Writer. Mom. Laugh-er.

Yep, that’s me.

Well hello there. I write (award-winning!) books for children, with 16 in print so far. 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).

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!

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. 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!

If you’re looking for an official bio to use in conference materials, try this one written in third person. Otherwise, feel free to ditch and check out the rest of the site.

Bio: the short version

BITSY KEMPER is an award-winning author of 16 children’s books so far. You may have seen her on CNN, CBS This Morning, heard her on national radio, or read her musings in hundreds of newspapers and magazines across the country. Maybe you drove by her on the freeway and didn’t even know it… Mom of three kids (four if you count her husband), she is active in sports, theater and church (but not all three at the same time). She has held author visits and conference workshops from CA to NY and can’t wait to do more! Visit her at www.BitsyKemper.com

Wait, you’re already here…

winner!
Bitsy Kemper profiled in Around Here Magazine

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

Bio: the long version

The early years

Bitsy grew up on Lawn Guyland (commonly spelled “Long Island”), New York, the youngest of five kids born within five years. Her family didn’t have much growing up but they all learned the value of family, of fun, and of faith. She was one of those perhaps rare kids that LOVED school, and was involved in every extracurricular activity ever offered.

School

After double-majoring in Economics (w/ minor in Marketing) and Speech/Communication (w/ minor in Theatre), and getting a Master’s degree in business (MBA), her early career was in sunny CA in the computer industry as a PR and marketing manager. She created marketing plans, product intro plans, and excelled at pioneering new avenues of company growth. Bitsy enthusiastically taught Presentation Skills to conference-bound engineers (tough crowd!) and Media Trained executives (ditto!).

Work

Wrapped up in the corporate world, she then helped run a multi-million dollar educational program, and co-wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column that ran for almost five years in fifteen different newspapers throughout the nation. She had regular gigs on TV and radio in four different top 10 markets. Once she ditched her business suits, she penned her own newspaper column for years in California in the Sacramento Be, then she had a stint as a news reporter, where her articles often landed on the front page (oh the perks of small papers). She then ran a monthly column for California Kids! magazine, interviewing famous children’s book authors and illustrators. She soon realized she was a cruddy reporter, but a pretty good writer.

Getting creative

She thinks she’s always been a storyteller of sorts. And not in the “quick–lie to dad!” kind of way. Performing came naturally; appearing regularly on TV and on panels, winning public speaking awards, emceeing events, hosting live web chats, in a few movies and TV commercials as well as in the professional theater scene, and somewhere in the crowd you’ll see her in some music videos. Oh, and she starred in the award-winning TV show “Dots Correct!” on Sacramento cable and has been interviewed or profiled in literally hundreds of media outlets worldwide, from CNN to Writing Children’s Books for Dummies. All this is to say…creativity has always been a part of her life, and it led her to authorship.

Kidlit

After writing her first book, in rhyme, in her head, while on her daily stroller walks, she researched how to get it published and has been knee-deep ever since. Her first contract was a four-book, nonfiction deal with Picture Window Books in 2006. Within a few years she presented at the very conference she first attended, the revered International SCBWI Conference in L.A. Her most recent titles are two YA titles (ReferencePoint Press, 2017 and 2018), three finance chapter books (Lerner, 2016), plus 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, due… eventually).

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!