Empowering Children Through Stories and Affirmations
Katie Marie, award-winning children’s author, shares her journey of writing empowering books that nurture imagination and confidence. Her stories, filled with adventure and positive affirmations, encourage young readers to believe in themselves.
Katie Marie is a remarkable force in children’s literature, weaving imagination and empowerment into every page she writes. As the creative mind behind the T-Rex and Tuck Explore series and The Adventures of Ella Bella, she has captured the hearts of young readers with tales that entertain while nurturing confidence and self-belief. Her mission extends beyond storytelling—she is an advocate for the transformative power of positive affirmations, helping children embrace their inner strength with every book she creates.
Her journey as an author began with motherhood, a transition that ignited her passion for crafting stories that not only spark joy but also instil a sense of self-worth in young readers. Through her books, she introduces children to worlds of adventure and possibility, whether it’s exploring the zoo, venturing into outer space, or discovering the magic of the kitchen. The Ella Bella series, inspired by her own daughter, shines as a testament to the power of positivity, teaching children that belief in themselves is the key to unlocking endless potential.
Beyond the pages, Katie Marie’s impact is felt in classrooms, libraries, and homes, where children proudly recite her affirmations: “I am brave. I am strong. I am smart. I am kind.” It is this dedication to empowering young minds that makes her work truly extraordinary. In this exclusive interview, she shares her inspiration, challenges, and heartfelt advice for aspiring authors looking to make a meaningful impact in children’s literature.
Katie Marie masterfully blends adventure and self-empowerment, creating stories that inspire children to dream big, believe in themselves, and embrace positivity.
What inspired you to write children’s books with a focus on positive affirmations?
I was inspired to start writing children’s books when I became a mother. I have always enjoyed expressing myself through writing, but I felt there was a need for inspirational and imaginative children’s books. My focus on positive affirmations came from my hope of instilling confidence in my children and realizing that if I am sharing that with them, I could also share that with the children who read my books.
How do you hope your books will impact children’s self-confidence and self-worth?
I hope that as children read my books, they can envision themselves using their imagination through pretend play. As they are encouraged to use their creativity, their confidence will grow. The more they read the positive affirmations, the more they will believe them.
Can you share a memorable reaction from a child or parent about your books?
There have been many memorable reactions from readers, but most recently, I received a message from a grandmother who had gifted The Adventures of Ella Bella to her granddaughter. She told me she used to be a librarian and that the book had become a new family favorite. She said her grandchildren both request to hear it daily, and they have started saying the positive affirmations from the book together before bed as a family. Stories like this inspire me to continue with the series—how amazing to think a family has started to focus on positive affirmations together from an idea I decided to put on a page.
What was the inspiration behind Ella Bella and her magical adventures?
My children inspire both of my children’s series. The Ella Bella series, in particular, is inspired by my daughter, Elloise. We call her Ella Bella. I wanted to create something that highlighted her spunky personality but could also be used as a tool for me and other parents to remind our children how powerful positivity and belief in themselves genuinely can be.
How do you come up with the themes and lessons in the T-Rex and Tuck series?
The themes and lessons within the T-Rex and Tuck series come from personal experiences with my son. He has a green stuffed dinosaur, and when he was little, he would ask questions about the zoo or outer space. As I would teach him animal or space facts, the concept of a little boy explaining how things work to his stuffed animal started to manifest. The most recent book in the series, T-Rex and Tuck Explore the Kitchen, is slightly different than the first two. I tried to create a message within the kitchen story that firstly showed a little boy in the kitchen—because the ability to create excellent meals or bake sweets isn’t only an activity for girls, but also to teach the importance of patience, which as some parents reading this understand is a difficult concept for little ones at times.
What challenges have you faced in your journey as a children’s book author?
The initial challenge I faced as a children’s author was how to begin. Although I have always enjoyed writing, I didn’t know the first thing about how to start. It took a lot of research. There is also the business element of it, creating a website, social media following, etc. The learning curve was steep, but it is much more rewarding to think about how it started and where I am currently. I still have goals, but it all takes time, and I enjoy each new step in the process. Holding a book you created in your hands or reading it to children and watching them light up is the most rewarding part and makes all the challenges along the way worth it.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write meaningful children’s books?
The advice I would give to aspiring authors who want to write meaningful children’s books would be to start writing. I meet so many people who tell me they have always wanted to write a book but never got around to it. My message to everyone thinking about it is to do it! We put these time constraints on ourselves—if we haven’t done it yet, it must be too late. I was a new mom in my early thirties when I started jotting down story ideas. It took two years to take actionable steps to create a tangible book because it was outrageous to decide to be an author—but instead, I switched my thoughts to Why not me? I can honestly say that I have never felt more fulfilled in a career choice. I am proud of how far I have come, and I want that for anyone trying to decide if they should write or not. We were put on this earth to share our creativity and talents; don’t waste it because of self-doubt.
