Kathleen J. Shields's Blog, page 2

The First Unicorn wins its First (of many) Book Awards!

“Your book deserves extraordinary praise!”

I am super happy to announce that my latest book, “The First Unicorn” has won its first book award! While I am not surprised, as I feel this story has so much inspiration and guidance to give, I am humbled to know that it was chosen to receive an award.

Throughout the next year I am hopeful I will get to make even more announcements like this. I anticipate this book receiving even more Five Star Reviews. I am prayerful that word starts to spread about the value of this story in a world that so desperately needs to feel the love of God.

Have you read the book? Don’t know if you want to? Well read what the Literary Titan had to say about the book:

What the Literary Titan Reviewer had to say:

Literary Titan Gold Book Award

Aden, a young horse, possesses an inherent tendency for generosity, dedicating his days to acts of kindness and service to others. In a herd more preoccupied with self-interest, Aden stands out as an exception, extending aid, gathering flowers, and uplifting his mother’s spirits. The narrative unfolds intriguingly as a mysterious messenger bestows upon Aden a gift that illuminates his role as a selfless and caring individual. Yet, the crucial question arises: how will Aden’s newfound gift be received by his peers? As the storyline progresses, Aden must muster his internal fortitude to uphold his convictions, navigating the challenges that lie ahead.

Kathleen J. Shields’ The First Unicorn is an exploration of individuality and self-discovery. Aden, a protagonist distinguishable by his dissimilarity, grapples with the ostracism that readers of all ages can instantly relate to. In this journey, however, Aden emerges as an emblem of tenacity, exemplifying the mantra of ‘being the change’ and illuminating his surroundings with benevolence, regardless of societal perceptions. The narrative’s poignancy is further accentuated by the splendid visual elements crafted by the adept hand of illustrator Aashay Utkarsh. The vibrant hues employed in the illustrations blend harmoniously with the narrative’s optimistic undertones, amplifying the portrayal of authenticity and self-acceptance.

The First Unicorn champions the concept of self-discovery amid misunderstanding—a parable of courage and persistence. The story is interwoven with valor, optimism, and authenticity themes. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of faith, the miraculous, and the embrace of one’s unique identity, culminating in an inspirational account that resonates across generations. ~ Karen Almeida, Assistant Editor Literary Titan

The First Unicorn

Literary Titan Gold Book Award Sept 2023

Have you ordered your copy yet?

Almost everyone knows what a unicorn is, but do you know where they came from? Who was the first unicorn? How did he get his golden horn? And why did others follow in his footsteps?

Aden is a young horse, who believes that giving of his time and gifts is the best way to share hope in the world. One evening, he is visited by an angel who bestows a gift of gold upon his forehead, “You cannot see or spend it. It’s for others to behold.” Yet, when he returns home that evening, the herd sees the horn as a weapon and chases him away.
Sad but not discouraged, Aden continues to help and care for others. However, when his mother gets injured, he discovers his horn can perform miracles. It was that first miracle that softened the hearts of the others and inspired them to lead a God-filled life as well.

This story is about love, acceptance, kindness and giving. It is the story of the First Unicorn and how God’s creation would succeed at greatness.

“Anything is possible if love is what you choose. Miracles can happen if you share the good news.”

The First Unicorn By Kathleen J. ShieldsIf you HAVE read the book – Have you left a Review?

Reviews mean the WORLD to authors! It is like receiving a Christmas gift! It tells the author you liked the work, it thanks the author for spending the time to write the story and it helps an author with all of the marketing endeavors they must due (instead of writing more great stories). Your review, recommendation or share, to an author, means more than you could possibly imagine. Please consider leaving a review. Click on one (or all of the links below) and just leave a message about what you thought of the book.

https://www.amazon.com/First-Unicorn-Kathleen-J-Shields/dp/1956581243

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181330855-the-first-unicorn

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-first-unicorn-kathleen-j-shields/1143757132?ean=9781956581232

The post The First Unicorn wins its First (of many) Book Awards! appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

The Decorative Box – Funny Story

Once upon a time there was an ultra-fancy, intricately designed, decorative box. It shined on the store shelf and screamed at me those taunting words “come buy me!” So gladly, I did. I happily brought it home and was so proud of it. But then I looked around at my house and paused.

Where will I put this beautifully designed box? On a side table? On a shelf? In my closet?

This box was beautiful! It had a faux alligator leather exterior, or a handcrafted wood design, or a fun castle turrets shape, or it was octagonal, or heart-shaped. It had shiny brass locks or workings, beautifully beaded decorations, mother of pearl inlaid, and soft red or black velvet interior. The box was big, it was small, it was whatever that beautifully crafted decorative box is that YOU currently have in your home. I had many. My father had many. My mother had many. My grandmother had many…. Everybody has at least one if not a dozen of these gorgeous boxes of various shapes and sizes, of an array of makes and materials, of a plethora of meanings, or symbolic memories: that decorative box – you know the one.

