By Lauren Olsen
Creativity, determination and hard work are just some of the ingredients that helped Noblesville resident Kristen Mott publish her first children’s book, “Odie the Stray Kitten.”
Mott, 28, graduated from Indiana University with a degree in journalism in 2008, and was looking for a way to combine her two loves: writing and animals.
“I always knew I wanted to write children’s books,” she said. “Children’s books are the only genre of literature that stay with you for a lifetime; they bring back memories from your childhood.”
One day, last January, inspiration struck when a 15-week-old kitten found its way into the horse stables on Mott’s property. Being an animal lover, Mott took the stray kitten in and gave it shelter and a warm home.
“The kitten inspired me to write the story,” she said. “I love the simplicity, the morals and the themes of most children’s books. And I have a bleeding heart for animals and stories about talking animals.”
The story is about a stray kitten that is all alone and wanders into a barn to get out of the cold. A girl finds the kitten, scared and cold, takes him into her family, and gives him a loving home.
“I hope that this book and the series inspire children to write their own stories and become more aware of animal welfare,” she said.
Mott worked with AuthorHouse, a self-publishing company out of Bloomington, to bring her book to life. She also worked with illustrator, Lowell Hildebrandt, from AuthorHouse to create the images that would help tell her story. Those partnerships proved so successful that Mott is working with them on her second book that is set to be released this summer, “Odie’s Best Friend” is about Odie growing up and making friends with another cat on the farm.
“I want to turn this into a series about Odie and all of his adventures,” Mott said.
Mott’s book,” Odie the Stray Kitten,” has recently been selected for the Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval. CLC is an organization that promotes children’s literature that educates and instills good values in children.
“Odie the Stray Kitten” is available at 4 Kids Books & Toys, 4450 Weston Pointe Dr., Zionsville, or online at www.authorhouse.com and www.amazon.com.
