How Rural Life and Family Inspire Her Children’s Books
Kimberley Paterson discusses her inspiration from rural life and family, creating beloved children’s books like “Frankie the Ferret” and “Mysty the Mystical Unicorn,” emphasising imagination and self-belief.
Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Ontario, Canada, Kimberley Paterson finds inspiration in the simple joys of rural life. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Kimberley channels her love for family and animals into her enchanting children’s books. Her stories, dedicated to her grandchildren, capture the magic of childhood wonder and the warmth of familial bonds.
Kimberley’s literary journey began with “Frankie the Ferret,” a delightful tale inspired by her own beloved pet. Her ability to weave personal experiences into engaging narratives is a testament to her talent and passion for storytelling. Her second book, “Mysty the Mystical Unicorn,” transports young readers to a magical universe, encouraging them to believe in themselves and their dreams. Kimberley’s works are a celebration of imagination, love, and the enduring connection between humans and animals, making her a cherished author in the realm of children’s literature.
Kimberley Paterson lives in the scenic countryside in a small rural community in Ontario Canada. She is married with two children and five grandchildren. She has a Chocolate Lab and a Tortoiseshell cat. Kimberley has written two children’s books dedicated to her grandchildren.
Kimberley Paterson masterfully blends personal experiences with enchanting storytelling, creating captivating children’s books that inspire imagination and warmth.
Frankie the Ferret is based on your beloved pet. What inspired you to write a book about Frankie, and what was the most memorable moment you shared with him that made it into the story?
There was always my dream to write a children’s book, but I was searching for the perfect storyline. When Frankie joined our family, I knew right away that he was exactly what I had been looking for to fulfill my dream. Frankie loved to collect and store items that he considered treasures, socks and hairbrushes were his favorites. If he was able to get those items, we would see him dragging his treasure along to his hiding spot where he had picked out a corner behind the sofa to keep his treasures safe. It was a simple and natural thing for him but it also made him very happy and content. The most amazing thing about Frankie was how much he loved to be cuddled, he just wanted to be with us or the other animals, he was never very happy to be on his own.
As someone who has spent your life in rural Ontario, how does your environment and community influence the themes and settings of your books?
Growing up in a small farming town, we resided on the outskirts of Uxbridge, Ontario where we had many different animals such as horses, pigs and chickens as well as dogs and cats. My love of animals and enjoyment of growing up in the country started right from a very young age and I wanted to share my experiences with children.
Your second book, Mysty the Mystical Unicorn, delves into a magical universe. How did you come up with the idea for Mysty’s adventures, and what message do you hope young readers take away from this story?
Mysty the Unicorn was created for my granddaughter whose love for them was fascinating. I was able to create a unique magical universe for Mysty based on the dreams and fantasy ideas that children have, their imaginations are endless. Mysty is all about believing in yourself and your dreams, never give up, you can do anything if you believe in yourself!
Having raised two children and now enjoying the company of your grandchildren, how have your experiences as a mother and grandmother influenced your storytelling and the way you write for children?
Even as a young child, reading has always been very important to me and I carried on that tradition with my own children and now my grandchildren. Since a very young age, my dream was to write a children’s picture book that all children would love to read or have read to them. Frankie was my first book and I worked on that
for a long time before I decided that children would love to read about his funny antics, Frankie was very amusing!
Creating a relatable and engaging pet character like Frankie can be challenging. How did you capture his personality and quirks in your writing, and what advice would you give to other authors wanting to write about their pets?
Ferrets are not your everyday pet, they are considered exotic and those 9 years we spent with Frankie created great memories. Ferrets are not only very unique, they are exceptionally smart and very loving. Things we never knew until Frankie joined our family is that ferrets have what they call the ferret dance which is so amazing to watch. It was easy to capture all of his special moments because Frankie was always getting into something and making us laugh. I kept a Frankie
log where I detailed all of his quirky little traits so that I could put those details in my book. For other authors who are inspired to write about their pets, jot down little details that might not seem significant at the time but when you go to write the details in your book, you will find that those details engage the readers.
What are some of the most rewarding moments you’ve experienced since publishing your first book, and how has the feedback from readers, particularly children, impacted your writing journey?
Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces has been one of the most rewarding experiences! I am also amazed at how very proud my grandchildren are and how they excitedly tell everyone that their grandmother is a children’s book author. I have received many great reviews, but the most rewarding one was written by a Grade 1 student whose teacher read Frankie the Ferret to their classroom. Mentioned in the review was how they felt that Frankie the Ferret was the 2nd best book in the whole world, and they loved it! Mysty the Mystical Unicorn provides children with the encouragement and confidence they need to follow their dreams! Reading is so important, I am very happy that my books are a positive part of encouraging continuous enjoyment!