What do those boxes mean to you?

The story goes on, that after you found that perfect place for that wonderful box, you gazed at it with smiles for the first few days, looked at it with grins for the next couple of weeks, and scowled at it after that because of the dust (and fur in my home) that was collecting on it. And boxes like this, can’t just have a Swiffer slide over them and clean them to the extent that they shine like that first day you bought them. No. They have to be washed, they have to be polished, they have to be scrubbed, each one of those little crevices need to be cleaned out… maybe with a tool as intricate as a toothbrush. Oh sure, you’ll gladly do it once, or twice, but after a while you start questioning why this box even exists.

PLUS – What do you put in those boxes?

Let me ask you, what did you put in your box? Anything?? Those small boxes are pretty much only good for that rogue button you found on the floor that you wanted to keep, but can’t remember which box you put it in when you finally discover where it came from. Maybe you could put nail clippers or a small nail file or tweezers in it next to the nightstand. Maybe some loose change you found in the couch cushions. One of your favorite pieces of jewelry or two, but then, that means it’s probably in your closet or your nightstand or somewhere where guests won’t have access to it. Not that you don’t trust your guests, but you don’t want to taunt them with a chance at a fine piece of jewelry that was hidden away in a box you are likely to forget about.

Or if it’s a big box, what did you put in that box? Books? Balls? Old magazines you haven’t read. A box of tissues? I honestly don’t know, let me know what you put in those big boxes, because in my mind, those beautifully crafted boxes, with a red velvet interior that you proudly display on your table, or shelf, are usually more important to you than the contents you put inside. I mean, seriously, you’d rather look at the box than the contents, right? So, are the contents worth keeping? Are you hoarding – but doing it artistically?

Are the contents worth more or less than the box?

So, if you have these beautiful boxes, that don’t have anything of relevance in them, taking up space on a table, collecting dust, and causing strife, why are you keeping them? Why did you buy them in the first place? Would it make you happy to get rid of them?

– Pickup said object

– Hold in your hands

– Ask yourself does this make you happy

– If it doesn’t anymore, get rid of it. (At least that’s what one book said.)

Now, if you are the artist who makes beautifully crafted boxes, kudos to you! People love them! I love them! They are eye-catching and wonderful. But I’m not really sure what to do with them.

My father collected a bunch of little ones intricately designed with these beautiful stones. My mother collected big wood ones, handcrafted to look like snakes or dragons, three-dimensional. Those were the biggest pains in the butts to clean, with a toothbrush. I had two big castle turrets, with an exterior that was made from a dark faux alligator leather. They had red velvet interior, and brass hinges and locks. I put them on the top of the guest bed cabinets to make it look like castle royalty. But I never put anything in them. And washing them was always questionable, because I was not sure if the water during the scrubbing process was going to loosen the glue that was holding the faux alligator leather onto the fairly thin nearly cardboard box.

Am I a Villain for saying this?

I guess the moral of the story is; simplify your life by de-cluttering your table or shelf of those dust collectors that don’t hold important contents. But then again, that makes me the villain! I’m the one who’s saying; take that beautiful piece of artwork and kick it out of its home. Or see that beautiful, intricately designed box, and don’t buy it. Boy, that makes me feel horrible! But then again, I currently came up with this story while I was cleaning my house… And every single time I have to take the cleaner and paper towels to one of those boxes, or pick up and move a dozen small trinket boxes, or take a handful of items to the sink to wash, lay out to dry and put away later, I think to myself, do I really need this? I don’t know… Do I?

What do you think?

Well… maybe.

What can I say…

As an author, I am a very big fan of those boxes that look like old books… but I still don’t know what to put inside of them. Whatever it is, that is important enough for me to keep and yet hide, is something I am either going to miss when I forget where I put it, or something I am not enjoying by looking at it every day.

The whole story leaves me with conflicted feelings…

How about you?

The post The Decorative Box – Funny Story appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

The 5300 Year History of Unicorns and Bible Scripture since 1395

Unicorns in the Bible.

Years ago, when a good friend of mine informed me that unicorns were mentioned in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible (9 times) I was intrigued. I used some of the scripture in my Unibear book in hopes of getting the conversation about Jesus started with children.

Later, when a Christian school explained that it was a translation error and has thus been rectified in future printings of the bible, it left me with questions of: if this was a translation error, what other errors are in the bible? This is not a good question to ask – the bible is about faith and that question tested my faith.

