“Anything is possible, if love is what you choose. Miracles can happen if you share the good news.”

– Kathleen Shields

Note: The views expressed in this interview reflect the author’s personal beliefs and experiences. While faith-based themes are discussed, readers of all backgrounds are encouraged to take inspiration from the universal messages of kindness, perseverance, and hope.

Kathleen J. Shields believes in the power of storytelling to inspire and transform lives. As an author of nearly 40 books, she brings faith, creativity, and imagination to every page. Her award-winning works, including The First Unibear and The First Unicorn, reflect her dedication to uplifting and meaningful narratives.

Kathleen, thank you for joining us! To begin, could you share your story—your background, your professional journey, and how hope and faith have shaped your life?

Wow, that particular question has quite an emotional answer! While I usually mention how I started writing when I was ten years old as an only child of a single mother and that I spent my summers home alone while she worked, with only 6 channels to choose from on TV, I wrote stories to keep myself entertained. But in reality… to answer how ‘hope and faith’ have shaped my journey, I would have to include the fact that my mother was murdered. You see, I never attended church as a child. It was much later in life, as an adult, that I started going. I went for the fellowship, food, and to sing in the choir. While I paid attention to the sermons, they hardly meant anything to me. That was because I hadn’t formed a close, personal relationship with God yet. I had no idea that He had been watching over me and guiding my life until the evening the Wednesday Bible Study group laid hands on me and prayed.

As previously mentioned, my mother was murdered in July of 2008 and while they DID get the guy, there was a trial the following April and that took a lot out of me. Seeing the evidence, hearing the 911 call, looking at the pictures, being told by the judge if I cry or skew the jury’s opinion in any way I would be kicked out, I held it all in. When you bottle up your emotions you may feel like you can handle anything but it will eventually overflow. I had no idea my emotions were oozing out of me until I walked into church that Wednesday night for choir practice.

You may be thinking, why would I go to choir practice in the middle of a murder trial? Because I needed to see the friendly faces, to have something good to look forward to, because I wasn’t going to let this interrupt my life… Anyways, one of the ladies of the group saw me walk in. She saw something in me that I didn’t see and she asked if the group could pray for me. I wasn’t born again yet, but I bowed my head and listened. That night I felt something I had never felt before in my entire life. I felt a spiritual warmth embrace me. It surrounded me with a love so deep that it removed the negativity in my heart and changed me for the better. I was introduced to God that night and that is a feeling that I pray everyone gets to experience some day. That introduction formed a friendship with the Lord that I hope to never take for granted.

And while it was many years later that I started my children’s series, The Hamilton Troll Adventures, and another decade before The First Unicorn was published (and won this award), it was my connection to Christ that led me down this path and fills my words with hope, encouragement, inspiration and faith.

Your book, “The First Unicorn,” beautifully blends Christian symbolism with universal themes of kindness and compassion. What inspired you to write this story, and how did you weave faith into its fantasy elements?

To discuss The First Unicorn, I must first mention its prequel, The First Unibear. I wrote Unibear when I was ten years old, combining my love for Care Bears and Unicorns to create an origin story about how difficult it would be to “earn” a unicorn horn. The protagonist had to have a kind heart, do good deeds, and pay it forward. In the story, a unicorn tells the young bear about the first unicorn, who received his golden horn from an angel. At the time, I didn’t recognize the Christian connection, but as an adult, I learned about references to unicorns in the King James Bible. This revelation added a layer of depth I hadn’t considered before. I included those scriptures at the bottom of the pages in The First Unibear as a way to introduce children to the curiosity of Christ, without being overtly preachy. Unibear went on to win six book awards, and it was my father’s constant encouragement—“Do something with Unibear”—that led me to pen The First Unicorn. The First Unicorn builds on this foundation, mirroring the Nativity story with an angelic visitation and mirroring aspects of Jesus’ life. The little horse, Aden, leads an honorable life and is visited by an angel who gives him the iconic horn, instructing him to use it to help others. Though his herd sees the horn as a weapon and drives him away, Aden returns to perform a miracle with the horn, saving his mother’s life. This miracle opens the eyes of the other horses, who, inspired by Aden’s selflessness, also aspire to earn their horns. At its core, the story is a faith-filled journey about accepting Christ into one’s heart and sharing His miracles. In many ways, it reflects my own spiritual journey, told through the life of a unicorn. The message showcases that good and evil exist, and we must use discernment to recognize the difference.

