Conversations with Kristen Heath

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Heath.

Hi Kristen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In my mid-twenties, I became an aunt to a tiny, blonde miniature version of myself. Her name is Cheyann, and she is sassy, spastic, and hilariously imaginative. As she grew, she would tell me about these “dreams” she had, which were fictional stories she thought of on the fly, but each one was more creative and sillier than the last. I wanted her always to have a way of remembering her wild imagination, so I began making them into short stories and books for her. Soon after Cheyann entered elementary school, she opened up to me about a few girls at school who were bullying and making fun of her. I can vividly remember the same feeling of embarrassment I dealt with many years ago when encountering these same issues as a child. I went home that day and began writing what would become my first published children’s book; We’re All Weird! A Children’s Book on Inclusivity. Although the words I started writing were meant for my niece, I could feel my inner child relating to them just as much.

All those years I spent worried about being accepted and looking to others for approval. It helped to quiet all the judgments and voices that told me my whole life, “You’re too loud. You’re too sensitive. You’re too much.” That is when I realized there must be so many more kids out there who feel this same way. This book is meant to be a tool to help children understand that despite their outward appearance, everyone you encounter has quirks and flaws they are not willing to admit. Even as adults, we still struggle with grasping this. In the age of social media, it is easy to get caught up worrying if you are as attractive or successful as the people you follow. It is easy for our brains to be blinded by it, but we all know that those perfectly filtered images online are not realistic. The relationships aren’t all smooth sailing, and the outfits and hairstyles aren’t always flawless. Even the prettiest people have struggles and disabilities that aren’t always outwardly visible. I believe that the younger we can educate children on this, the easier it will be for them to ignore those outside influences and become more comfortable embracing their flaws and quirks. In the same sense, they will also become more accepting of other people and their differences.

*fun fact: I asked my illustrator (and local artist) Nick Burke if he would make Cheyann a character in the book since she was instrumental in helping me transition into writing children’s books.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Releasing my first book was not all smooth sailing. As with any project, there are bound to be bumps in the road and many lessons to learn. Shortly after writing, We’re All Weird! I was contacted by a local businessman who owned a marketing company and offered to publish my book. I was elated that someone believed in me, but more importantly, my message of inclusion and kindness. Unfortunately, the publisher did not have good intentions and ended up defrauding me, the project supporters, the illustrator, and the book manager. Due to the major contract breach, I could legally regain all copyrights over my book again. In 2021, I launched my own publishing company, “Weird Kids Book, LLC,” to publish my own books and work with other creatives in the city and help bring their book ideas to life. I firmly believe in being genuine with your actions and intentions and that the truth will always come out. What could have been a career-ending situation for me ended up being a stepping stone towards something greater.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently, I work with many nonprofit organizations in Kansas City that aim to help improve literacy in youth and better our education system. During the height of the pandemic, many students fell behind without constant support and hands-on guidance from teachers and educators. Once students returned to the classrooms, I was approached by the nonprofit, Lead to read KC. They had developed an exciting plan to make a difference in schools and help students develop positive mental health strategies. Lead to reading wanted to partner with a few local children’s book authors to use our books as vessels to help children better understand the social and emotional stress they face. I developed a curriculum that opens the door for kids to discuss their vulnerable emotions, some of the challenges they face, such as bullying, and how to process these big feelings and overcome negative self-talk or peer criticism.

It’s not all serious talk, though! The book is filled with hilarious illustrations and catchy rhymes, making it very easy to capture the kid’s attention and deliver the powerful message of kindness and inclusion. We note how different we are in the room, from the shades of our skin and hair to our families, foods, hobbies, and interests that make us all unique. To end my time in each classroom, I like to let the students express themselves creatively by turning on some feel-good music and having a dance party. This helps them physically express their individuality and reinforces the message that being different from everyone around us is okay. I often encourage them by saying, “Look around the room at all these weird, different dance moves! We don’t all look the same, move, or act the same! So why would we try so hard to be like everyone else? Being yourself is so important because no one is like you!” Outside of my work with the nonprofits, I began my first book tour through school districts in the KC area this last March.

From March to May of 2022, I entered 16 local schools. Working mainly with kindergarten to 3rd-grade classrooms, I had the opportunity to share my message with upwards of 3,000 students. Accessing that many children have been the biggest blessing because I get to see firsthand the impact I am making in our community. It’s a very surreal experience for me to witness immediately how much my words have affected some of the students. I also partake in a lot of community events and activities. Most recently, I partnered with the KC Streetcar to host the first ever “Ride & Read” event in which families, school groups, summer programs, and anyone with young readers can adventure aboard the streetcar for story time on the tracks. Once schools let out for the summer, I began working with another nonprofit in the city—Temple Made Fitness, run by former Mizzou football player Tony Temple. We teamed up for his 6-week-long program to enter summer camps, community centers, and local churches to coach kids of all ages on every aspect of wellness. While Tony and his team tackled the importance of physical health and exercise, they also provided children with nutritious snack options as they were taught how each food plays a role in keeping their bodies healthy. I tackled the mindfulness aspect by guiding kids through meditation, positive affirmations, yoga, and discussions on how to manage their emotions while still feeling them fully.

We ended the summer with a remarkable event at the Kansas City Zoo in late July with a turnout of over 3,500 kids. I also recently developed a fun and new way for parents to host their child’s parties, with my most recent event launch, “One Weird Birthday Party!” While talking to a friend, she mentioned how she was tired of doing the same thing for her children’s birthdays yearly. Also, with the pandemic, many parents aren’t comfortable taking their kids to jump in a trampoline park or activity center. Instead, I developed customizable party packages, where I come to you, whether your house or a park pavilion. There we have a live author reading and dance party, and each child is sent home with a signed paperback copy of the book and a personalized hard copy for the birthday boy or girl! Depending upon the selected package, it also includes gift bags, t-shirts, stickers, and many other prizes and options upon request—Email weirdkidsbookauthor@gmail.com for pricing and availability.

How would we have described you growing up if we knew you were growing up?
I grew up in a small Colorado mountain town just outside Estes Park. I rode four-wheelers and played in the mud with my brothers. I was quirky and loud, and for the first 12 years of my life, I never questioned if that was “enough” because I had never known rejection or scrutiny. I never once thought about what I wore, how I styled my hair, or what other people thought of me. I moved to the Kansas City area in the middle of 7th grade, and it didn’t take long to notice how different I was from everyone who now surrounded me. The girls were dressed in Abercrombie from head to toe and were already obsessed with boys and Laguna Beach. And here I was, still a child rocking a bowl cut and some hand-me-down jeans from my older sister. All eyes were on me. And more noticeably, all mouths were talking about me, loudly enough for me and everyone else to hear. The judgment and criticism I faced over the next couple of years began to cause me to shrink my personality. I lived as a watered-down version of myself and began to struggle with self-acceptance issues that carried over well into my adult life. As a form of therapy, I started journaling and writing poetry. I would fill notebooks full of my experiences, journeys while traveling, heartaches, triumphs, and every other emotion I encountered along the way. I believe that my love for writing gave me an outlet to process heavy emotions and helped shape who I am today. I’ve been lucky enough to not only make a career out of it, but I get to meet and encourage some amazing kids in the process.

Pricing:

• Promo Code: Voyage for 20% off
• Paperback book- $11.99
• Hard cover book- $23.99

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wereallweird.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/weirdkidsbook
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJHX4L50Nso