Hello, 2025!
Hello, and happy new year, dear reader!
I thought now would be a great time to do a little update on the blog. I usually do these sorts of updates in my monthly newsletter, often along with fun freebies for subscribers, so be sure to sign up for that while you’re here. But today, I’m popping on here because so many good things are happening and I just have to share.
Reflecting on 2024
Wow, was 2024 ever a year. It was difficult in many ways, but also incredibly beautiful. One of my favorite days of the year was in April, when I got to witness a total solar eclipse with my family from our own backyard. I released two new books into the world, attended several local author fairs and events, and joined a wonderful women’s writing community. In many ways, 2024 was the year I finally gave myself the author life I’ve always wished to have. I am so thankful for the experiences of the past year.
Looking into 2025
After releasing Little Orphant Allie in October, I found myself in a transition period. I’d been working on that book for over three years, and I didn’t really have any other big projects in the works. It was time to explore and experiment. It took a bit, but two stories have bubbled up to the surface as my main works-in-progress. Both are middle-grade historical fiction novels. One is now nearly a third of the way complete, and the other is in the earliest ideation stages.
So, here’s a little sneak peek into my vision for 2025:
New Book Project 1:
Based around the true story of a witch trial in Vincennes, Indiana in 1907: told from the point of view of Tessa, a young girl who befriends the accused witch and learns how to step into her own strength and power to stand up for what is right, mending a community riddled with bigotry, hate, and fear.
New Book Project 2:
Set in the early 1900s in a lighthouse on Lake Michigan: Freddie, the young daughter of a lighthouse keeper must learn to see her own worth after a lifetime of being shamed for her disability.
Reading 25 Middle-Grade Novels in 2025
As I am mainly writing middle-grade now, I have set a new goal for this year to read twenty-five middle-grade novels in 2025. And I already finished a book on January 1, so I am counting it! Follow my progress (and add me as a friend) on Goodreads!
Writer’s Residency in October 2025
I was granted a two-week writer’s residency with the nonprofit organization Write On, Door County in Door County, Wisconsin in October. Door County is the peninsula between Lake Michigan and Green Bay, and one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. There are many historic lighthouses there, so it is the perfect location to research and work on my second book project. As part of my residency, I’ll be doing a community engagement project in a local middle school, too. I am honored to be granted such an opportunity, and so excited to visit in my favorite season, too.
Here’s to a great year!
I will be at a few local author fairs again this year, so if you are in Central Indiana, I would love to see you there. I keep my calendar updated with those events, and share more in my monthly newsletter. When you subscribe, you automatically receive a free short story for middle-grade readers and a kids’ writing activity.
I will be a fewer events this year, due to my health and schedule, but I am working on some ideas to connect with the community in other ways. I would love to start a sort of free “pen pal” program with local students, so if you are a parent or teacher who might be interested in that, please feel free to reach out!
In 2025, I am looking forward so much more: hiking and camping trips with my family, expanding my backyard garden, and fun things like the second half of Wicked! (Fun fact, I’ve been a Wicked fan since its debut on Broadway in 2003. I got to see it in Chicago in 2005 with my sister. So the new movie was a dream come true for me!) How about you, dear reader— what are you looking forward to this year? Please share with me in the comments!
Well, thank you for stopping by the blog. I am wishing you a wonderful new year!
Katie
Artist Spotlight: Amanda Griffey
Hello again! Welcome back to the blog. Today I am excited to continue my artist spotlight series by shining a light on artist Amanda Griffey. Amanda did the cover for my latest book, Little Orphant Allie, which released in October!
Amanda comes from a long line of farmers, and her art reflects her passion for farm life. She lives in eastern Indiana, not far from where the book is set. In fact, while working on the book’s cover, she discovered that she and Allie, the main character, came from the same town! “Amanda currently works and resides with her husband Thomas and their sons Joseph and Joshua, on their family’s diversified farming operation, just minutes from where she grew up.”
It was such a joy to work with Amanda, and I am thrilled to share our interview.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you most like to use your art in your life.
I was raised on a farm and currently farm with my husband's family, and I love to capture the beauty and heritage of farming.
What has been your biggest inspiration for your art?
Farm life and my deep love for horses.
What is inspiring you most at this point in time?
The glimpses of resiliency that are all around me; like a weathered barn that is still standing despite years of neglect, or a rusty old hinge that is still doing its job.
How do you keep your creative practice fresh?
While I have dabbled with other mediums, I really love colored pencil. So, I like to try new surfaces and methods, as well as push the limits of what subject matter and textures are possible to achieve with colored pencil.
What words of wisdom would you give young creatives?
The journey of a creative can be challenging and lonely. Find a mentor who is where you want to be to help you along on your journey.
Amanda’s Art
Cover of Little Orphant Allie
More artwork from Amanda (from her website):
“Mare Glare”
“Peace in the Valley”
Thank you so much for sharing with us here, Amanda. It was wonderful to have you here. I’m wishing you all the best. Keep creating!
Katie
New Book News: Little Orphant Allie Releasing in October
Hello, there! Welcome back to the blog. I am landing here from a very busy summer. From the kids’ theater rehearsals to softball games, family hikes, day trips, and more, it’s hard to believe summer is nearly over. We homeschool year-round, but are just beginning a two-week break between “school years.” It will be nice to have a reset, and a bit of a rest before September rolls in. Hooray for fall!
