05/19/2025
Why I Became a Children’s Book Author
Becoming a children’s book author wasn’t just a career choice—it was a calling born from a life lived in service, survival, and storytelling.
For over 25 years, I’ve worked in nearly every corner of animal welfare—serving as a veterinary technician, groomer, shelter worker, animal control officer, and advocate for the pets no one else would touch. I’ve specialized in medical grooming for seniors, reactive dogs, and animals with complex needs. I’ve given baths to the broken and comfort to the fearful. And through it all, I’ve seen the incredible healing power of kindness.
But long before I was saving animals, I was being saved myself.
As a teenager, I faced homelessness. It was a time marked by uncertainty, fear, and the harsh reality of what it means to feel unseen. Yet even in the darkest moments, I held onto a spark of hope—and it was the kindness of others that pulled me through. That same spark now lives in every story I tell.
Storytelling has always been my refuge and my passion. My mother, an editor and lifelong lover of literature, filled my childhood with the rhythm of language and the magic of words. She taught me not only how to write, but how to feel what I write—and how to use stories to connect, heal, and uplift.
I also grew up enchanted by the works of James Herriot, whose gentle, honest tales of animals and their caretakers shaped my world. His stories reminded me that compassion matters, that even the quietest voices deserve to be heard, and that everyday moments—especially with animals—hold extraordinary magic.
Becoming a children’s author has allowed me to blend all the pieces of my life—my deep love for animals, my personal journey of resilience, my mother’s editorial influence, and my admiration for heartfelt storytelling—into books that speak to young hearts.
Through stories like Judy Joyful, I aim to teach children about empathy, perseverance, and the value of every life, furry or human. And through the proceeds of these books, I fund a nonprofit that provides free and low-cost grooming to rescues, shelters, and families in need, supplies a community pet closet, and brings educational outreach into schools—helping children learn how to love and care for animals in a world that desperately needs more kindness.
I became a children’s book author not just to tell stories—but to give hope.
Because I never gave up on myself… and I want every child to know they shouldn’t either.
– Kara Ann
Author • Illustrator • Animal Advocate • Survivor
