Meet Kevin Tyler Norman of Poetic Alchemy in Santa Monica

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Tyler Norman.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I started writing poetry as a way to express myself when it came to matters of the heart. Love is such a complicated emotion, and I wanted to figure out a way to understand how to navigate it. Poetry became my outlet of self-expression and I eventually started to share my work on my Instagram. At the end of 2017, I had the biggest heartbreak of my life. I traveled to Australia to be with the man I had been dating and when I arrived, the truth came out that he was with someone else. I flew home devastated, but as I had always been doing, I channeled that frustration, pain, and heartache into my art.

A year later, I self-published my first poetry collection titled ‘Shelter’ that went on to get me on the Amazon bestseller list and write-ups in the Los Angeles Times and various other media outlets. I wanted to share my journey of love and loss in a way that was healing for me but could also be healing to others who might be experiencing the same emotions. I want to give words to the feelings we sometimes struggle to express, and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I want to show the world how love is love no matter your sexuality or gender. I eventually launched my own online store called Poetic Alchemy where I sell my book, personalized love letters/poems typewritten on a 1930s typewriter, and other knick-knacks.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The struggle of being an artist is that I constantly live in a vulnerable state. As a poet, I am constantly publicly writing about my emotions, life, and relationships. To some people, this level of vulnerability is frightening, but to me, it is the only way I know how to live. Before I met my current partner I was terrified that people would judge me for these emotional moments I’ve immortalized on paper. But this freedom to express myself in my writing has taught me to be confident in myself. It puts it all out there for me without me having to. It says, “this is who I am. Take it or leave it.”

The biggest struggle, however, is that I am guilty of comparison. It’s hard to not see other poets, writers, and artists with huge followings and not think I am failing in comparison. Each day is an uphill battle to be creative, and as an artist, we need to learn to just focus on improving our own work and not on what others are doing. And at the end of the day, I remind myself that I am creating for myself and that is what is most important. It’s not about numbers.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My company is called Poetic Alchemy and it is all about transforming the ordinary into magic, something I feel poetry does to everyday moments. I started my online store/brand as a way to pass time during the quarantine. I wanted to express myself in more ways than just writing, so I taught myself digital illustration and began to create my own stickers, shirts, and bags. My best seller, however, is personalized poems/letters. I have a 1930s typewriter that I use to type my poems and post on Instagram. I wanted to create a way for others to have access to this old, but fun way of writing, so I came up with the idea of typewriting whatever people wanted, sealing them with a wax-sealed envelope, and mailing them to someone of their choosing. So basically you tell me what you want me to write and who you want it sent to. People started to send letters to loved ones, and someone even had me typewrite out a letter asking their crush on a date. It’s a fun way to bring back snail mail, and something about receiving a letter is so romantic to me. I wish we sent more letters than text messages.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was such an outgoing and outspoken kid. I was constantly singing, putting on my own mini-musicals, and finding different ways to express myself creatively. I always wanted to act, still do, but I don’t want to define myself with one thing. That’s why I love the term artist. It can mean a million different things, and that’s how my passions have always been. As my partner likes to joke, I have a new passion every week. That’s always remained true ever since I was a kid. I was and always will be a bit impulsive. Life is about taking chances, and maybe they will lead to heartbreak, but you’ll always come away with a story. And I want to tell amazing stories.

Contact Info:

• Website: Poetic-alchemy.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ktnorman/

Image Credit:
Jonathan T. Moore

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