Today we’d like to introduce you to Athena Koppe.
Hi Athena, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Belletwine Press has always been about authentic connections, where serendipity encounters intentional practice. Becoming a professional writer and designer was never the bubble I filled in for “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I never imagined such an autonomous job could exist for someone like me. There was never a ‘first day’ or ‘this is it’ moment, but rather a goal that came into focus through persistence in the projects I took on. Operating in the literary circles of Boston, Massachusetts shaped me as an academic, but it felt a bit stuffy.
I wanted a fresh take on the pen-to-print machine that publishing has become. I didn’t want to read my work aloud to a dark room of known and unknown elites but have my work accessible through multiple channels with guided purpose. After college, I wrote for myself, releasing a novella, then a poetry collection, all the while chipping away at a series of manuscripts that I’ll eventually get around to publishing. People started taking notice once I relocated to Florida, and I began writing, editing, formatting, critiquing, proofreading, copywriting, designing, anything I could do for others who valued my creative mind and eye. In the interim, I founded an art and literature magazine called OTHER. Based here in Orlando and have collaborated with small businesses to make endearing content. This snowballed into being sought after for ghostwriting, manuscript consultation, branding projects and beyond. Today, I would describe myself as a creative consultant specializing in print and digital media. I love working with emerging creators and business owners who are seeking to develop their brand narrative. There are endless forms that writing and design can take to shape commerce, advertising, generate brand identity and deepen client loyalty. I’m the person who steps in and makes things happen, big or small, to highlight what makes your work meaningful in today’s complex cultural environment.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I love this question. I like to think that resilience is one of my better qualities. Rejection is built-in to the lifestyle of the creative, especially when you are presenting an idea you’ve internalized into your identity and someone says, “No. Absolutely not. Next.” It might sound harsh for the first hundred times, but eventually, it hurts a little less and your work gets a lot better. I have always struggled with the dichotomy of what the world sees in me and what I’m experiencing privately.
The way I grew up was very molded to a particular arc of success; ‘what will distinguish you is awards and money.’ Obviously, both are nice, but I’ve had to break free from those guidelines. I’ve found that joy comes from presence of mind and gratitude. In doing that, I’ve become much more focused on adaptability and learning about the world as it changes. I don’t want to be one of those people who is stuck in their ways, and I think we’ve seen as a society the dangers of that. On a more personal note, my father passed away after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer just before Christmas this past year. I was by his side in those last moments, an honor that many have been deprived of because of this pandemic. He was proud of me, even when we disagreed on politics, philosophy, or faith. My takeaway for any and all challenges hereon in my life will always be that the most important thing your profession can do is nurture the life you have with the people you love.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work entirely circulates around print and digital content. It all started with “Charlotte and the Wooden Castle,” my coming-of-age novella published in 2015. I had to completely write, edit, format and design the cover, which was an undertaking for a then-amateur. Overseeing literary magazines was nothing like the beast of publishing a book. Then, I became motivated by that feeling of putting in hundreds of hours on a file to then hold it in my hands. I’m a tangible type of creative, so those are the projects I most enjoy. Ghostwriting and long-term projects come with some discretion, so I’ll say, for now, “Watch this space for future announcements!” I have some really cool things in the mix. I would say I am known for OTHER. I started the magazine in an effort to shed light on this concept of ‘otherness,’ one I revisit again and again. I’d describe it as the shadowed, under-represented sect of the art community in Orlando and elsewhere.
We did two limited releases in 2017 and 2018, but I pressed pause when I formed Belletwine Press to publish my book of poetry, “Arsenic & Breast Milk,” the release I’d select as the one I’m most proud of (thus far). I like to think I specialize in brand architecture, in how visuals and communication work together to form a foundation for a product, sentiment or service. One-on-one people usually comment on my vocabulary and the way I describe things. What I do really spills in to every part of my life because it’s rooted in the way I think. I’ve been described as one of those dark romantic writers from the 19th century, reincarnated. I’m very much like my namesake, Athena, in the sense I have a strong mental fortitude and I think strategically. I provide solutions and statements that help my clients reinvigorate their content or story. It’s vital to feel like you’re moving forward as you become established, and sometimes it takes another entity to come in for that extra help.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Transactional relationships! It’s hard not to like (some) of the people with whom you collaborate or work. Lines and boundaries can become muddied and shifted along the way. When advocating for a service to be valued, there can be expectations, unspoken debts, reluctant favors… the list goes on. It is 100% possible to form a lasting, respectful professional connection where friendship plays a role. However, there need to be clear conditions to which you switch the ‘friend cap’ for the ‘professional spectacles.’
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@belletwinepress.com
- Website: www.belletwinepress.com
- Instagram:@belletwinepress @belleathena
Image Credits
Kyle Koppe Hannah Glogower
