Over a decade ago, I began pursuing a lifelong dream of becoming a published horror/thriller author under the pseudonym Cora Kane. During that time, I also contributed to an online military-centric journal, where I styled myself as a “supportive military spouse” and churned out cringeworthy articles about navigating military life. While I did somewhat succeed in the goal of becoming published with my now-defunct novel Briar Lake, the route and circumstances of that accomplishment don’t leave me proud. Truthfully, I’m not proud of much from that chapter of my life.
While I was busy preaching unwavering support for my then-spouse and dispensing advice about toxic family dynamics, my own life was unraveling. My marriage was toxic, my mental health was in shambles, and I was suffocating under the weight of my own words. Writing, once my solace, became something I feared. It was a battle I chose not to fight because my words—if I dared to put them down—might provoke not only others but also myself. Instead, I scribbled furtively in notebooks, on scraps of paper, on anything that could be hidden or destroyed—leaving no trace that those thoughts had ever existed.
My journey back to writing has been slow, painful, and intensely necessary. While I’m not proud of who I was during those years—or, honestly, at several points since—I am proud of who I am now. It has taken me over a decade to feel healthy enough to return to my dreams and aspirations. For the first time, I’m no longer just surviving; I’m starting to thrive. As cliché as that might sound, it’s the truth.
This is a unique opportunity to reflect, write, and challenge my former beliefs. It’s also a chance to share how and why my thoughts have evolved—what I’ve learned, unlearned, and am still figuring out. In a way, this is a dialogue between my past self and my present one.
But when I decided to return to writing, I knew I couldn’t do it under the old pseudonym. Cora Kane represents a person and period I’ve outgrown. While I’m not ready to write completely under my real name, I’ve chosen a new pen name that reflects the journey I’m on. From here on out, I’ll be writing as Cori Anderer. The last name is a nod both to my fur-baby Ander, who now lives with my ex-husband, and to the German word anderer, meaning “different” or “another.” It feels fitting for this new chapter in my life.
Below, you’ll find my old author’s bio as Cora Kane, alongside my new introduction as Cori Anderer.
CORA KANE (THEN)
Cora originally hails from one of the small towns that surround Ft. Bragg, North Carolina; she wanted nothing to do with the military lifestyle until her husband swept her off her feet. At a very early age, Cora fell in love with reading and soon thereafter discovered her affinity for writing. This love helped her to excel in school, except when she would get caught reading in algebra. While she can’t count very high, Cora is proud of her role as a military spouse and everything that it encompasses, including its unique challenges. Cora balances her time chasing babies, creating monsters, being an awesome wife, drinking absurd amounts of coffee, and writing for The Havok Journal.
CORI ANDERER (NOW)
Cori Anderer is the pseudonym used by a writer, mother, former military spouse, mental health advocate, and later-life diagnosed ADHD kid. Originally from North Carolina, she’s lived everywhere from the sun-soaked beaches of Florida to the cornfields of Illinois and now calls the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri, home. After years of hard work—academically and mentally—Cori is ready to share the lessons learned from her journey, one that’s proven scarier than any fictional monster she could dream up. Though she’s no longer writing for The Havok Journal, she spends her days creating, parenting teenagers, and is still drinking absurd amounts of coffee.
Reconstructing Cori 