Aden’s journey is a powerful allegory about perseverance, selflessness, and divine calling. How did you develop his character, and what do you hope readers take away from his transformative story?

One of the best things that came from my relationship with God, was the inspirational messages I receive from Him and put into my writings! In creating Aden’s character, I wanted to embody themes of perseverance, selflessness, and a divine calling in a way that felt both relatable and inspiring to others. Aden’s journey shows the struggles and triumphs we all face when we step out of our comfort zone to fulfill a greater purpose. I drew from my own experiences and faith journey, channeling my own challenges and growth into his character. I wanted readers to see that while the road to fulfilling a divine calling can be difficult, it is also one of profound transformation. Aden’s dedication to helping others, even in the face of rejection from his herd, symbolizes the trials we endure when pursuing what we know is right. He learns that his gifts, his horn, is meant to serve others, and when he uses those gifts with the glory of God, miracles can happen. Ultimately, I want readers to learn that faith and perseverance in the face of adversity can lead to powerful transformations, not just for ourselves, but for those around us. By using our gifts and talents to help others, we can bring light and healing into the world, just as Aden’s horn symbolizes a gift that is meant to be shared.

Kindness plays a central role in “The First Unicorn.” Can you share why this virtue is so important to you personally and how it shaped the narrative of the book?

In a world where people hide behind their smart phones, and video games, and yell inside their vehicles at strangers on the street, it is way too easy to forget that all of us are connected. We forget that our words have power, that our actions affect others and that our selfishness hurts those around us. It was important to me to enlighten children with the truth early on in their youth, in hopes of curtailing the negative influences of life before they start. Just like Hamilton Troll meets Rudy Rat was written to teach children how to make friends in hopes of addressing bullying before it starts, The First Unicorn was written to teach children about kindness, love, and helping others in hopes of instilling those values early on. Kindness is essential for building lasting friendships and relationships. In a world where we are divided and disconnected, it can bridge the gap between people of different backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. It’s been shown that acts of kindness can boost happiness, reduce stress, and even improve physical health, so why not start that small ripple effect in our world from the beginning?

The miraculous outcomes in Aden’s journey highlight the power of faith and compassion. How do you balance the Christian message of your book while keeping it accessible to readers of diverse beliefs?

This question about balancing the Christian message of The First Unicorn is actually the perfect preface to explain why there are two versions of this book. The original 1500-word rhyming story was crafted for early readers, aiming to share the core themes of faith, compassion, and perseverance in a way that’s easy for them to absorb. However, the expanded story was longer and, some readers noted, a bit preachy, especially from a non-Christian perspective. Several parents mentioned it was too lengthy for a bedtime story, so I decided to condense it into a 500-word version that retains the key messages while keeping it more accessible and less overwhelming. I also wanted to ensure that the story could be enjoyed by readers of all beliefs, which is why I took care in crafting the more concise version. There’s a part of me that is even considering a chapter book for older readers! I mean, I grew up with Peter Beagle’s The Last Unicorn, which sparked the question: If she were the last, who was the first? That curiosity led me to explore this allegorical story, which I hope can resonate with people no matter their faith or background.

The book’s illustrations play a significant role in bringing the story to life. What was the process like working on the visuals, and how did they enhance the themes of kindness and spiritual growth?

I loved my illustrator! Aashay Utkarsh did both the Unibear and Unicorn books and the way he brought the characters to life and expressed their emotions was top-notch. I met him originally through Erin Go Bragh Publishing, as he was working on another author’s picture book. I knew as soon as I saw his style, that he would be my illustrator for these books. He made the process easy. One of the key take-aways for this book though, came from Aden’s hair color. That was a conundrum that took some time to figure out. You see, growing up, unicorns had rainbow colored hair and I loved it! I mean, what child doesn’t love rainbows? The challenge, however, is that the rainbow has come to represent different things to various communities, which can overshadow its original biblical significance as God’s beautiful reminder. As much as I wanted to use the rainbow, I felt that doing so might shift the perception of the story in a way that wasn’t aligned with its intended message. So, Aashay suggested purple. It was neither pink for girl or blue for boy (both with negative connotations) and it wasn’t a basic horse hair color like beige, brown, white or black. I wanted Aden to stand out as being unique, one-of-a-kind, and yet, purple also had negative connotations and perceptions from my critique groups. It wasn’t until my husband pointed out the statistics on red-hair and the connection to the publishing company’s Irish roots that it started to come together. The icing on the cake was when I found that the meaning of the Irish name Aden means Little Fire – it was as if it were meant to be.

