As I read Kitty Kavey�s biography, I was moved by the humanity, sincerity, and struggle she encountered during her life. Kavey is a multi-award-winning screenwriter, winning prestigious writing accolades from numerous writing competitions and film festivals, some of which include the Beverly Hills Film Festival, the Winnipeg International Film Festival, and The Queens International Film Festival. Abandoned, placed in foster care and then adopted, Kavey recalls a childhood filled with feelings of disparity and hopelessness. After struggling with her identity, Kavey ended up on the streets as a homeless teenager. During this time period, surviving the day was her most important goal. Those nights alone on the street, hungry and cold, must have been excruciating for anyone to endure.

As I prepared my questions for Kavey, I had the opportunity to juxtapose Kavey�s hardships with mine. I found Kavey to be an inspiration. In our day-to-day life, we become so fixated with our own tribulations that we forget to realize our many blessings. I am so happy to have met Kavey, including having the opportunity to discuss life and happiness with this award-winning screenwriter.

I found Kavey to be completely honest, sincere, and bold. Lifted Magazine and I (Andrew Moreno) are proud to introduce our readers to Kitty Kavey. As her press agent writes, "She's never forgotten where she came from, and how hard a road it's been. She's a leader and a teacher to those who follow the same path. Always one to help others, she actively participates in charitable activities of all kinds, and loves to be of service to others. She prefers directing, writing and producing work of a comedic genre, and is on a crusade to include a more accurate representation of ethnic minorities in the media. She believes that anything is possible and dreams are attainable here in the land of opportunity. Her feisty nature and positive spirit transcend her circumstances, and remind us all that it is a great day to be alive!"

Moreno: Kitty, I appreciate your time and thank you for joining me. You are the epitome of drive, talent, and positivity. You have such a testimony that it is difficult to know where to begin. As a child, you were abandoned by your mother and put in foster care. Would you mind describing that moment in your life?

Kavey: There are a lot of people who cannot remember their life before they were two years old. I do remember some of it � mostly feelings, but a few key moments as well. I felt so disconnected from people. I knew my foster parents weren't "my" parents. I wasn't mistreated � there was food, clothing [and] shelter. But there wasn't the nurturing love that I imagined parents gave their own flesh and blood. I was an outsider; helpless and dependent on strangers with whom I was not old enough to either communicate or fully understand why I was unwanted.

Moreno: It seems like a very desolate situation and being in touch with these feelings at such a young age must have taken a toll on you. You naturally had to grow up faster than other children. Some may argue that you didn't really have a childhood. Did you battle with depression as a child? How did you cope/deal with those feelings?

Kavey: Depression was a constant in my childhood. I was adopted, but there was nothing my new mother could do to convince me that I was lovable and worthy. In my mind, I already had the evidence that proved I was not good enough for my real mother. There were therapists and councilors, all kinds of different advice on how to deal with an adopted child, a depressed child � none of it worked for me. My only escape, and my refuge, was in books. I read voraciously, preferring to spend my time in fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery � anything other than my real life.

Moreno: You later ran away from home and ended up homeless. What drove you to run away? How did you manage to live on the streets?

Kavey: By the time I was in my mid-teens, my anger and depression was out of control. I chose to hang out with a similar crowd, other children and young adults who were adopted, abused, were on drugs, and the like. As a group we pulled further and further away from adults, responsibility, and education. For the first time, I did feel a sense of belonging and understanding with these other tortured souls. It was easier to run away and live outside of the society that rejected us, than to stay at home and try and conform to a life and lifestyle that seemed beyond my reach, mentally and emotionally. Because I thought I had no future, being homeless was easy. There is no tomorrow on the streets. There is only today, and what you need right now. Food, drugs, a place to sleep. You have an immediate goal, you figure out a way to obtain it, and you get an emotional payoff � a victory. On my own, I felt like I had some control over my life.

Moreno: Growing up wasn't easy, and as a teenager you began sliding down a dark path of destruction. I understand you were kicked out of school, and were living and roaming the streets for nearly five years. Just twenty years old, you were involved in a motorcycle accident. You ended up receiving a brain injury, broke the bones in the right side of your face and lost most of your vision. At the same time, you went into cardiac arrest, had a stroke and had a near death experience. Kitty, after your accident, where were you able to find your happiness?

Kavey: There are always moments of happiness and moments of sadness throughout life. I would just describe those moments somewhat differently than someone else might. I have many memories of happiness, both before and after the accident. I loved to ride motorcycles. The feeling of freedom, of being one with a machine � of seeing, smelling and hearing the world as you drive down the back roads of the USA, I loved that. There's a camaraderie when one biker meets another. Homeless people, especially teens are the same way. They will give up their literal last bit of food to a stranger, just because you�re "one of them." That was a feeling I needed. Billions of people on the planet and I felt unwanted by the most important few of them � blood family. I have far too many stories of moments of happiness to write them all out here. Suffice it to say that when you are at the bottom of life, most of what happens around you makes it better.

Moreno: At what point did your life start to turn around? Did you make that decision or was it a third-party intervention?

Kavey: I wish I could say that I turned my life around! I didn't. I couldn't. It was the motorcycle accident that did that for me. I knew something was up that night. Right before the accident, I didn't want to get on our motorcycle. It made no sense, I had been riding for years with my boyfriend � and he was an excellent driver. The shortest way to describe what happened was that a tree jumped out in front of us. It still makes no sense, other than as fate, or divine will. I had what they call a "near death" experience. I visited a place, and spoke with my grandmother. The last thing she said to me was "You have to go back. There are still things you have to do." Next thing I know, I'm in a hospital, in pain, confused, and really pissed off. It took years after that to get to where I am today, and there were a few setbacks along the way.

