K.M.Walton, or rather “Kate”, describes herself on twitter as…”Author, reader, lover of Napoleon Dynamite, broccoli and kindness… KINDNESS ALWAYS WINS!” From today’s interview in which we discussed her books weaved around bullying, the kindness art is plain to see, in fact she gives school presentations on the topic "The Power of Human Kindness".
Always having a yearning to be a teacher, practicing that role with her three sisters when growing up, the dream turned into reality when she became a middle school language arts teacher and teaching coach, teaching for twelve years before becoming a full time author. Kate is passionate about education and ending peer bullying.
Though Kate is the co-author of “Teaching Numeracy: 9 Critical Habits to Ignite Mathematical Thinking”, a book for mathematics teachers K – 8, it is her two novel s “Cracked” and “Empty” that have put this Farrah Fawcett firmly on the literary map.
About “Cracked” : (taken from authors web site)
Victor hates his life. He's relentlessly bullied at school and his parents ridicule him for not being perfect. He's tired of being weak, so he takes a bottle of his mother's sleeping pills -- only to wake up in the hospital.
Bull is angry, and takes all of his rage out on Victor. He's the opposite of weak. And he's tired of his grandfather's drunken beatings, so he tries to defend himself with a loaded gun.
When Victor and Bull end up as roommates in the same psych ward, things go from bad to worse. Until they discover they just might have something in common: a reason to live.
Described as “unrelenting look at the corrosive effects of bullying, sometimes coming from where one would least expect it… crackling with emotional intensity from beginning to end."
Cracked was soon followed by Kate’s second novel “Empty”.
About “Empty”: (taken from authors web site)
Dell is relentlessly teased about her weight, and she’s devastated when a tender moment with her long-time crush turns violent. Distraught and isolated after the attack, Dell’s depression—and life—spins out of control.
Finding that food no longer eases her pain, Dell turns to her mother’s prescription pain pills. But what starts as a quick fix rapidly escalates. How far will Dell go to make the loneliness, the self-loathing, the heartbreak, the shame, and the name-calling stop?
One reviewer described “Empty” thus…
Harrowing, powerful and dark, Empty is, quite simply, an unforgettable read. It's a story of a girl who founds herself in a downward spiral of depression. A bleak and disturbing tale of desperation, bullying, rejection, self-loathing, betrayal, abuse and negligence. An irrefutably authentic, utterly engrossing and supremely readable novel that will leave you tear-streaked and emotionally drained. You absolutely can't afford to miss it.
A third book is already in the editing stage, and I hope to have Kate back on the future show to discuss what I am sure will continue to be her success as an author.
As I stated at the beginning of this blog, one of Kate’s sayings is “Kindness Always Wins” and from her school presentations and within her books that is something that is something she is sharing with all.
So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today's first show about bullying on Bullying - A Book and a Chat with K.M.Walton
Barry
Direct link to the show
Bullying - A Book and a Chat with K.M.Walton
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"K.M.Walton"
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Barry Eva (Storyheart)
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