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Kristin Mock

About Kristin Mock

Reader, Writer, Creator

I dwell in the depths of the Ozarks as a website strategist by day and a horror reader-slash-writer by night. In my writing, I seek to uncover the mysteries that lie just beneath the surface of the natural world, blending local history, folklore, and the creeping tension that comes with the unknown. 

The woods were my first love, and they inspire my stories, which explore the delicate balance between nature’s beauty and its darkest secrets. And the Ozarks hold so many secrets. These hollows and hills have seen everything from hidden treasures to violent battles, and the echoes of the past still reverberate through our deep valleys.

When I’m not lost in a good book or crafting my next tale, you can usually find me lurking in the woods or indulging in my love for all things literary: making handcrafted bookmarks, rebinding old (and new) favorites, or DIYing new shelves to house my ever-growing book collection.

Why the Ozarks?

The Ozarks are older than you know. The Appalachians may have the reputation of being ancient, but the Ozarks are over 500 million years older. Appalachian horror has developed into its own subgenre, while the Ozarks remain represented very little in modern media. We see representation as hillbillies, backwards cannibals, and drug-riddled, impoverished racists. And I'm sick of it. The Ozarks hold a special kind of people with stories aching to be told. We have our own folklore, cryptids, and a rich history that deserves to be shared. And while I write fiction, I do my best to weave real history and real stories into everything I write.

My ancestors came to the Ozarks in the early 1700s when Ste. Genevieve was a French fur trading post, and most of us are still here. I grew up in the eastern Ozarks, enjoying the beauty of Johnson's Shut-Ins, Elephant Rocks, Mastodon State Park, Sam A. Baker, Montauk, and all the natural wonders around the Saint Francois Mountains. For college, I moved to Springfield (Go Bears!), and learned all the local legends of the bride under the bridge, the Albino Farm, the underground tunnels, etc. Then, I got addicted to trail running, which brought me back to the Ozark Trail, up to Camdenton, Stockton, the Katy Trail, Glade Top, and more. And then in 2012, I met my now-husband, who enjoyed floating the rivers and hiking. Our second date was to Eden Falls, and we still haven't stopped spending our time in the Buffalo River area. We've floated the Eleven Point, the Current, the Buffalo, the Niangua, the James, the White, and probably more. But most of our free time is spent hiking every trail in both the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks, mostly searching for hidden waterfalls and secret vistas. 

So, why the Ozarks? Because they are breathtakingly beautiful. Because they have countless untold stories. Because they are unfathomably ancient. Because the woods are both plentiful and magical. And because this is home. I've never been outside of the Ozarks for more than two weeks at a time, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Everywhere else I go leaves me immediately missing what we have right here at home. 

Get in Touch

Before you reach out, please leave your negativity at the door! I accept unsolicited photos of dogs and positive notes.