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Local author paves the way for new trend
Since 2014, the prolific writer Kathleen Shields has published 43 books. In that milieu, she has written an educational series, early readers, shorts, educational how-to books and self-help books for children, as well as tween adventures and fiction for young adults and adults. This year she has embarked on a new project, a seven-book series for middle school readers, the Cozy Fantasy stories. Although popular and winners of multiple awards, her books buck a prevailing trend in children’s entertainment.
“I don’t support the dystopian, apocalyptic vision of life. It’s everywhere, in every book, video game and movie. The kind of dread that this outlook imparts is damaging. Life is being presented as a kind of ‘Hunger Game’ which sends the message that if you don’t perform, you’ll become a loser, or even worse, die,” she said in an interview from her home in Fischer.
“The world has led children to think that if they aren’t a pop star, a celebrity or a household name, they’re not worthy and social media has become a vehicle for attacking vulnerable kids. Children have a hard enough life as it is.”
“In my books, I want kids to turn their focus to this beautiful world of ours. When I started the new middle school series this year, I did it with the sole intention of not including a protagonist. I don’t want a villain. I don’t want readers to identify with ‘the chosen one with the superpowers that saves the world from the evil villain that’s going to destroy it’ idea. The important theme in my new series is that everyone can do it, not just the chosen one with super powers.”
“I want children to have fun reading. My books are action-packed adventures that embrace imagination, exploring, learning, solving puzzles and figuring out riddles so that kids can learn to be self-reliant. They’re about restoring magic to the world, making friends along the way and being able to connect with friends.”
Her books seem to have struck a chord. In every category she’s published, her books have garnered multiple awards.
Shields knows the importance of developing imagination and following inspiration. Born and raised in Houston, she was the only child of divorced parents.
“I was a latchkey kid. My mom was always working, so I entertained myself by playing with dolls, toys and writing stories. My ideas sprang from dreams. My mom gave me a dream journal that I kept near my bed. When I had a dream that I wanted to remember, I’d quickly write it down before I did anything else.”
The next thing she knew, she “had the bug in my head and I wanted to become an author.”
At age 10, Shields completed her first book, “Unibear,” about a figure that was half unicorn and half Care Bear. Not only did she write it, she illustrated it and folded the papers in half, stapling the edges, like a real book. It was a potent harbinger of things to come.
In the two decades that she has been actively writing, Shields has taught herself graphic design, web design and finally, publishing, either because she was interested to learn how or because what was out there didn’t suit her vision or focus. Like the characters in her books, she loves problem solving, learning new skills and developing imagination to gain inspiration. Moreover, she enjoys sharing what she’s learned with others. Soon she began publishing other writers through her company, Erin Go Bragh Publishing.
So strong is her vision about what kids want to read and need to learn, she actively enjoys spreading the word about her books.
“Selling is all about making connections. Go out into your area and the areas around you and present yourself as an author, talk about your books, sell your books, sign your books and take pictures with your fans.”
She’s made presentations to students, librarians and teachers, principals and parents and became an approved vendor for schools.
“I’ve presented my books at the Blanco Lavender Festival, the San Antonio and Austin Book Festivals, at smaller craft shows, market day shows, farmers markets, church bazaars, Boy and Girl Scout gatherings and to homeschool moms. Once readers buy one book, they look at the back and see that there are more.”
It seems that Shields has found a way to build a happier, healthier, more resilient child with the outlook and skills for embracing the future.
“Every time I meet up with a group of children, even if it’s just one child at a show or a class I know that I am imparting knowledge that I worked hard to accumulate, and I want to share that with others. This is my way of helping to raise children.”
To learn more about books by Kathleen Shields, visit www.kathleensbooks. com.
