Life & Work with Brittany Kelly of Olathe, KS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Kelly

Hi Brittany, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi there! I’m Brittany, and as a Kansas City mom with a corporate job, I’ve always had a passion for reading and writing in my free time (what little there is)! Not too long ago, our family was blessed with a quirky, funny, and a real-life story that felt like a gift—one that needed to be shared with others in a children’s book. My inspiration came from my daughter’s unique and sweet bond with a duck decoy she named “Freckles.” Since meeting him at three years old, she has carried Freckles everywhere. People have embraced their unusual friendship, and it has been heartwarming to witness the happiness it brings to others. Throughout their adventures, I started to realized that this story holds meaning.

I got to work! I dedicated a lot of time to writing and researching the publishing process and was fortunate to connect with a publisher who believed in the story I wanted to convey. I also found a talented illustrator who helped bring my vision to life on the pages. This journey has been a deep learning experience filled with late nights, complete dedication, trusting the process, and I can hardly believe my first published book is on the way!

I wanted to share this uplifting story about friendship, finding your true path, and choosing kindness. It’s a family book that captures our Freckles’ story and my daughter’s special journey, and I’m excited to share it with the world. I hope it brings joy to everyone who reads it.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Writing this book has been an incredible learning experience and it definitely has not been the smoothest road! I put several illustrators through a series of tests to find the perfect one to help bring my vision to life, and it turned out to be a beautifully rewarding challenge. I’ve also gone through numerous edits, resulting in many versions of the book, all aimed at depicting the story in the best possible way. There is a lot to think about and work through when publishing a children’s book. It’s not for the faint of heart, and it can be very intimidating putting your story out there! Although there have been obstacles along the way, I know the effort will be worthwhile when we launch and see the book being read by other families. It’s truly a dream come true, and all of the challenges have certainly made it worth it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For the last 12 years, I’ve been deeply involved in the bridal wholesale industry, and I genuinely love what I do in the corporate world during the daytime! While my primary job is a source of passion for me, I’ve always nurtured my creative side in my personal life. The blend of my entrepreneurial spirit and creativity has always called me into action! When this story came to me, I was inspired to follow a new dream, much like Freckles. With a lifelong passion for reading, writing, and storytelling, I recognized that this was the ideal opportunity to channel my skills and convey a meaningful message to others. I hope to be seen as someone who works hard, cherishes compelling stories, and supports my community. I take great pride in my relationships with entrepreneurial moms and small business owners who have turned their creative visions, side hustles, small businesses, and goals into reality, and I aspire to achieve the same with this new book.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I could not do this alone! I am so fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing group of professional people who have been essential in bringing this book to fruition! My publisher, editor, project manager, social media manager, and illustrator have all played key roles in helping the book achieve its full potential. I am deeply grateful to them for transforming this project into what it is today and propelling it forward. My husband, family, and friends have been incredibly supportive throughout this project as well. They have graciously let me share this book with them, offering their feedback and allowing me to review images and thoughts with them endlessly.

Most importantly, I have to thank my daughter, Maverick, whose love for Freckles sparked the inspiration for this story. Their unending friendship has impacted others, spreading joy and laughter in every circumstance. While most children typically bond with a stuffed animal or a blanket, ours chose to save a hunting duck decoy—an unexpected, humorous, and heartwarming story that we all needed. Without the two of them, none of this would be possible.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frecklesthemallard/