So, when God tickled my curiosity with the thought of, “check earlier versions of the bible,” I did and was pleasantly surprised with what I found. I discovered that the word unicorn was used in the 1395 Wycliff translation and then the 1525 Tyndale version translated by William Tyndale who is considered to be the most influential Bible translator in history as well as the “architect of the English Language.” Nice!

In fact, unicorns were mentioned in the Coverdale’s Bible 1535, Taverner’s Bible, the Great Bible, the Bishops Bible 1568, the Geneva Bible 1599, the Greek Septuagint version (vnicorn with a V), theItalian Diodati 1649, Las Sagradas Escrituras of 1569, as well as the Spanish Reina Valera of 1602, all of which preceded the King James Bible.

Plus, all of those Bibles before King James, had the word unicorn 10 times – King James removed a line of scripture containing the word unicorn! Plus, not to get off topic, but in previous translations, Unicorn was found in Job 39:12-13 when King James’ was Job 39:9-10 meaning there is some missing scripture… but I digress. 

What is a Unicorn?

This animal is characterized by something lifted up or high and in a prominent position. It is very strong – “God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.” Num. 23:22. It is also used in a symbolic way in our Lord’s prophetic prayer as recorded in Psalms 22:21 “Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.” There was no literal lion present when Christ died, but Satan, as a roaring lion, was present, for it was his hour and the power of darkness. There were no literal unicorns present either, but they symbolically or spiritually were present and assisted our Lord Jesus in His greatest hour of need.

The unicorn was untamable, as can be seen in Job 39:9 – 12, where God asks Job “Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?”

This passage shows that the unicorn, whatever it was, could not be tamed at all, nor used in farming to plow the fields like an ox can. This, as well as other verses, show that many modern versions, like the NKJV, NIV, and NASB, are incorrect in their rendering of this word as “wild ox”. The wild ox is nothing more than a “wild guess” and pure speculation on the part of the modern bible editors. A wild ox is like a wild horse. It CAN be tamed by placing a yoke on its neck. God’s question to Job was intended to produce a definite ‘NO’ not a ‘Yeah, I can do that’.

One other verse that puts the lie to the modern versions’ use of “wild ox”, is Psalms 92:10. But my HORN shalt thou exalt like the HORN of AN UNICORN…” The NASB, NIV, NKJV read: “You have exalted my HORN like THAT OF A WILD OX.” Now, I ask you a simple question. How many horns does a wild ox have? Not one, but two.

Unicorn means literally, “one – horned.” Daniel Webster’s Dictionary of 1828 defined unicorn as “an animal with one horn; the monoceros.”

Orthodox Christianity teaches that the Bible was inspired and authored by the Holy Spirit of God using human instruments. And many Christians believe that—in its original languages of Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic—it is without error and fault. Yet since I cannot read those languages, I have to take what is written in faith.

Unicorns in History

There are many historical accounts of the unicorn. In 416 BC, the Greek physician Ctesias set out to attend to the Persian King Darius II, where he spent 18 years. He later wrote a book called Indica, in which he said: “There are in India certain wild asses which are as large as horses, and larger. They have a horn on the forehead which is about eighteen inches in length.”

Pliny the Elder, in the first century AD, describes “an exceedingly wild beast called the Monoceros (one – horned) it makes a deep lowing noise, and one black horn, two cubits long projects from the middle of its forehead. This animal, they say, cannot be taken alive.”

Aristotle frequently mentioned the unicorn. He said in one passage: “I have found that wild asses as large as horses are to be found in India. It has a horn on the brow, about one cubit and a half in length.”

Julius Caesar said they could be found in the Hercynian Forest, and Alexander the Great is said to have seen one before attempting to invade a certain territory, and took it as a sign not to attack, because the land was protected.

Unicorn imagery dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization (about 3300 BC to 1300 BC) in South Asia which includes Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The Chinese wrote about unicorns as far back as 2700 BC. The Greeks, Babylonians and Persians spoke of the unicorn’s symbolism and purity. Plus, there are stone drawings, ancient artifacts, tapestries, stories and more all mentioning, describing or detailing the unicorn.

Just because we don’t see them today does not mean they did not ever exist and dismissing the idea by rewriting the translations do nothing but rewrite history.

So, the next time you read a book or article explaining that even with all of these historical accounts dating back more than 5300 years, they want to tell you that a unicorn is a myth, ask yourself why they insist on rewriting history. Why do YOU think they want to claim that something that has been talked about, written about, drawn, painted and sculpted for over 5000 years – is a myth? And why is the unicorn becoming so prominent now – yet depicted in such a negative, deplorable and despicable way? Unicorns are beauty and light. They are powerful and strong. They represent the presence and power of God. The unicorn is also suggested in Isaiah 34, that the unicorn was a symbol of God’s eternal judgment on humankind for all their sins.

