AUTHOR KATHLEEN S. KENNEDY

 

Yep, that's me -  but most of the children and parents I know call me  "Miss Kathy". 

 

I began my work with children when I myself was just a child.  I quickly discovered the limitless and vivacious energy of youngsters and the delight of being in their presence. 

 

It is the delight and enjoyment of this laughter accompanied by playful imagination that inspired my first children's book, Coyotes in the Kitchen.  Other book ideas have been quick to follow. 

 

Along with being an author and mother, I'm also a Spiritual Awakener and Early Childhood Professional.  When I am not creating children's books or taking pictures, I am working with families who have young children. 

 

In my free time, I enjoy a myriad of hobbies.  I like anything that is "hands on".  I believe we are never too old or too young to learn.  WE are only limited by our attitude. 

 

Coyotes in the Kitchen has been a milestone for me.  It has been a creative learning process, a delightful labor of Love.

 

I first wrote the story in 1998.  At that time I was a preschool teacher.  The inspiration for the story came quite by happenstance while listening to a group of 4 year olds running and chasing on the playground.  During their play one of them yelled out, "there's coyotes in the kitchen!!".  I chuckled to myself and began to play with that notion. 

 

The entire story came to me in moments and thankfully I had the wherewith all to run inside, grab a scrap of paper and a stubby little pencil to jot it all down. 

 

I was incredibly pumped with excitement at the entire thought of the story.  That night I went home and banged out the words on my computer.  In my mind and with little stick figures on post it notes, I laid out the storyboard and ideas for how each section of the story would look in picture book form. 

 

Next, I called friends of mine who are accomplished artists.  It was Bobbi Manning who agreed to illustrate the story.  She thought it would be "fun". 

 

Fun indeed!  She created such adorable characters, almost as if she could see into my brain.  Believe it or not, all of these events occurred within the span of about 4 months. 

 

Fantastic, I thought.  I have a children's book!  However, it would be another 10 years before I was able to get it to print. 

 

During that time, a select group of children heard the story or got a very crude copy of the book that I had made at home on my computer.  They remembered the story and so did their parents. 

 

Now having published Coyotes in the Kitchen on a much more formal level, those who experienced the story in those early years are very excited and they are telling their friends. 

 

It is my hope and dream that children around the world will have a copy of Coyotes in the Kitchen for their very own.  I have this crazy idea that having fun and indulging your creative and imaginative self is what this life is all about. 

 

Coyotes in the Kitchen follows just such a notion.  I hope you will enjoy the book and share it with as many children as possible that touch your life or those whose life you touch.