About the Author
Kathy Simmers always wanted to live on a farm with horses. When she was twelve years old, she started taking riding lessons. At nineteen she bought her first horse. It seemed like she was well on her way, but life doesn’t always go in a straight line. Though Kathy faced many obstacles she never gave up on her dream. Today Kathy & her husband live on a farm in North Carolina with horses, llamas, a small herd of goats, cats, a dog, and some chickens.
Kathy’s journey is the inspiration for her stories. The girl with the long blonde hair is her daughter and the true story that Jump the Moon is based on unfolded before her eyes. Living it was initially exciting, at times heartbreaking and ultimately one of the most inspiring experiences she has ever known.
Did you always want to be an author?
I always liked to write, but I never thought I would write children’s books. The story of Jump the Moon just came out as a picture book. After that I started to see stories as picture books.
How long does it take you to write a book?
The whole process of writing, editing and illustration can take about a year and a half to two years. It seems like a book that is so short should be quick and easy, but it is very challenging to tell a compelling story with less than 1,000 words. Picture books are 28 pages. Each page is like a chapter in a book. In a short time the reader has to understand the character and go through a journey.
Why does it take so long?
Once I write the story it has to be edited to fit in the 28 page format of a picture book. I work with my editor to decide which parts of the story go on each page. Then we edit each page. How the story unfolds can change a lot from the original manuscript. Once we do that we usually have too many words. So then I have to figure out how to tell the story in less words. ‘After the manuscript is finished it takes the illustrator about six months to complete the artwork. I don’t always enjoy the process, but I love working with my editor and I love the result.
How did you find your illustrator?
Fortunately for me, my editor has helped create lots of picture books. She knew right away that Marjorie van Heerden would be the perfect illustrator. Marjorie is internationally recognized for her work. She has illustrated over 160 picture books. She lives in South Africa and we have never met. We have only communicated through email. I am in awe of how she brings my stories to life.
Did you always have horses?
I didn’t grow up with horses, but I’ve loved horses since before I got my first rocking horse. Nobody we knew had horses. The only horses I knew were the ones I saw on TV. The Girl Scouts had a program that offered riding lessons at a local stable. I became a Girl Scout so I could take riding lessons there. My riding instructor from there, Merilee Ventura, left to open her own barn and I followed her there. Soon after I graduated from high school I got my first full time job and bought my first horse from her. We’ve stayed friends. She taught my daughter and my granddaughter to ride. I met all the ponies in my books at her barn. I met my husband at her barn too!
Do you only write horse stories?
I love horses and I have lots of stories about them. My first three books will be about horses. The story of Jump the Moon is totally true. My next two books are about real ponies that I know, but the stories are made up. Posey’s Problem will be coming out in the fall of 2023. The Best Jar of Pickles will be released in the fall of 2024. I am currently starting to work on a book about my llama. I am not sure what I will write about after that, but I have lots of ideas.
About the Illustrator
Marjorie Van Heerdan was three months old the first time she “rode” a horse. Her best friend as a child was her horse, Billy Boy.
She grew up on a farm on the southernmost tip of Africa, where she drew what she saw around her: animals and people and dragons and monsters and fairies. Today they appear in her more than 120 children’s books. Her award-winning work has been translated into thirty-five languages and has been published in Africa, England, Europe, the United States, China, and Malaysia.
Award Winning