Maybe the devil eradicated the unicorn? Maybe he is why they are now extinct. And maybe now, he is using the unicorn to sway our opinions, knowledge and understanding because the Unicorn is coming back (as Jesus is) and he doesn’t want us to recognize the truth. But that is just my opinion – and I am just a story-teller. One must use discerning judgement:

Discerning Judgment is the ability to perceive, understand, and judge things clearly, especially those that are not obvious or straightforward. It is the power to see what is not evident to the average mind. Discerning is a conscious effort to carefully and considerately explore the moral right and wrong of a situation, or an opinion, or an action, with the desire, in the end, to honor God and serve those involved.

*A lot of the information I found and reference is from Baptist Brethren blog.

Why am I bringing up all of this Historical Unicorn Information?

Easy – I wrote a book entitled “The First Unicorn” and it is my way of telling the story of how the first unicorn came to be. How God wanted him to represent, love, kindness and healing, and how important it is to not mistake the good unicorns from the bad ones.

Almost everyone knows what a unicorn is, but do you know where they came from? Who was the first unicorn? How did he get his golden horn? And why did others follow in his footsteps?

Aden is a young horse, who believes that giving of his time and gifts is the best way to share hope in the world. One evening, he is visited by an angel who bestows a gift of gold upon his forehead, “You cannot see or spend it. It’s for others to behold.”Yet, when he returns home that evening, the herd sees the horn as a weapon and chases him away.

Sad but not discouraged, Aden continues to help and care for others. However, when his mother gets injured, he discovers his horn can perform miracles. It was that first miracle that softened the hearts of the others and inspired them to lead a God-filled life as well.

This story is about love, acceptance, kindness and giving. It is the story of the First Unicorn and how God’s creation would succeed at greatness.

“Anything is possible if love is what you choose. Miracles can happen if you share the good news.”

<<< Listen to the audio book sample here.

The First Unicorn By Kathleen J. Shields

Available in Hardback, Paperback, Ebook, and Audiobook!

The post The 5300 Year History of Unicorns and Bible Scripture since 1395 appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

The First Unicorn – See the Illustrations

I am growing incredibly excited…
the illustrations for The First Unicorn are complete!

I must say, my illustrator, Aashay Utkarsh has truly outdone himself. Aden, the young colt has such an inviting personality. The action and emotional sequences are engaging and inviting. The comic book style ‘paneled’ layout allowing for more ‘showing’ of the story helps to direct focus on what is important. I cannot wait for you to see the finished product as I am certain you will love it!

This story is going to top anything I have ever done. I truly thought “The First Unibear” was my Mona Lisa but this book, this story has outdone even my wildest imagination! What is bigger and better than the Mona Lisa? The Sistine Chapel? Let’s go with that!

“The First Unibear may have been my Mona Lisa…
but The First Unicorn is going to be my Sistine Chapel!”

It truly is amazing what God can place into a creatives head. Stories that come to an author out of literally nowhere, get written and produced and bring up so much from our past…. You know, they say you should write what you know. That doesn’t mean you have to be an expert on the subject, just that you should have some connection to it. And when it comes to unicorns, my connection is enormous!

Check out some of these illustrations:

Aden as a young colt helping others and being adorable:

Aden as a unicorn helping others and being adorable:

Aden spreading God’s word across the land:

Be One of the First to own “The First Unicorn!”
Pre-Order the book today. Release Date 7/31/2023
AMAZON . – . BARNES & NOBLE

Almost everyone knows what a unicorn is, but do you know where they came from? Who was the first unicorn? How did he get his golden horn? And why did others follow in his footsteps?

Aden is a young, energetic and giving horse. One evening, he is visited by an angel who bestows a gift of gold upon his forehead. “You cannot see or spend it. It’s for others to behold.” Yet, when he returns home that evening, the herd sees the horn as a weapon and chases him away.

Sad but not discouraged, Aden continues to help and care for others. However, when his mother gets injured, he discovers his horn can perform miracles. It was that first miracle that softened the hearts of the others and inspired them to lead a God-filled life as well.

This story is about love, acceptance, kindness and giving. It is the story of the First Unicorn and how God’s latest creation would succeed at creating greatness.

“Anything is possible if love is what you choose. Miracles can happen if you share the good news.”

Pre-Order the book before 7/31/2023Pre-Order on Amazon Pre-Order Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/First-Unicorn-Kathleen-J-Shields-ebook/dp/B0C9FZ7TW2

Pre-Order on Barnes & Noble Pre-Order B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-first-unicorn-kathleen-j-shields/1143757132?ean=9781956581232

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Why did I write The First Unicorn

I love unicorns!

