Kathleen Kidder,

Published author of poetry and children’s books and blog writer

 

A little about me: Kathleen Jeanette Kidder, the oldest of six children, I was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Jeanette and G.W.Ryan.  Over the past 15 years, I’ve written five children’s books, early on hand bound editions were given as gifts to loved ones.  My passion for writing began in third grade with a class assignment to write what would be my first short story.  An avid reader of adventure and mystery books – books like Gertrude Chandler Warner’s “The Box Car Children” and Carolyn Keene’s “Nancy Drew Mysteries” – a seed of a dream to one day write books was planted.

Seeds of God’s love planted by my grandmother, Sarah Landis, sparked my curiosity about what lies between the pages of a book.  She read marvelous stories of boys and girls around the world and the missionary children God would send to them. Those stories developed an imagination that would lead me to the creative curiosity that followed me throughout my lifetime.  I strongly believe every child needs to hear stories read aloud with excitement and emotion to stir their little souls.

Creative curiosity didn’t limit itself to reading and writing. For as long as I can remember, I have loved to create things from drawing or painting to cake decorating and everything in between.  This season of my life holds many avenues for creating and I’m always exploring new ideas in writing, crafting, and graphic design among other areas. I find joy and purpose encouraging others to believe in their dreams, and sharing what I’ve learned along the way to give them hope – hope that if I, in spite of all my dysfunction, can do it – they can do it too!

You can find some of my early adult writing on my blog entitled Living on the Potter’s Wheel – Brokeness to Breakthrough“.  In 1995, The National Library of Poetry awarded me an Editor’s Choice Award for my contest entry written under the pen name Kat Ryan,  and published “It Always Ends The Same”  in the anthology “Seasons to Come”.  It has not yet appeared on my prose and poetry blog, but keep watching – it may soon show up.

Recently retired, my husband and I now live in the Nashville area near five of our nine grandchildren. We love the area and love being involved in our church family as well.  My grandchildren are the inspiration and the reason I wrote and  released my first published children’s book, “Getting Granny’s Goat.” They loved it and now encourage me to “write more, write more,” which I am.

Over the years I have written ad copy for corporate newsletters, produced brochures and marketing materials to promote the building of a new church and the sale of our former church building.  My design and graphic layout work was featured in a local newspaper reviewing the Centennial Holiday Craft Show , in 2003.  From January 2004 to January 2012, I worked for a non-profit organization that reaches around the world fulfilling the “Great Commission.” Now, I’m focusing on sharing the journey as I explore the wonderful and exciting things this season of my life brings.

While many of today’s readers find it convenient to have a “library” of books at their fingertips, I still get requests for signed copies and the ability to have something they and their little ones can turn pages with.  Hence the decision to self-publish in print as well as digitally. 

Getting Granny’s Goat is available at Smashwords as an eBook in nine different file formats for your reading pleasure on PCs and various readers and mobile devices.   

Getting Granny’s Goat is available in print at the following online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CreateSpace and other distribution networks.  If you would like a signed copy, send Kathleen an email at the address below for further instructions and comments.

Kathleen is well into a book for younger children that will make a perfect gift for Christmas or winter birthdays!  More on her new book, “There’s No People Like Snow People” in an up coming blog post.  Watch for it!

You can contact me here: [email protected]