About me...
My family called me Kimmy when I was little. Now my brother is the only one who calls me that, but I like it. I was born in California, a “navy brat,” but have lived most of my life in Virginia. The crowded photo below is me, (in front), with my parents, grandmothers, brother (grinning, 2nd from the left) and foster brothers and sister who lived with us back then.
Kim-me
The Crocodaddy was a game of pretend my sons used to play in our backyard pool. I loved to play with MY dad in the pool, too... or the lake. I’ve spent many summers swimming in Maine lakes; so have my sons. I found this old photo of myself dipping a toe into a wading pool and couldn’t help thinking, “I wonder if there’s a Crocodaddy in there!?”
Mom-me
Aside from being a writer, I’m also a mom, an artist, a gardener, a singer and an actress. My two sons are both in the 6-foot range now, but I like this photo taken one lovely spring day when my older son was a baby.
Musical-me
I love musical theater. For years, I’ve been active in my town’s community theater. I even learned to tap dance for one role. Now THAT was fun! My two favorite roles were: the singing narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, (it’s easier for me to memorize songs than lines), and the Mother Superior in Nunsense. Something about that nun costume really puts you in character.
I’ve also sung (for pay!) with a big band. I don’t do that anymore because the “gigs” (singing jobs) always meant staying up past my bedtime, when I’d rather be in bed, reading.
Although I didn’t plan it that way, all that theater experience now comes in handy when I do author visits.
Book-me
So now, I’m a children’s book writer. I still pay a few bills doing my “other” job as a graphic artist, but writing children’s books, and sharing them with the kids who read them... that’s my favorite pastime.
It’s funny; if you look at my report card from back when I was “Kim-me” (Kimmy), my teachers nearly always commented on my writing abilities. So I’m not sure how I ended up being an artist for so many years before writing my first book. I’m lucky that having children of my own re-awakened my love of children’s books. Otherwise, I might never have tried it!
I adore this portrait drawn by Kent, a student at Coventry Elementary School in Yorktown, Virginia. I like the way he turned my blouse into a cool Beetlejuice jacket.
You probably saw my “serious author” photo on the homepage of this Web site. Here’s my “silly author” photo. Which do you like better? I can’t decide.
Contact-me:
kimnorman@mac.com