I’ve loved unicorns since I was a very young child. I collected porcelain unicorn statues, unicorn posters and absolutely fell in love with the movie “The Last Unicorn”. (I was too young to read the book by Peter Beagle or to understand all of the things in the movie I did not like.) Yet, I was drawn to anything about unicorns because they were beautiful, magical and good.

Unicorns represent innocence, love and strength… like Jesus.

I feel sorry for children today…. Let me explain.

*Please note, there may be some sensitive information for younger readers.

The unicorn is depicted in scripture and mythology as a symbol of both good and evil. While, as a child, I was not made aware of that ideology, apparently it has always been that way. Back then, books, TV and movies were bound by regulations to remain clean and wholesome, especially for children. Today it is not like that. Today, a child can stumble upon more satanic versions of the unicorn in a multitude of ways, and like Satan, it is hidden in plain sight.

Have you seen the cartoons and books about unicorns throwing hissy fits, being stubborn, over-eating sweets, or causing drama? The badly illustrated or animated unicorns are just the beginning. They are desensitizing young children to assume these miraculous creatures are full of flaws, bad behavior and attitude.

Slightly older children then get used to the images and depictions of unicorns pole dancing, farting rainbows and pushing an ‘agenda’ that is simply disgusting. I won’t go into details but if you don’t know what I am talking about, you may want to educate yourself.

After that, adults find themselves inundated with killer unicorns, stabbing others with their horn, humans decapitating them to collect their blood, and connecting them with black magic and sorcery. These depictions are from the devil and that is not good.

Unicorns and Rainbows

Unicorns and rainbows went hand in hand because rainbows were God’s promise and unicorns were the incarnation of purity and grace. Today their popularity is due to a dark agenda that is spreading across the land like a plague. Now, don’t get me wrong, not every unicorn story is bad. There are good and bad ones, just like people. Yet, just like people, parents need to know the difference, be able to see it, and shield their children from the bad ones.

I feel very strongly about this topic. So much so that I wrote my own unicorn children’s story, but this book will not be like the rest. While I grew up with “The Last Unicorn” seeking to learn if she were truly the last in the world, I decided it was time to present the story of “The First Unicorn”. The first unicorn was not born a unicorn. He was made into a unicorn by God, who sent an angel to bestow him a gift, that helped him perform miracles, because he was good and kind, of pure heart and mind and because the world needed it. This book links the Christian mythology that parallels a unicorn to Jesus’ life. A unicorn performs miracles, purifies water, heals others and brings the light.

The First Unicorn – Children’s Book

This beautifully illustrated rhyming story will be out fall of 2023 and it is a story you are definitely not going to want to miss! Let’s bring God back to the forefront and tell Satan to take a hike. We don’t want him influencing the innocence of our children any longer!

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Why Children are enamored with Unicorns

Inexplicably, children tend to be enamored with unicorns. Whether it’s the beauty, the enchantment, the purity or the fantasy; the allure of the unicorn starts young and grips a child’s imagination for decades to come.

Recalling my youth, I wonder what originally drew me to them? Unicorn movies and television shows were rare. Toys and collectibles were not at all as prevalent as they are today. It wasn’t until She-Ra’s horse transformed into Swiftwind, a flying unicorn, in 1982 and I read Morgan Mine by Stephen Cosgrove around that same time, that my infatuation for unicorns flourished.

It was late 1988 when the VHS of The Last Unicorn movie arrived at my local Blockbuster Video. I was eleven by then, and had already amassed a rather large porcelain statue collection. I had stickers, notebooks, and my favorite pink t-shirt showcasing a beautiful unicorn.  

I gravitated to The Last Unicorn movie like a moth to a flame. I watched it over and over again, even though there was plenty about it I did not like. Yet, as much as I loved unicorns, the movie didn’t cultivate that love, it only appeased it. Most importantly though, it left a lingering question that remained unanswered from my childhood; if she was the last unicorn… who was the first?

If she was the last unicorn… who was the first?

The First Unicorn’s story is NOT AT ALL like the last. It is about goodness, kindness, and love. It consists of honesty, purity and miracles. The horn is a gift from God. The rarity of the creature is an important message; symbolic, for a misguided world where magic is often confused for miracles and a horn represents an evil in disguise that needs to be muted.

Many of the unicorns portrayed in current culture are NOT the unicorns they once were. If your unicorn isn’t beautiful, flawless, and pure… if your unicorn lies, does practical jokes and farts rainbows, you are not dealing with a real unicorn, it is fake! It is a wolf in sheep’s clothing trying to distort the beauty of one of God’s creatures.  Just like the rainbow represents God’s promise after the great flood of Noah, a unicorn represents Jesus’ love and parallels his life in a way that hopefully, encourages children to seek Him and His guidance.  

Maybe that is why I, and so many other children, are mesmerized by unicorns.