The line, “Being different was a challenge, yet the answers he would find, no matter what might happen, it was important to be kind,” is incredibly poignant. How does this sentiment reflect your own beliefs or experiences?

This is one of my favorite lines in the story because of how deep the message is. This comes just after he was chased away by his herd. He is alone in the woods, looking at his horn in the reflection of a pond with a tear in his eye. He is alone now, exiled by his own family and those whom he has cared for, and yet, he realizes in his heart that kindness is still the way. God put a path before him that he chose to follow. Not that he had much choice, that horn was permanent, he couldn’t just take it off to return to his life. He couldn’t just cover up his Christianity and pretend to be something he’s not. But instead of looking ahead with doubt and sadness, or feeling sorry for himself, he decided to continue to do what made him happy, what gave him that gift in the first place; by being kind to others. This leads me to another favorite stanza: “Anything is possible, if love is what you choose. Miracles can happen if you share the good news.” This is why I write. This is the message God has put on my heart, and this is the reason I continue to spread his word through kindness, love and inspirational writing.

Aden’s journey emphasizes the idea of staying true to one’s calling despite challenges or misunderstandings. Can you share a moment in your own life when you had to overcome doubts to follow your path?

Being an author in this world can instill doubts about your path and your calling without trying! I mean, first, so many people just don’t read. Youth especially prefer to play video games or surf on their smart phones over reading. Second, the traditional publishing route is so incredibly difficult to break into as they are increasingly weary of taking on no-name authors with a small following for fear of not making back their upfront costs. Third, the self-publishing industry, while providing opportunities authors never had before, also comes fraught full of its own problems. From the upfront cost, to printing irregularities, to fulfilment challenges, and then the fact that so many people are self-publishing, it is hard to stand out in the crowd and get the sale. Lack of marketing leaves books sitting stagnant or lack of marketing funds challenge the future of a good book gone unknown. And then don’t even get me started on the scammers… Any honest author will tell you that these challenges can deter someone from following their writing dreams and utilizing their God-given talents. But the truth of the matter is, God never intended for us to be known globally and become a household name. He just wanted to see us succeed in our creations. He doesn’t consider us failures if we don’t sell enough books to pay the bills or quit our day jobs, He just wants that story to be read by the people He intended it for. It is our worldly perceptions and desires that make us doubt our callings. That is why I will never give up! As long as I have the inspiration to write, the energy to attend shows and the willingness to share my talents, I will do so, for Him.

Miracles and faith are recurring themes in the book. How do you define miracles in the context of everyday life, and how do they inspire the way you write?

In my life, a book sold online, that I didn’t actively push, and don’t know who bought it, is a miracle. A new client calling out of the blue when I had just prayed for work, is a miracle. When I walk into a store with an obscure item in mind and find it immediately, that is a miracle. Miracles, to me, are an answer to prayer and it is God showing me He listens. For me, a miracle doesn’t have to be huge to make a difference. The fact that an entity greater than me, who created the world and the people in it, who has given us everything we could possibly want and who listens to and answers prayer, and gave his only son…. THAT is a miracle. Every day is a miracle. It is important to remember that when the day is difficult, the challenges hard, and the fear and doubt prevalent, that WE are miracles in God’s eyes and He is a miracle to us.

Your book’s uplifting and hopeful message resonates strongly with readers. What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write stories that inspire hope and optimism in others?

Do it! Don’t think about it. Don’t let your fears stop you. Don’t research the difficulties until you shy away from ever trying. Simply write the book. Once it is written, you can share it with a neighbor, a friend, a writer’s group. If you have the ability to illustrate it or want to have it illustrated, God will provide a way. Remember, only the human world sees success as riches and hordes of adoring fans. God sees success as your follow through. Your willingness to utilize your talents, to listen to His inspiration. If your story can help one person or change one person’s life, that is enough to give you a gold star in the book of life. Everything after that is bonus points. I would like to thank Words of Hope for reviewing my book, choosing The First Unicorn to review and for giving me a sounding board to provide my interview answers. Being an author is a dream come true, winning awards is recognition for a job well done, and inspiring future generations of readers is a life-long goal. Thank you for reading and have a blessed day!

“If your story can help one person or change one person’s life, that is enough to give you a gold star in the book of life.”

– Kathleen Shields

Links

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• Amazon

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