About the author

Kellan C Portrez

Hello, I’m Markell C. Polk, though many know me as Kellan C. Portrez. This page may differ from what you expect on a typical “About the Author” section, but my goal is simple: to share my story honestly while maintaining my privacy. I won’t reveal everything, but I will give you a clear sense of who I am, how I came to write, and why my words exist.<br><br>Writing has been my companion for over a decade. I started around age 13, during a period of my life filled with emotions I didn’t yet know how to process. At first, it was a raw escape—letters, journal entries, and poems that poured out anger, confusion, and sadness. Over time, those expressions evolved into poetry, letters, and eventually short stories inspired by real-life experiences, always anonymized to protect those involved. Writing became my sanctuary, a way to communicate, heal, and reflect without losing myself in anger or hurt.<br><br>For a long time, I never imagined publishing my work. It was therapy, a private practice, a way to release the weight of life’s challenges. But recent experiences inspired a shift. I began my “Healing While Hurting” journey—a conscious effort to confront pain, grow mentally, spiritually, and romantically, and transform that growth into something tangible. Words that once served as release are now a bridge, connecting my story to those who need to feel heard, understood, or inspired.<br><br>I’m 23, a single father to a vibrant six-year-old daughter, and my roots trace back to Chicago, Illinois, though I’ve called Kansas City home since I was thirteen. My life outside of writing is full of rhythm and passion—I love to two-step, I’ve explored my love of cooking through my own catering venture, and I find joy in creating, whether in food, movement, or poetry. Every experience, every challenge, and every triumph informs the voice behind my words.<br><br>I never set out to be a writer—it just happened. Writing started as a necessity, a way to release feelings I couldn’t express aloud. Letters turned into poems, poems became stories, and those stories built worlds from the emotions I carried. This journey isn’t about perfection; my journey is about finding self in the mirror of a stranger, strength in the power of acceptance and accountability, realizing that there’s purpose and value in the power of my words, and accepting my voice was given to me to be used as an active tool and not kept in a toolbox contained by the prison of my mind.<br>