A readership survey we issued way back in January 2018 showed that alums wish to read more about the lives and achievements of fellow alums in Europe. Below is our eighth feature interview, focusing on Kiki Denis ’94.
Please get in touch if you feel your story would be of interest, or would like to recommend a fellow alum!
Spotlight on… Kiki Denis Class of ’94
Name: Kiki Denis
Class Year: 1994
1) Can you tell us a few words about yourself?
I was born and raised in Greece, in a small village in the northern part of the country, near Mount Olympus. After finishing high school, I was invited by a distant uncle to spend a year in the U.S. to learn English. After spending that year with my uncle and his family, I applied to several colleges, one of which was Mount Holyoke. I had visited the campus before and loved it, so when I was accepted, I was thrilled to attend.
At Mount Holyoke, I studied economics and philosophy. After graduating, I moved to the UK to pursue a master’s in psychology at Exeter University. Once I finished my studies, I returned to the U.S. and moved to New York City, where I found my first job in the fashion industry—it was the only job I could find at the time. Over the next few years, I continued working in fashion, but as my 30th birthday approached, I realized I wasn’t happy with where I was. So I decided to start taking creative writing classes. Reading fiction and writing had always been my escape, and I felt a strong pull toward pursuing my passion. Slowly, I transitioned out of the fashion world and focused on my writing ambitions. In 2006, I completed my first novel, The Last Day of Paradise, and submitted it to several indie publishing competitions. I won one, and that’s how my first novel was published.
2) What inspired you to write, and how did you find your voice?
Everyday life inspires me. I can’t recall who said it, but the idea of “the extraordinary in the ordinary” fascinates me. The world might remain more or less the same, but having the patience to look again, to reconsider something or someone, and to give it another chance is remarkable. By doing so, you often rediscover something new within yourself—something that wasn’t visible the day before.
In the words of the ancient Greek Heraclitus, “No man ever steps in the same river twice,” and as a writer, I feel privileged to experience that daily. Inspiration lies in the curiosity to see the world anew. Creative writing holds a deep understanding of the human condition, illuminating our existence. Through writing, I better understand myself—it’s a process that’s simultaneously fun, unsettling, and full of unexpected surprises.
Finding my voice is a bit tricky. There are many voices within me, and which one emerges depends on what I’m writing. Finding one’s voice is much like finding one’s purpose, and just as we evolve, that purpose—and our voice—should evolve too.
3) What books have been the most inspiring or influential to you and why?
Demian by Hermann Hesse is one of the most influential books I’ve read, alongside Milan Kundera’s Immortality. The protagonist of Demian, Emil Sinclair, is a young man who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. The novel is philosophical and explores themes of duality, the nature of good and evil, and the search for individual identity. It delves into the importance of personal freedom and spiritual evolution.
What’s particularly interesting about Demian is how it encourages readers to look within and question not just the world around them but also their own beliefs, values, and limitations. When I first read it, it had a lasting impact on me because I was in high school, trying to understand my place in the world. The book made me realize that it was okay to agonize over such questions.
Immortality by Milan Kundera is another fascinating exploration of identity, memory, and existence, though it takes a different approach compared to Demian. Immortality deals with the idea of immortality—both literal and metaphorical—and reflects on how people try to make themselves “immortal” through their actions, relationships, or the way they are remembered.
In the novel, Kundera focuses on the lives of his characters, exploring their desires, regrets, and the consequences of their pursuit of meaning. One of its central themes is how we try to leave a mark on the world—or on others—whether through fame, love, or memory—and how those things often fall short or fade with time. It may sound a bit pessimistic the way I describe it, but it was and still is incredibly inspiring to me.
4) What is your perspective on the role of storytelling in today’s world?
We tell stories to connect and to experience the world through the lens of imagination. We listen to stories for much the same reason. Of course, stories can teach us, but it’s not the facts that touch the consciousness of a writer or a reader—facts alone are bare knowledge, something a computer can relay more efficiently than a human. What makes storytelling magical is its ability to expand empathy through emotion.
Through a book, I can live a thousand lives—lives I would never have encountered or even known existed if not for the stories hidden within pages or shared through spoken words. The stories we choose to tell, and how we tell them, can shape both the world around us and the world within us.
5) What do you hope readers take away from Father, The More Loving One?
Father, The More Loving One is my first creative nonfiction book. My previous two books, The Last Day of Paradise and Life is Big, are novels. I wrote Father, The More Loving One after my father passed away. We shared a close bond—he was a calm, kind, and gentle man. Despite not finishing elementary school, he loved to read.
When I was young, he would read poetry to me before bed. I think, in his mind, poetry was accessible—simple verses that conveyed feelings, were short enough to revisit, and offered beauty in everyday things like a flower, the sea, or love itself. Through this nightly ritual, he passed on to me a deep love for reading. Imagine—a barber with little formal education unknowingly making a profound impact on his daughter’s life, simply by reading to her for five minutes each night.
That time we had together was very special. One reader once asked me if I understood the poems back then. But understanding or analyzing the poetry wasn’t the point. What mattered was the bond we built, and the love for literature my dad nurtured in me through those moments. Even now, when I’m sad, tired, or overwhelmed, I turn to poetry—it grounds me in the present and helps me find my center.
If, through reading my book, even one reader is inspired to create a similar ritual with their child or a loved one, then I’ll consider Father, The More Loving One a great success.
6) What do you find most fulfilling about writing?
The peace of mind and heart that follows a good writing day is unparalleled. It feels as though the day hasn’t slipped away but has been transformed into something meaningful.
I think writing allows the writer to feel more connected to the world, while the world, in turn, becomes a part of the writer. Through this process, the beauty of humanity, the impermanence of life, and “the unbearable lightness of being” become a bit more bearable.
Also writing is never boring; you can explore anyone, anything, and everything that piques your curiosity. With every new piece, you have the freedom to choose, to discover, and to begin again.
7) How did your MHC experience contribute to your life aspirations?
Mount Holyoke College gave me a home away from home—a place where both students and faculty supported me in discovering myself, expanding my horizons, and embracing who I was becoming, without fear of the outcome or the pressure to conform to a mold that might constrain me. The environment at Mount Holyoke offered me countless chances to explore and grow—a second, third, and even fourth opportunity when I needed it. That freedom to try something new without the fear of failure is rare on a college campus, yet Mount Holyoke embodies it.
I gained self-confidence and was never discouraged. I also had the privilege of meeting students vastly different from myself, an experience that was truly invaluable. Women from all over the world, representing diverse cultures and perspectives, were there to learn, create, and live harmoniously on campus. It was, in many ways, an ideal world.
Of course, it was also hard work, and the ambition of the students to excel and improve was always present. However, the support within Mount Holyoke’s community was even stronger. It taught me the value of healthy competition—one that motivates growth without negativity—something I still deeply appreciate and carry with me today. I would love it if my girls have the chance to attend a college like Mount Holyoke, or go to Mount Holyoke if they have the desire and get accepted.
Read more about Kiki and her work at http://www.kikidenis.com
Interview conducted Spring 2025 by Zeynep Kurmus Hurbas ’96