Kate self-published her first series of fiction for young readers, The Julia Dagons Mysteries, when she was in grade five, using the photocopier at her mom’s work. Unfortunately, these works of literary genius are officially out of print.
A member of SCBWI and The Writer’s Union of Canada, Kate is also a graduate of the MA in Creative Writing program at the University of Toronto. She spends the majority of her time writing and reading stories for young readers. She also works with students of all ages, helping them to become confident readers and writers.
She is over the moon to report that her debut picture book, Beatrice and Barb, will be published with Kids Can Press in October, 2023 and is available from your favourite bookseller or library now! Her second book will follow in spring 2025.She is counting down the days until she can tell you all about it!
Kate lives with her partner Michael, their daughters Zoe and Mae, and a wily bernedoodle named Leo in Kitchener, Ontario, on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples.
FAQ
Q: What can you not write without:
A: A sharp Ticonderoga pencil, index cards, my laptop, and dangerous amounts of very hot coffee.
Q: What are your favourite picture books?
A: There are too many to count, but these are a handful of stories that are on my mind right now:
Paolo, Emperor of Rome by Mac Barnett and Claire Keane
The Skull by Jon Klassen
The Big Bath House by Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang
Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
The Sour Cherry Tree by Naseem Hrab and Nahid Kazemi
Night Lunch by Eric Fan and Dena Seiferling
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden by Heather Smith and Rachel Wada
In Baba’s Garden by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith
When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson and Julie Flett
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Red is Best by Kathy Stinson and Robin Baird Lewis
Franklin’s Flying Bookshop by Jen Campbell and Katie Harnett
Outside Inside by LeUyen Pham
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone and Michael Smollen
Today by Julie Morstad
Barbapapa at Work by Annette Tison and Tallus Taylor
Q: What are the best kinds of pie?
A: Chicken pot, Peach, raspberry, strawberry rhubarb, chocolate pudding, pumpkin, key lime. In that order.
Words to read and write by
“When there are enough books available to act as both mirrors and windows for all our children, they will see that we can celebrate both our differences and our similarities, because together they are what makes us all human.”
“Isn’t it important that children’s books contain the things that children think of and the things children do, even if those things seem strange?”
“A word after a word after a word is power.”
“Le Mieux est l’ennemi du bien (The perfect is the enemy of the good).”