Perry author publishes first novel in remembrance of her twin sister 

PERRY — A traumatic event as a teenager led a longtime Perry resident to write her first published fictional novel.

Kaitlyn Dryden has lived in Perry for 22 years and graduated from Perry High School in 2008. She’s an avid reader working in the dental field and has always loved writing.  

Published on April 20, 2026, “Love Ya Mean It” is based on true events: when her twin sister, Brittany, passed away only a month before graduating high school. 

“I really felt like I could take something meaningful to me with my sister passing away for maybe someone who went through some trauma, and then just finding some type of purpose or love after going through something like that,” Dryden said. 

Brittany would say, “Love ya mean it,” all the time, and it stuck with the people she knew. The book is about a girl named Esmeray who has just lost her twin, battling the struggles of grief, raising her 15-year-old niece, and finding love along the way. 

“She doesn’t have to be stuck in her grief her whole life, and you can still live in the midst of that,” Dryden said. 

The novel gives glimpses of that fateful day. Dryden said she did alter some parts to fit the flow of the story. 

“[Overall], the book is really just about Esmeray finding happiness after losing someone close to her in a traumatic way,” she said  

There are also romantic elements in the novel, with the main character encountering a man named Beau. Dryden said their relationship is “pull and take”, but Beau is very determined. 

“It was kinda love at first sight for him and for her too, but she had that blur of that grief holding her back,” she said. 

Dryden said her sister’s passing was the most impactful moment of her life. She felt the subject matter was something she could really delve into. She even talked with Brittany’s friends and the nurses who were with her the night she passed to get their individual perspectives of that day. 

“I think just having the knowledge and the details about what happened and how I found my husband after all that as it still correlates with the story,” she said.  

Dryden believes her novel is suitable for ages 16 and older and said it will resonate with anyone who has battled grief, heartbreak, is a fan of romance, or loves a book that will tug on the heartstrings. 

Dryden hopes readers of “Love Ya Mean It” share the sentiment that grief does not have to control your life and that you can find happiness through it. 

“You don’t have to stay stuck in grief. There can be happy endings and you can move forward with your life after losing someone close to you,” she said. “You don’t have to feel guilty. You can live your life again.” 

Dryden is already in the process of writing her second book, “Black Market Baby”. Similar to “Love Ya Mean It”, this novel is inspired by true events regarding her mother’s childhood. She is already 10 chapters in and described it as realistic fiction rooted in trauma and grief.  

You can find “Love Ya Mean It” on Amazon in Kindle or paperback. Dryden said they are working to get it on the shelves in local bookstores. 

To purchase “Love Ya Mean It,” go to amazon.com/dp/B0GRTVXWBD?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp