WAIT, before I introduce myself—I want to invite you to my upcoming Mommy & Me Micro-Moments: 5-Minute Devotional Activities For Moms & Kids launch party on May 12, 20204 from 12-3pm at Face In A Book bookstore in El Dorado Hills, CA. All are invited! There are giveaways like matching sleep shirts, sleep masks, and FREE crayon packs, snacks and mimosas while they last! Oh yeah–the Grand Prize is TWO TICKETS TO SESAME STREET LIVE! (must be present to win). I’ll be saying hi and drawing names on Facebook Live starting ~2:45pm for those that aren’t nearby.

Enjoy a free downloadable coloring page in the meantime…

And now, back to my regularly-scheduled intro page…

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Yep, that’s me.

Well hello there. I write (award-winning!) books for children: 23 to date. There are 16 in print right now, a new mom/child devotional journal coming out in time for Mother’s Day 2024, and two new fiction picture books in 2025. [I also have seven titles that I’ve ghostwritten, but can’t really speak to that. Shhh. Stop asking.] It’s so nice to virtually meet you!

If I look familiar, it’s probably not because I was the one yelling at you to move it, mister, I’ve got a soccer game to get to. It’s probably not because you read one of my (award-winning!) books, although some day I hope to change that (**it’s not b/c my books stink–they are for the school and library market, so honestly you haven’t come across them in stores as they aren’t supposed to be there).

Media

But you may have seen me on CNN (twice) or on one of my regular local morning TV segments in Sacramento, Portland, Phoenix, or Albuquerque, heard me on national radio, read the syndicated newspaper column I co-wrote for five years, or seen one of the literally hundreds of articles I either was quoted in or wrote, like in Writing Children’s Books for Dummies, Working Mother magazine, California Kids!, PC Week, Investor’s Business Daily, blah blah… Maybe you’ve been at one of my author events or at one of the dozens of writer conferences where I spoke? Why, maybe you’ve driven by me on the freeway and didn’t even know it!

Books

What I’m most proud of now are my six picture books, seven NF chapter books & three YA titles I’ve authored with publishers like Lerner and Rosen, and the many many books I’ve professionally edited for others. I have three new books of my own coming soon that I’m super excited about.

Anyway, when I’m not eating dark chocolate, pretending to clean the kitchen, or yelling at my kids to put away their laundry, I’m dedicated to the children’s book industry. My husband and three kids have been very supportive, and I’m looking forward to more published books, more conference presentations, and more school visits.

Are you a fellow or budding children’s book writer?

Check out my blog (or click above) for writing tips specific to the kidlit industry. We dance to the beat of a different drummer here. It’s not the same beat as the traditional lit world, or any industry, really, and I must say, it’s divine. You’ll love it here!

Bio: the short version

Meet Bitsy Kemper, the dynamo behind 23 children’s books and the upcoming Mommy & Me Micro-Moments: A Fun, 5-Minute a Day Devotional Journal for Moms and Kids (April 2024). She’s been spotted on CNN and CBS This Morning, and graced radio, newspapers and magazines across the nation. When not yelling at raising three kids (four if you count her husband) she’s knee deep into yoga. You can often find her helping out at church or hiding all the dark chocolate (but not both simultaneously). She rocks author visits and conferences from California to New York. Find out more at www.BitsyKemper.com!

Wait, you’re already here…

This is the (much) longer version, if you’re just plain curious–no offense if you skip it!

Bio: the looong version

The Early Years

You’d think being the youngest of five kids raised by a single dad after her mom passed away when Bitsy was just two years old would be a recipe for chaos – and you’d be right! But the Kemper clan on Lawn Guyland (commonly spelled “Long Island”) made the most of their situation. Yeah, money was tight, but they were rich in all the things that really mattered – family, laughter, and faith.

Joining every club and activity she possibly could, Bitsy was simply obSESSED with school. Kind teachers and lunch ladies took this eager beaver under their wings, sneaking her hand-me-downs and extra scoops of mashed potatoes, and she is ever-grateful.

Work

After acing degrees in Economics/Marketing and Communications/Theater at NC State, the ever-studious Bitsy triple-jumped into an MBA out west. Her first job was in riveting tech marketing, where she brought her trademark spark attempting to teach engineers basic presentation skills, running a multi-million dollar educational program, even starring in glitzy media gigs (a syndicated column and TV/radio spots galore)! Shy she is not.

Once she ditched the corporate pantsuits, Bitsy’s true colors radiated through local California papers and TV. While not a hard-hitting journalist, she was a talented storyteller. This quadruple-threat has since been unstoppable – emceeing, acting, starring in an award-winning cable access masterpiece “Dot’s Correct!”, and profiled from CNN to Writing Children’s Books for Dummies to mommy podcasts.

Books (images below)

Her first book idea sprouted from rhymes dreamed up on stroller walks. She’s now published about two-dozen books for kids, with her new devotional “Mommy And Me Micro-Moments” hitting shelves in 2024 — and more titles on the way!

Her current books include two YA nonfiction (ReferencePoint Press, 2017 and 2018), three finance chapter books (Lerner, 2016), four nonfiction titles (The Child’s World, 2015), an NF YA for the school and library market (Rosen, 2014), and two ESL picture books (TunTun Books, published overseas). 

Coming Soon

MOMMY And Me Micro-Moments: A FUN 5-Minute-a-day Devotional JournaL FOR BUSY MOMS & KIDS is out the Spring of 2024. The Fall of 2025 brings BEST FRIENDS WITH GRANDMA, and BEST FRIENDS WITH GRANDPA; two picture books with Bless This Press, an imprint of The Little Press. She thanks her Gammy for the inspiration.

Whoever would have guessed this is where she’d end up—and that she’d like it so much?

It never feels like work when you love what you do! 

Are you still reading? You are either devoted or bored. Maybe both? Thanks either way.

Keep in touch on Twitter @BitsyKemper (I follow back!)

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