V A C A T T A C

 /ˈvakˌəˈtak/.

ME: Writer. Teacher. Artist. Dreamer.

WE: Dream. Connect. Create. Continue.

THIS: For Magic & Madness

A place for the independent, original, and out-there.
An experiment in messages and messengers.

Nothing important has ever happened here…

an ongoing interactive narrative experience  

WAR W/ W O R D S

"When I was a little kid, I'd pretend to create vast worlds with my mind. As an adult, I'm still pretending."

For Kevin Vachna, one label rises above all others: writer. First and foremost, he is a storyteller. "Writing has found ways to influence every facet of my life. It’s an act of creation, and I enjoy it," he explains. The art of storytelling captivates him. "With writing, it’s about exorcising all those demons and angels from my mind, trapping them in words, creating a world all my own, and seeing how it grows and changes."

In 2009, Kevin Vachna graduated summa cum laude from Manhattan College after rejecting the Valedictorian role on "moral grounds." During his time there, he served as Submissions Editor for Manhattan Magazine, the school’s literary publication. He also contributed short stories to the magazine, which earned first place in 2008 and second place in 2009—an accomplishment he describes as "suspiciously awarded." His work has also appeared in other literary magazines such as Obscura and Polaris.

At just 21 years old, Kevin published Summer of the Fall, a short novel, through Outskirts Press. "That book was the culmination of my lifelong passion for writing—completely ahead of schedule," he recalls. In the years that followed, he focused on editing a second experimental novel, Not All Vampires Suck Blood. "I imagine a way to share ideas and words across a narrative. I strive to create an experience unique to each reader, unified by that very same experience."

For ten years, Kevin worked as a high school English teacher in a New York City public school in the Bronx, where he "helped create the creators of tomorrow." Reflecting on his role, he notes, "Every day, I hope to inspire a passion for reading and writing in a new generation of students, the same way my teachers inspired that passion in me."

Kevin continued his academic journey by earning an MA in English Literature from Lehman College in 2012 and a Masters in School Administration from Hunter College in 2016. In 2019, he completed his latest project, OBSOLETE, coinciding with his departure from the New York City Department of Education. Neither Kevin nor the DOE has commented on any "meta-narrative connections" between his art and his life.

Currently, Kevin teaches English at a private high school in Westchester, New York, where he continues to share his love of literature with his students. He also hosts a television program and podcast dedicated to film discussion.

Looking ahead, Kevin plans to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing, focusing on experimental fiction. Why? "Just because," he says with a grin.

"Writing," he concludes, "isn’t just what I do. It’s how I exist."

All photos on this site were taken by Kevin Vachna while on adventures.