Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Bostrom.
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?
My children have always been my greatest inspiration.
My husband, Greg, and I read to and with our children from infancy. When our youngest turned three years-old, I read to him and rocked him each afternoon before his nap. Since I knew he was our last, I felt the passing of time and how little of it we had left to hold one of our children in our laps and read, and rock them to sleep. I thought of that often with David, and probably stretched out the time a little more with him.
One afternoon as he began to fall asleep, I thought, “This is one of the most precious times I have with him. I treasure this time. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to write a book for children that would provide this same opportunity and experience for other families?” That inspiration lead me to begin writing books.
In those days, I didn’t have much free time. My husband and I co-pastored a small but growing congregation. I had health limitations. There was never enough time in a day to get everything done. But I carved out the time for writing, and learned the publishing process. I used the small bit of time when our kids were in school or napping. I read about publishing books for children, took a few classes, learned the dynamics and structure of picture books, and wrote, wrote, wrote. When the kids were home from school, I put away my writing and focused on them, and other responsibilities that come with raising families, working, living daily life.
I wrote picture books, joined a critique group and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, met other writers of children’s books. After I finished my first book, inspired by my youngest, I started sending the manuscript to editors.
The rejections piled up. For four years, every manuscript I wrote and submitted was rejected. During bath time one night, I heard Chris, our eldest, ask David, the youngest, “What do you want to be when you grow up? An astronaut? A baseball player?”
“No,” answered David. “I’m going to become a publisher and publish Mommy’s books.”
When we took the kids to see Santa after I’d been receiving rejection letters for three years, Santa asked Chris, “What do you want for Christmas?” Chris replied, “Please! Won’t you just publish my Mommy’s books?”
Amy. our middle child, began writing and illustrating children’s books of her own. I still have them.
But after all those years of rejection and frustration, as I was reading with our daughter who was about 10 at the time, she looked at my books perched on her bookshelf and told me, “Mommy, I love your books. But what I’ve learned is that if you believe in something, you don’t give up.” That is a good lesson for all of us, and her words made my heart swell with joy.
One morning in church, when it was my Sunday to preach, I was chowing down a donut hole and rushing into the sanctuary for worship, A mother and little girl stopped me in the fellowship hall. “Carolyn has a question for you,” the mom said.
“Sure! I said, hoping I had a quick answer. “What’s your question?
Carolyn looked at her mom, who said, “She wants to know if God is a boy or a girl.”
Gulp!
I didn’t want to shortchange the child’s question, so I told her, “That’s a great question! Let me think about that and get back to you.”
I began investigating and gathering all the biblical references I could find about God. And I began to write:
“I can’t see you, God, so please give me a clue. Do you look like me? And do I look like you?” The questions continued, then God began to answer from the Bible:
“You won’t find a picture of me in a book, there isn’t one person who knows how I look.
But don’t be upset that you can’t see my face. Just look all around at this beautiful place!”
And then I wrote about the ways we see God in the world, and in the kindest and grace of others.
I sent out the manuscript. And one day, after four long years and 250+ rejections, I received a phone call.
“Hello! This is C. M. from Tyndale House publishers. We’d like to publisher your book.”
And every rejection, every manuscript I’d written and rewritten a hundred times, all those years of waiting, were worth it.
My fifty-ninth book will be published in May of 2026.
Never give up on your dream.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve had many rejections from publishers, often when I’ve passed through several levels of the publishing process. Still, after thirty years, rejections are painful and disappointing.
In these days of self-publishing, and fewer children’s book stores or any kind of brick and mortar bookstore, it’s hard to get a book noticed. In the early years when I was writing and publishing, the local children’s books stores made a point of promoting my books, having special shelves near the front of the stores to showcase my work as a local author.
I work very hard to get my rhyming books to have the proper rhythm and flow. Yet I find that many books published today are poorly written, and yet they get published.
There have been so many changes in the publishing world since I began. Social media and an online presence seem to be a requirement for authors. Even though they take up the time I’d rather spend on my writing, I’m trying to do my best. People can subscribe to my newsletter through my website (www.kathleenlongbostrom.com).
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am best known for my series of picture books for children that deal with theological issues for very small children. What is God Like,?, What About Heaven?; Are Angels Real? an give others. As a Presbyterian pastor for thirty years prior to becoming a full-time writer, I’ve also done many speaking engagements, including retreats, workshops, and teaching about writing children’s books. My specialty is rhyme; I’ve taught classes and online seminars on how to write rhyming books for children.
I’m proud of myself for never giving up, although even now, this career can be discouraging. I have decided through the years to be an encourager of other authors by sharing their books with my friends and online audience, encouraging the writers when they reach out to me, and being a positive voice. At this point in my life, I still feel the call to write, whether anybody ends up reading my words or not. It’s part of who I am as a writer.
I’m deeply grateful to have had so many books published (my 59th comes out in 2026).. Nowadays, I get letters from people who tell me, “I grew up on your books, and now that I have children, I am sharing your books with them.” That fills my heart!
And now I am sharing my books with the next generation of my children’s children. Truly, there is nothing better in the world for a writer of children’s books.
How do you think about happiness?
I love hearing from people to whom my books have been meaningful in their lives. I often hear from adults who tell me that they found hope and help themselves in my children’s books. I am happy knowing that “real” books still have a place in the world, for although having books online is great, it’s not the same as holding a book in one’s hands, and reading a book to a child while the child holds the book and looks at the pictures and learns to turn the pages. I’ve had the joy of holding my four-month-old grandson in my lap and reading one of my books to him, and seeing him, even at so young an age, captivated by the flow of words and the colorful illustrations. Even as a wordsmith, I can’t put the joy and wonder I feel into words that adequately capture how that feels.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kathleenlongbostrom.com
- Instagram: kathleen bostrom
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenBostromAuthor
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-bostrom-35680932/
- Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kathleenbostrom
- Other: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/270390.Kathleen_Long_Bostrom
Image Credits
Headshot courtesy of Roxyanne Young Photography
