Crystal Portee

Founder of Crystal Coast Media & Publishing
Building a space where stories are your own with a platform that cares.

Crystal Portee is a North Carolina based author, clinician, and founder of Crystal Coast Media & Publishing; a platform created to give writers a place to be seen, heard, and respected.

Raised in North Carolina by parents from Buffalo and married into roots from Philadelphia, Crystal’s perspective is shaped by a blend of cultures, environments, and life experiences. That balance shows up in both her storytelling and the way she builds community.

She originally pursued writing with the intention of becoming an English teacher, but discovered a deeper passion for understanding people. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Science from North Carolina Central University with a concentration in Recreational Therapy, and later completed her Master’s degree in Counseling.

For over eleven years, Crystal has worked with individuals navigating substance use and mental health challenges. That work has given her a grounded, real-world understanding of resilience, identity, and transformation; elements that naturally carry into her writing.

As a writer, Crystal quickly realized how difficult the publishing world can be for new authors.

Not because of talent, but because of access, visibility, and systems that often take more than they give.

Instead of waiting for a door to open, she built her own.