At eight years old, I sat down at my kitchen table with a box of Crayola 64-count crayons and off-white construction paper to create a picture book full of colorful images for my mother. Sitting her down, I walked her through an epic tale of a flower that gets blown away from a field and journeys on the wind. The adventure flew through cities and towns the flower had never seen before, finally settling home again with its family. That was the day my mother knew I was destined to be a storyteller. She always said I was a natural performer, never without a skip and a song. But on that day, she knew this would be my destiny. Now, over two decades later, I’m so excited to finally share my stories with the world.
My name is Katelyn Marie Brawn, and I’m a born-and-raised Baltimorean since 1988. I come from a loving family of two rock steady parents and a younger brother who is the coolest young man you’ll ever meet. My favorite creature on the entire planet is my five-year-old mutt Rosie. I honestly think I like her more than most people (if you knew her, you’d be forced to agree with me). Besides Rosie, there’s nothing in this world I love more than a hot cup of tea, a blanket to crochet, and an old rerun of MURDER SHE WROTE. Yes, it’s true, I was born a ninety-year-old woman. Just to spice things up, I sport a tattoo addiction to go along with my pleated skirts and double string of pearls. Because I’ve always been the girl who couldn’t settle on a hobby, I’m involved in many things.
I teach artistic roller skating, craft beaded jewelry, and can bake a mean cupcake. I love mentoring my group of skaters. It’s the greatest gift I’ve ever given myself. These girls are the true inspiration behind the books that I intend to write for the Hap-PIE-ly Ever After series. I love fairy tales! However, I’m certain there’s more substance to the story beyond the traditional tale. Using a modern context and setting, I want to show girls that happily ever after isn’t out of reach, even in the darkest of situations. I want them to see that they aren’t alone in the issues they face every day, both big and small.
My mama says I was destined to be a storyteller. I hope to do her proud.