The New Book News!
And as for news on the author front: I have a new book coming in October!
Yes! This is a book I began writing three years ago, in August 2021. It is one that is near and dear to my heart. It has made its way through many drafts, workshops, and a whole lot of historical research. Now the manuscript is with my trusty editor, and a wonderful local artist is working on the book cover. I cannot believe it, but the book releases this October!
What is this book, you ask? Well, here are more details:
LITTLE ORPHANT ALLIE
Little Orphant Allie is a middle-grade historical novel-in-verse that explores the magical true story behind James Whitcomb Riley’s classic poem, Little Orphant Annie. In lyrical verse, twelve-year-old Mary Alice Smith, or “Allie,” tells of her time living in the Riley house in Greenfield, Indiana during the winter of 1861. The book gives a unique look into the world of the young girl whose imagination conjured up fairies, goblins, and witch-tales, and inspired a poem beloved for generations.
I am so excited to finally share this heartwarming story with the world come October. Be sure to follow me on social media, and subscribe to my monthly email newsletter for the latest updates. I shall return here before long with a cover reveal, and of course when the book releases!
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Be well!
Katie
Artist Spotlight: Shelley Wallace
Hello, all! Welcome back to the blog. I am here with another artist spotlight! This week’s featured artist is Shelley Wallace. I had such a wonderful experience working with Shelley over the last few months as she worked on the cover art for my book, Little Bird Woman. Originally from Scotland, Shelley now lives in Mexico. We met in a creative community hosted by artist Sarah Shotts. When I first saw Shelley’s artwork, especially her drawings of trees, I was in awe. So you can imagine my thrill when she agreed to do my book cover. We corresponded over the course of a few months, collaborating on ideas for Little Bird Woman’s book cover. The final piece is more stunning than I could have asked for. It was such a joy to work with Shelley, and I am excited to share our interview with you today.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you most like to use your art in your life.
I’ve recently returned to painting after a long break and found I’m more free to express myself in abstract painting than the realistic painting I did before. Painting has become my main focus but I draw and do collage work too. I also write lyrical creative nonfiction but this part of my creative practice is resting while I concentrate mostly on painting. Having a couple of my pieces of my work exhibited in a recent haiku comics exhibition has prompted me to bring haiku comics back into my creative practice again too. Being a parent, I have less time for art so I’m trying to find ways of integrating art with life so there’s not so much of a separation - but I’m still figuring out how to make this work.
What has been your biggest inspiration for your art?
I’ve always been entirely at home and in a state of awe in an art museum. Actually, that goes for any kind of museum. This, and books - many, many books - have long been my inspiration. There were no family artists around but I was always drawn to art, and was often taken to the library and museums as a child - with art, history, anthropology, memoir, and nature, there was no shortage of inspiration. I’m doing a class at the moment around aspects of abstract painting and one assignment had me collecting images of textures, colours, and visual elements I found inspiring, and what was fascinating was that they all came from the wild Scottish landscapes of my childhood that I was free to roam about in and explore.
What is inspiring you most at this point in time?
Anything and everything I can find on contemporary and past female artists. I’ve been reading Ninth Street Women, Fierce Poise, Art Monsters, The Mirror and The Palette, The Baby on the Fire Escape, The Other Side, and The Story of Art Without Men. I’m also working on connecting with and listening to my own intuition and that involves finding and bringing the inspiration out from deep inside me. In the painting class I’m learning to do creative play - this is all about following what feels good in the body and it’s so valuable to explore embodied art making after spending so long being all analytical and intellectual about it.
How do you keep your creative practice fresh?
I am curious by nature and I’ve learned to listen to my intuition and follow my curiosity. I didn’t used to do this and that’s when I got stuck and stale in my creative practice. Now that my curiosity leads me, the problem is more about being selective and focused as there are so many fascinating rabbit holes to fall down. In the past couple of years I’ve also embraced creative experimentation (it took a lot of work to shift my perfectionism) and working in this way allows for accidents and surprise. I used to want to plan every detail and layer in advance but now I can’t think of anything more restrictive - in fact, when I used to draw and paint in this way my body was small and tight. Moving into creating more intuitively and experimenting frees up the body’s movements and it feels so good I’ve recently moved into working large-scale. I’m lucky that my curious nature will always have me exploring new things, I just needed to learn that it was okay for me to follow it intuitively and not try to control it or force it to fit what I thought it ought to be doing.
What words of wisdom would you give young creatives?
Listen to your intuition. Find a way to do your art and don’t get persuaded out of it like I did - it took me a long time to get back to it. Now I know how creating inspires, fulfils, energises and relaxes me. I definitely missed doing art and writing, but I did find ways of sneaking it in, like studying the History of Art and reading so many books on how to do all sorts of art and creative writing. Try not to get caught up in perfectionism - the beauty is in the imperfection and the free and full expression of you. Try not to compare yourself to others and focus on experimentation and finding your own way of creating. Yes, there’s plenty of technical stuff to learn and practice but it needs to be the true (and brave) you behind it all.
Connect with Shelley:
Shelley’s Art
Shelley’s cover art of Little Bird Woman:
More artwork by Shelley:
Thank you so much for sharing with us here, Shelley. It was wonderful to have you here, and I’m wishing you all the best. Keep creating!
Katie