-changed-book-cover


Cover models are Chapman alumni Jenna and Tommy Bradley (both ’09).

Tell us about your current profession, most notably as an author.

I consider myself to be the master of many trades! Most notably I am the
author
of
The Changed
book series (the first series installment,
Changed
, was published in July 2014 under her pen name, K.C. Kane). I am also a sixth grade math and science teacher, mother to a beautiful baby girl, and photographer who contributes stock photography to large sites like
iStock
and
Dreamstime
. All of my professions tie together in a beautiful way. For example, my photography enabled me to shoot and edit the cover photo for
Changed;
my teaching allowed me to target the young adult audience of
Changed;
my daughter has given me the passion to see
Changed
through to completion to show her that we can do anything we put our minds to; and of course, my Chapman University experience made it all possible!

What role did your Chapman education play in helping shape your future, specifically, your career choice?

When I graduated Chapman with a B.S. with an emphasis in molecular biology, I never would have guessed that authoring would be in my future. However, without this start,
Changed
never could have been created. When I originally selected molecular biology as my major, I planned to go to medical school. Realizing this path was not meant for me after doing an internship my senior year, I confessed my reservations about medical school to my capstone teacher, Dr. Rowland-Goldsmith, who gave me wonderfully supportive advice that allowed me to complete my biology degree and become a middle school math and science teacher! I loved my job and my students, and fell in love with reading along the way. While reading the
Twilight
series, I got the itch to create my own alternate reality, and
Changed
was born. I used my degree to insert medical forensic elements to the murder investigations plaguing the town, my teaching experience to relate to my young adult target audience, and of course my college experience in general to set the scene for my novel. None of this would have been possible without Chapman, and I am eternally grateful for all of the paths it has opened along my journey!

casey-kane-biology-majorHow did your experiences at Chapman contribute to writing your book?

My friends and family joke that
Changed
is my autobiography, minus the vampire part. The main character, Rylie, is based off my former college self. Having strong friendships and epic adventures, some pretty hilarious boy mishaps in the quest to find love, all while striving to get good grades, made for a really enjoyable college experience and a pretty good plot for a book!
Changed
takes place on Chapman’s campus, from the dorms to the Undie Run on Glassell Street. My classmates, professors, friends and experiences all paved their way into influencing
Changed
.

What specific lessons did you learn from professors and peers at Chapman?

casey-kane-middle-school-teacher
The most wonderful part about college life for me was about figuring out who I am. Chapman embraced every element of a person, from academics to personal growth. As a biology student, I learned the value of careful lab practices and a knowledge base ranging from the loon to melanoma cancer at the cellular level. As an orientation assistant, I cherished the importance of making people feel welcome and sharing Chapman pride. As a resident advisor, I learned how to make a dorm into a family. The best class I ever took was Psychology of Marriage and Family, which taught me the best advice on marriage I’ve ever heard. The most patient teacher I ever had was Dr. Wellman (bless him, as organic chemistry did not come naturally to me!). In a simple sentence, the lesson that I learned most from the professors at Chapman was that each student matters and has his/her own unique journey to complete.

casey-kane-chapman-graduateWhat advice do you have for current students at Chapman?

Take advantage of the professors and their generosity. Go to office hours and seek guidance when needed — they are incredible! Also, eat as many cookies as you can — you will miss them when you leave! Oh, and occasionally put down the textbooks and make some memories with the people around you — you just may end up writing a book about them some day!

 

 

 

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