*Unicorns have been represented in books, paintings, tapestries and carvings as far back as 3300 BC (that is over 5300 years!)
Their shapes and descriptions vary, but their lore remains.

So, with that being said, let me tell you about The First Unicorn.

Almost everyone knows what a unicorn is, but do you know where they came from? Who was the first unicorn? How did he get his golden horn? And why did others follow in his footsteps?

Aden is a young, energetic and giving horse. One evening, he is visited by an angel who bestows a gift of gold upon his forehead. “You cannot see or spend it. It’s for others to behold.” However, when he returns home that evening, the herd sees the horn as a weapon and chases him away. Sad but not deterred, Aden continues his life, offering a helping hand and caring for others. When his mother is injured, he discovers his horn can perform miracles. It was that first miracle that softened the hearts of the others and inspired them to follow in his hoof-prints and lead a God-filled life as well.

This story is about love, acceptance, kindness and giving. It is the story of the First Unicorn and how God’s latest creation would succeed at creating greatness.

“Anything is possible if love is what you choose. Miracles can happen if you share the good news.”

The First Unicorn Children’s Book – Coming SOON!!!

Follow me on Facebook. Follow me on Amazon. Follow me on my Website. Follow me on Instagram.

Either way, follow me so you don’t miss out on updates about this and future New Releases.

The post Why Children are enamored with Unicorns appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

The Painting Receives Outstanding Book Review

“In The Painting by Kathleen J. Shields, the author has taken one of the most controversial topics and written the most inspiring, heartfelt story I have had the privilege to read in a long time.“

My big surprise of the day was being notified of a fabulous 5 Star Review from the Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews and Awards Contest. I had posted this book, along with many others, quite a while ago, and waited to see if it was ever picked up for a review. Low and behold, an email comes in this afternoon, Congratulating me an receiving a 5 Star Review!

“The reader will find that they will pick up this book not once but many, many times.“

The Painting was released in late 2015 to a few good reviews and little fan fare. It only really struck home to a decisive few. Over the course of the years, a second Painting and a third book were completed. Hoping to connect to, and continue the push for this inspirational trilogy to land in the hands of more readers. The standalone stories focus on appreciating the beauty of the world, loving the people within the world, and doing good while you are there. The symbolism of the characters, hiding in plain sight, are those of The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.

“The Painting by Kathleen J. Shields will have the reader crying, being angry with the inconsiderateness of mankind, laughing at the joy, and wishing that mankind would be more understanding about the world around us…“

When the trilogy was complete, I thought I was done. I had three fair-sized paperback books (and ebooks) for sale. I was promoting them at every event I went to. It wasn’t until one slow workday, when a picture came to my mind, that the next step of this journey, began. I opened up Photoshop, collected some images and began manipulating them to create a design. When that design was complete, I realized it was now time for another book – a Hardback Book – combining all three stories into a collectors edition!

When the collectible hardback book (with dust-jacket) came out, I was blown over by the response. I did the dust jacket because it felt substantial, big-time. Plus, I had always dreamed of having my picture on an inside flap. Yet most of the sales I receive of the trilogy are through the hardback book. At one point it reached Amazon Best Seller Status.

#50 in Christian Fantasy Books!#53 in Children’s Christian Friendship Fiction#77 in Christian Fantasy Books#185 in Children’s Inspirational Books

This was such an amazing feat for little ‘ol me.

It may have been years in the making but I feel when the story needs to be read, it will make it into the right readers hands. Today. it got yet another big boost.

Read the Review it received below:

Five Star Book Review from the Readers’ Favorite

In The Painting by Kathleen J. Shields, the author has taken one of the most controversial topics and written the most inspiring, heartfelt story I have had the privilege to read in a long time. As simple as the story is, it will hold the reader’s attention from the beginning to the end. The reader will find that they will pick up this book not once but many, many times. The main characters are Gerald, his parents, Dereck, Tiffany, and Sadie. There are minor characters that only emphasize how someone who is different will stand out as society has dictated throughout the centuries how people act, respond to certain events, dress, eat, and behave. The author shares with the reader that we are all blank canvases and it is up to us what medium we use to paint ourselves.

The Painting by Kathleen J. Shields will have the reader crying, being angry with the inconsiderateness of mankind, laughing at the joy, and wishing that mankind would be more understanding about the world around us and that it is only on loan; we will have to answer questions. This book brings the creation of the earth and the coming of Jesus together and explains it in such a beautiful way. The end of the book is the most surprising of all. Any teacher of religious studies would love to have this book on their shelf as it is very enlightening. Thank you to the author for granting me the privilege of reading this book. I highly recommend it to others and will always keep it close just for inspiration when the rest of the world is going to pot.

