King Kusma

Derek R. King is a multi-genre, award-winning poet and storyteller whose work flows from the wild edges of memory, history, and spirit. Drawing inspiration from the landscapes of Scotland and the quiet rhythms of everyday life, Derek weaves poetry, fiction, and nonfiction with a deeply human touch. His voice is grounded yet luminous, rooted in lived experience, and lifted by imagination.

As co-creator at King Kusma, Derek brings visual depth, lyrical insight, and a reverence for truth that shines through every word, photograph, and idea he helps shape.

My Story

For over 40 years, I worked in the construction industry, and for the last 10 years as a Managing Quantity Surveyor. I always saw myself as a construction guy who dabbled in writing. I was practical, hands-on, and used to overseeing projects that could be measured with a tape and drawn for blueprints.

But then came The Life and Times of Clyde Kennard. A story that lived in my bones and demanded to be told. For nearly ten years, I worked on the biography during weekends, evenings, and stolen hours during holidays. It wasn’t written quickly, and it wasn’t written because I saw myself as an author. I wrote it because the story mattered. Because something deeper in me knew I had to.

When I finished it, something shifted. I realized I hadn’t just told Clyde’s story, I had found my own story. No longer was I a construction guy who dabbled in a hobby. I was a writer. A poet. Someone with stories to share, verses to speak, and unseen moments to capture. Now, I write with purpose and with heart through poetry that stirs, through fiction that dares, and through memories that teach. Every line is a new kind of architecture. One built not of bricks, but of breath, emotion, and truth.