Autor/-in: C. Kelly Boutwell

C. Kelly Boutwell is a Mississippi-born author whose work blends Southern Gothic atmosphere, maternal resilience, and the thin, trembling line between psychological and supernatural terror. Drawing from her own lived experiences-including postpartum struggles, encounters with the unexplainable, and the fierce fight to protect her medically fragile children-Boutwell writes with a raw honesty that resonates long after the final page. She lives in rural Mississippi with her husband, Cole, and their daughters, Carolyn and Dani, who inspire both her courage and her storytelling. Her family also includes two loyal dogs, River and Winter, who keep watch over the home as faithfully as any guardian spirit. Boutwell's life has been shaped by profound love and profound loss. She honors the memory of her snowflake angel baby, Sage, whose brief life left an eternal imprint, as well as her beloved cats Ziggie and Halley, who remain part of her story in every quiet room and shadowed corner. She credits her strength and perseverance to the unwavering support of her parents, Sherry and Rance, and her brother Zach and his wife Alex, whose love has carried her through some of the darkest chapters of her life. When she isn't writing, Boutwell is advocating for medically fragile children, sharing her family's journey online, and exploring the intersection of faith, folklore, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. What Watches Us from the Woods is her most personal work to date-an unflinching blend of truth and terror rooted in the real events that changed her forever.