Review by Bernadette Longu – Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews

And now, that outstanding book review is going to be sent to 500,000 libraries, book stores, and schools across America via a Press Release from Readers’ Favorite!

I keep thinking about the success of the book “The Shack” by William P. Young. It was a self-published book that the author put out for family and friends. It went largely unnoticed for a good amount of time, but then, you, the readers started talking about it. Word of mouth promotion helped his book hit #1 on the New York Times Best Seller status. All it took was readers telling others about the book. Now it is a movie. Now that story is huge – and my prayer is that you, my readers, will help my book do the same thing.

If you haven’t read the book yet, I encourage you to do that. If you have read the book, and liked it, have you thought about leaving a review? Amazon, GoodReads, Facebook, Twitter?Did it touch you in some way that helped you in this crazy journey of life? If so… Have you told your friends, family, co-workers about the story?

You could be instrumental in helping make a girls dreams come true. You could help get an inspirational book into the hands of someone who may need it. Who knows, you may even be inspired to look at our chaotic, scary world, just a little bit differently.

God Bless You, My Readers, My Fans. May you always see the world through the eyes of Love.Buy the Book Today

The post The Painting Receives Outstanding Book Review appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

Interview by Voyage Dallas Magazine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen J. Shields.Hi Kathleen, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.

I was an only child of a working single mom. I spent a lot of time by myself, home alone, with very little to do. We didn’t have cable TV, a computer, or a video game box. Plus, I wasn’t allowed to go outside and play when she was away. That left books and my imagination. I played with my toys. I read my books. And when I got tired of the books I had, I wrote my own stories. It never occurred to me that writing my own story ideas would turn me into a published author, but with time, talent, encouragement from teachers, friends, and family, I sought to make that dream a reality.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Having my first book of a trilogy published started me down a dusty gravel road that was riddled with potholes. The company that published me did so in a way that led to many roadblocks. Marketing of my book took on a life of its own. Little did I realize at the time, that I was not just giving birth to my book ‘baby’; I was also starting a small business with very little know-how under my belt. By the time my trilogy (which had been published in two books) had seen a couple of years’ worth of life, it died, and I was not at all thrilled with the industry.

Nearly a decade later, the writing bug bit again. This time I was considering a children’s book. I had a great story, had met a talented illustrator, and had the graphic design capabilities to format the interior myself. I knew then, that if I was going to traverse this road again, I would need to do it differently. Self-publishing was fairly new to the scene and yet had quite a stigma to it. The capabilities of other authors and the final products lacked a professionalism I was desiring, so I took a fork in the road. I taught myself how to become a publisher.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

The children’s book I published was an adaptation from a poem I wrote when I was 14 years old. It was twenty years later that the book came out. I hit the ground running as I had already gained the experience and knowledge to market the book from my previous endeavors, and I did very well with it. So well that I had fans wondering “when the next book was coming out.” I hadn’t planned a ‘next book,’ but the character, Hamilton Troll, wanted adventure. He wanted a series, and so, with the desire to entertain and educate, I wrote another four books. By the time the editing and illustrations were done on the second, I was already working on the 6th book. By the time the 12th storybook came out, I had already created a coloring and activity book, curriculum and was working on a children’s cookbook. The Hamilton Troll Adventures had won multiple awards and gained a fair amount of recognition.

Additionally, while I awaited illustrations, which took many, many months, I continued writing for my slightly older readers, tweens. I came out with 4- or 5-chapter books in that time frame. I also started meeting quite a few aspiring authors who began requesting my assistance in helping them publish their books. The publishing company I named for my own personal use was now publishing other great authors. It was truly a blessing.

Jump ahead 11 years from the start of my publishing company and 23 years from my first book being published; I now have 36 books, 3 short stories with one more on the way. Erin Go Bragh Publishing, my company (yes, that is Gaelic, which stands for Ireland Forever), has helped and published more than a dozen authors and over 85 books. I have helped to develop stories, ghostwritten, edited, critiqued, and marketed those authors. I even run the children’s division with another hybrid publisher out of Houston.

I think what really sets me apart from much of the rest is that I care. If I take on a new author, I not only believe in the promise of their story, I believe in them as a future author. I spend a huge amount of time with them, one-on-one, offering my talents, experience, and suggestions. I also don’t want to take advantage of them by over-charging them for my services, selling them on things they don’t need, or simply scamming them out of their hard-earned money. I was and have met many authors in this industry that have just been scammed every which way. They have spent way more than they ever should have, or worse, was sold a bill of goods. It breaks my heart when a fellow creative can’t push forward with their dreams because they have five thousand books consuming their garage, and they’ve spent their life savings and have nothing left for marketing. Or, that fellow creative spent $10k on a New York Times ad that ran only one day and they saw nothing from it. Or, I have even seen people get scammed out of $250-500 for a copyright that renews every single year – yes, that is definitely a scam!

