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Living the Dream as a Children’s Book Author

Most people can remember the first career they seriously wanted to pursue when they were a teenager, but how many people can say they actually gave that career a shot, let alone decades later?

Karen Nourse had always wanted to be a children’s book author ever since she was young, but it wasn’t until she retired that she published her first book.

“Well, it’s an interesting story. Since I was a teenager, I wanted to write a children’s books,” Karen says.

On getting herself published later in life, she adds, “I’m a big believer in living your dreams.”

Thus far Karen has published two books, and has a third on the way. Her first book, published in 2015, is titled Why Do I Have to Be So Tall? The book is about a girl named Tina who feels insecure about being taller than her peers. One day she is invited to a play kickball with friends but becomes worried that she’ll be too tall to play.

Karen says that she was inspired to write the book because as a young girl she, too, was taller than all her friends and dealt with the awkwardness that can bring a child.

“Everything that is in the book I went through in real life,” says Karen.

Karen says the book is a good read for young boys and “especially girls” who may feel out of place or get teased because of their height.

Karen’s second book, published in 2018, is Why Is This Bird on My Head? The book is a humorous story of a dog who can’t seem to get a bird that’s landed on his head off him no matter what he tries. For this book, Karen says there wasn’t so much a deeper message—she just wanted to try to write something young readers would enjoy.

“I just like to make kids laugh,” says Karen.

Karen’s upcoming book is titled God Makes Beautiful Things and is about a dog and cat who go on an adventure together to see all the different beautiful creations God has made.

“I’m a very creative person and I always have been,” Karen says.

Karen’s two published books are available for purchase on Amazon.

Karen worked for many years at the Yale Law School where she was a professor’s assistant and then also an administrative assistant. It was during this time that Karen started writing for fun.

“It started as a hobby,” says Karen.

Karen says she’s written many other books over the years, but not all of them have been published. Some she wrote just for herself, for fun. Most of them are children’s books as well.

“I could do that all day,” says Karen.

She has also dabbled in writing books for slightly older kids. Karen says her normal target range is readers aged four to eight.

As she got more into writing, Karen says she’s been going to writers’ groups and workshops to hone her craft.

“I really love doing that,” Karen says.

On finally getting her first book published five years ago, Karen says, “It was like a dream come true. I felt like I was on top of the world, you have no idea.”

Karen’s favorite part of writing is “the creative part” and how one idea can beget another.

“Before you know it, you have a whole book written,” says Karen.

When writing, Karen says she gets one idea for a book and then just runs with it.

“If I have a beginning and an end, writing the middle part can be easy,” Karen says.

As for topics, Karen says the likes to write books that are relatable and funny for kids.

“I like to do self help books and to make them laugh,” she says.

For a future book, Karen says “I’d like to do a book on being shy.”

Karen says that is yet another area in which she can empathize with kids, as she was a shy kid growing up.

When not writing, Karen still works to flex her creative muscles in her hobbies. She enjoys reading, making beaded jewelry a spending time in nature.

“I love to go for walks in the woods. I find it very peaceful and relaxing,” says Karen.

Karen is a member of the New Haven Bird Club, but notes that the club has been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Karen grew up in Milford and has lived in Clinton for the last 12 years.

“I like small towns and how everyone is close and nice. I think people in Clinton are very nice and very hospitable,” says Karen.

Karen says that she doesn’t usually get direct feedback from readers on her books, but does have a memorable moment that came at a signing for one of her books. A woman told Karen one of her books was her grandson’s favorite and he insists on his parent’s reading it to him every night.

“I thought ‘Wow, this must be a good book then,’” Karen says, laughing.