Moreno: I understand that on account of your accident, you�ve had to undergo many facial reconstruction surgeries. Has this made you sensitive to others, perhaps with similar circumstances?

Kavey: It's definitely made me sensitive to the weather! I think there are a lot of people with bone injuries who can tell you when a storm's coming. I used to live in Florida and I feel much better out here in Los Angeles where it only rains a few times a year... I think that I've connected the most with other brain injury victims. There are a lot of diseases and conditions that are termed "invisible disabilities" � it�s not visibly apparent (such as a wheelchair user, or perhaps a blind person) when a person has cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, a heart condition, etc. A lot of people say, "well, you look fine" as if that means it's okay, and it trivializes the struggles a lot of people like myself go through just to get through each day, successfully.

Moreno: I'm sure that over the years you've probably received quite a bit of advice from people. What's the best piece of advice you've received?

Kavey: Don't listen to advice, unless it's positive or encouraging, or somehow serves to make your life better.

Moreno: Very wise words of wisdom. Allowing negativity to seep into your brain is like allowing poison into your veins. There's rarely anything good that can come from it. I'm still somewhat surprised that all you endured didn't affect your will to live. When you were living on the streets and at times felt complete disparity, what motivated you to continue living?

Kavey: I'm an eternal optimist. I always think it's going to be better, that somehow everything will work itself out. I always thought God was my Dad, and used to talk to Him as if He was just an invisible parent � not some sort of supernatural being. I felt that He thought I was special, and He'd make sure I got through whatever it was. Whenever it seemed something terrible was happening, I had faith that I'd get through. And there have been a lot of miracles. For me, the future is wide open and possibility is around every corner. I did then and still do think sometimes of giving up on dreams or goals or life. I just have fought for so long, that life doesn't have the same thrill without a challenge to overcome. There is no good without the bad, and no way to appreciate victory without a war.

Moreno: That is a truly inspirational perspective coming from someone who really has overcome quite a lot. So many others would just want to give up and let life happen. Your own story is one many people could connect to on an emotional and spiritual level � As a screenwriter, do you ever feel motivated to write a script similar to your own story?

Kavey: I don't plan to � I think it's easier for someone less involved in the story to be able to put it down on paper in a way that has a message. But maybe � there's always a bit of me in everything I write�

Moreno: Ok, if you're not writing about yourself � what do you like to write about?

Kavey: I really like to write about anything other than myself! My biggest aim is to connect with other people on an emotional or spiritual level. If something I write does that, that's all that matters. I really like comedy, and in most of what I write there's a humorous twist at least once or twice. Laughter is one of the most healing things in life, and it serves to inspire a more positive outlook on otherwise negative situations.

Moreno: Once again you display your perpetually positive outlook. There must be many things in your life which you are grateful for now. In your day-to-day life, what brings you the greatest amount of joy?

Kavey: My family. All I've ever wanted was to belong somewhere. I have a husband, Ken, and found my blood brother, David. I am so grateful for those two people! I feel so connected to them, safe, cared for and loved. That's joy to me.

Moreno: What about other family members? Do you still have a relationship with your foster and adopted parents? Have you found any other blood relatives?

Kavey: I have never searched for my foster parents. I did meet my birth mother, which was a complete disappointment, to put it mildly. I was adopted by a single parent, [the woman I call] my Mom, Claire. I'm pretty sure I put her through the worst types of trials and tribulations, but we have reconnected since my wayward youth, and are now closer than we ever were. She has a lot more patience than I do, and is proud of me no matter where I am in life, and supportive of me with no strings attached. She's an amazing woman.

Moreno: That�s wonderful that you were able to connect with your mom. You stated that you have always been an eternal optimist. Tell me, now that your life is in a better place, what do you fantasize or dream about?

Kavey: I have a very vivid imagination, so I fantasize (or visualize) and dream about a lot. I want to work in the entertainment industry more than anything, so I dream about the day when (in the business side of the industry) women are equal to men, minorities and the disabled are no longer misrepresented (stereotyping) or underrepresented. I dream about the day when I have enough money to become a philanthropist, when I can create opportunities for my friends as they pursue their dreams. Of course there's tons more � I fantasize that someday I'll be a size zero without diet or exercise, and that hot fudge sundaes and french fries will somehow end up being really good for you.

Moreno: You mention that finding equality and representation in the entertainment industry is a dream of yours. Tell me about your first entertainment gig. What was it like?

Kavey: Hmm� I/ll have to try and remember what was the first thing I did. I remember my first real live professional talent agent. Ken and I were living in St Petersburg, Florida. I contacted an agency in the Miami area, explained that I was disabled, visually impaired � but that they could book me with Ken, and he would drive as well as make sure I was able to get around the set. They had no problem with that, or that I couldn�t remember lines (because of the brain injury). The agent asked if I was available the next day for a job � and I was. It's about a four-hour drive each way, so we eventually moved to the Miami area. Ken and I did extra/background work or limited dialogue in commercials, TV shows and films for a long time with that agency. They always booked us together, and never had a problem if I told them I needed some time off (for health reasons).

Moreno: Well, you have a lot to be thankful for given the short amount of time you have been able to put your life into a more cohesive place. Now that you have established your role as a screenwriter, where would you like to see yourself in five years?

Kavey: Five years? That�s so long from now! I'd like to be here, doing what I'm doing now, but with a team of people around me who share the same vision. Screen-writing and film-making is a way for me to connect with an audience, with people. It is a collaborative effort, which is how I like to live. And if I'm giving a voice to a story, contributing a message, and connecting with others for more than just entertainment, I'll be right where I want to be.


Thank you, Kitty, for sharing your story. May you continue to bless the lives of others with your words, spirit, and compassion.

For more information on Kitty's career please visit, www.myspace.com/kittykavey