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?

Not really… I am self-taught, meaning if I want to learn about something, I google it, find a book, watch a video, or read an article. I utilize Microsoft Word to write. Adobe Photoshop to create graphics. In-Design for book interior and text flow. I have found some success with freelancers on Fiverr for video creation, illustration, and even some marketing, but I utilize what I need to when I need it.

Final thoughts, my story spans two and a half decades published with a ton of knowledge earned through experience, and while I may not know all of the answers, I know enough that I feel the need to share when I can. I’ve seen etiquette faux-paus at book festivals that enticed me to write a self-help book to authors hoping to make better first impressions and future sales, “The Etiquette of Book Selling.” I’ve started a new children’s series of ‘Firsts’ that include Unibears and soon, Unicorns. I’ve written a blog spanning over a decade of ideas, thoughts, suggestions and of course marketing pitches, and I look forward to answering authors questions when I can. I am even happy to critique a children’s book imparting the knowledge that I have gained to advance the story in a way that would give it the best opportunity at success. And I pray that anyone considering writing a book, get an education before taking that leap as the road is not paved with good intentions. Thank you for your time. Thank you for reading. And thank you for being a creative person with the desire to share some inspiration in a world that truly needs it.

Read the entire interview here:

http://voyagedallas.com/interview/rising-stars-meet-kathleen-j-shields-of-canyon-lake/

The post Interview by Voyage Dallas Magazine appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

Read. Get Smart. Make Good Choices. Become a Strong Individual.

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The more you read,
The more you know.

The more you know,
The smarter you grow.

The smarter you grow,
The stronger your voice

When speaking your mind
Or making a choice.

–

I saw this poster in an elementary school library and I LOVED IT!
What a great message!

Read – Get Smart – Make Good Choices

Be a Strong Individual

 

Don’t be a follower. Don’t do everything you are told. Ask questions.
Be knowledgeable. Don’t take things at face value. Ask questions. Read.  Learn more.

Never stop learning is the message I receive.  I am ALWAYS learning. Whether it be website code, graphic elements, video tricks, book galley layout, publishing tips and tricks, search engine optimization techniques, marketing ideas, new programs, new features, new music… there is so much out there in the world to learn!

So when you speak your mind you know what you are talking about. You don’t have to be an expert but you don’t have to accept what you are told as gospel.  Make a choice to learn more each day.  Be the best YOU, you can be and be a productive, knowledgeable, useful addition to society.

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Thank You To My Friends

Someone posted a meme the other day that really resonated with me. It said:“You don’t realize how antisocial you are
until there’s a pandemic and nothing much changes in your life.”

With this stay-at-home order in various cities around me and across the country, everyone is seemingly going stir-crazy. They aren’t used to being stuck at home, having nothing to do… but for weeks – nothing much has changed in MY life.  I am still working from home like I’ve always done. My schedule hasn’t changed. I still drink my coffee, get to my computer no later than 8am, still put in about 9 hours per day, still eat lunch at my desk… ironically, everyone else’ free time benefits me because NOW they have time to focus on the work their websites needed. I am incredibly grateful for the work! I have money in the bank to cover bills for a couple of months.  Thank you Lord!

But I have to admit, this schedule doesn’t do ANYTHING for my non-existent social life. I am really missing the tradeshows and book events right now, not being able to go out and sell and promote my books is a real bummer. I have a new book out that I can’t sell and that is disappointing because it’s the kind of story that will benefit the down-hearten right now. The Painting 3 e-book   The Painting 3 Paperback

I also still don’t have time to work on jigsaw puzzles, play board games or get creative with crafts like I keep seeing on social media. I am actually quite grateful to everyone who posts the craziness they are doing to occupy their time because we ALL could use a nice laugh. With everyone being forced to stay home, social media has become more social. I think that is a very pleasant change.

At the end of the day, I “get off of work” and walk into the living room where my husband has the news on. I immediately get inundated with what is happening in the world and between dinner and other evening chores, I’m not getting many phone calls made, either. I’ve always been of the mindset that if I call someone and they are busy, then I am disturbing them and they are only pity talking to me. Sometimes I can hear it in their voice, how they’d rather be focusing on something else (or maybe that’s just my impression). I don’t like to call others without having a REAL reason – and then I tend to get right to the point and forego the regular banter. That’s why I’m called a workaholic.

But I DO cherish my friends! So I want to thank all those friends, who call, text, email or tag me on social media – Thank you for remembering me. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. You all are always on my heart, even if I am working too much, and seem antisocial by not calling. Just know, I will always gladly take your phone call. I will always listen, and I will always be there if you need me.

My friends mean the world to me and I want you all to know that.Take care all and God Bless!

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