Author Kristin Beale Discusses Writing, Dating, and Silver Linings

"I was alive but felt like I was spinning," author and illustrator Kristin Beale told an audience of Upper School students, describing the aftermath of a personal watercraft accident in 2005 that left her paralyzed from the chest down. Ms. Beale is the author of three books and a popular weekly comic strip, and was invited to speak to Upper Schoolers on Wednesday, March 31 during a special advisory lunch.

"My life is a long story of turning something terrible into something beautiful," she told students.

Upper School world languages teacher Lisa Hand introduced Ms. Beale as "one of the most optimistic and resilient people I've ever met." Mrs. Hand was slated to be among Ms. Beale's sophomore teachers at Deep Run High School the summer she experienced her accident, and "became [Ms. Beale's] biggest cheerleader" after watching her adapt to the life-altering injury. Following a months-long hospital stay and several hours of daily physical therapy, Ms. Beale returned to school and managed to graduate on time with her classmates.

She has since become a prolific writer, publishing her first book at 26 and penning features for Action magazine and numerous other online publications. Ms. Beale said she's always enjoyed writing, as it gives her a way to learn about herself and process her feelings. While debating career paths after graduating from Randolph-Macon College, she also learned that writing was an effective way to entertain and enlighten others about her experience as someone who uses a wheelchair. One of the experiences people are most interested in, it turns out, is her dating life.

Her book "Date Me," a collection of one-page comics, chronicles the various dinners and coffee dates that left an impression on her as a single woman with a disability. After going on a rapid-fire stretch of 32 dates in two-and-a-half months, she knew there was plenty of material for her to explore in her writing.

"I got to relive all these bad dates without having to actually relive them," she said.

Ms. Beale said she approached each date with an open mind, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst — the latter of which she illustrates with deadpan frankness in her book. 

"Lots of invasive questions, rude comments, that sort of thing," she said. "Attempting to move my wheelchair without my permission."

Needless to say, each new date promised a silver lining for the young writer.

"If this goes well, that's great. If it doesn't, I'm going to make a comic out of you," she remembers thinking.

Ms. Beale talked with students about the setbacks she experienced as an athletic 15 year old learning to regain mobility and maintain some sense of being a teenager. She lost close friends. Her confidence was shot. Beneath it all, she felt like she had no control over her life. That's when it hit her: Don't resent what you can't change.

"Instead," she said, "focus on what you can control and make the best of it."

For Ms. Beale, that meant turning writing into a full-time job. She now has three books to her name, as well a YouTube show in the works. Finding control in her life has also included trying "nearly every adaptive sport imaginable." Fourteen to be exact, completing nine marathons and competing nationally in wheelchair fencing as well.

And, Ms. Beale decided to finally call it quits on online dating. She's proud to say she's officially engaged.