- Read Part One: The Wit of Kathy Witt to learn about renowned Kentucky children’s author, Kathy Witt’s many accomplishments.
It’s no wonder that Kathy Witt is a successful children’s author, travel writer, and historical novelist. With 28 books under her belt and two more due our this year, as well as being a columnist for major magazines and online publications, her prosperity seems endless.
Witt’s approach to writing is infectious. Her positive attitude and her warm persona are evident in just about every word she writes. She even uses her creativity to help what she considers the only difficult part of her career-- book signings.
“Like a lot of writers, I’m an introvert and prefer to be behind-the-scenes – but I devised what I consider an ingenious solution. I wrote a performance piece for the character Lanie Sullivan from The Secret of the Belles and got a costume for my daughter – an extrovert, as luck would have it, and one with theatre training from NKU’s Theatre Department. When I go to book signings, “Lanie” comes with me and does her part. It really takes the spotlight off me and, I think, adds a real element of fun to the book signing.”
A true lover of literature, Witt’s favorites include everything from Henry James to Kentuckian’s Sue Grafton and the late Paul Brett Johnson to J.K. Rowling. “ I love the Harry Potter books. In fact, we’re all waiting for our youngest to finish reading the books so we can go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando.”
When asked what part of her career she was the most proud of, she spoke of the strength she has and pressure an author sometimes feels.
” It’s a business that makes you want to give up. There’s a lot of rejection and it’s easy to feel discouraged. For me, though, the excitement is always there, the thrill of getting – at least what I consider – a great idea for a book. I love beginning a new project and being immersed in the research. That’s where I’m at now with my Christmas-themed cookbook and children’s book.”
Witt’s advice for anyone hoping to break into children’s writing is to network! Join The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and connect with other authors of children’s books for critiques. Most importantly, keep writing!
To read more about Kathy Witt, see
and find her fantastic travel tips on Words of Witt.
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