Q&A: MC alum credits her success to the school
New England author enjoys multiple career choices
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Fifty years after graduating from Marietta College, Kathy Brodsky has not only had a successful-- and continuing-- career as a psychotherapist but a decade ago, she discovered another passion: writing children's books. Now an author of 11 books, including 10 for children, Brodsky said her roots at the college have had much to do with her success in life.
"Marietta is the perfect place to go to school and get to do exactly what you want to do," she said. "I think that's very special."
Brodsky's books all include important messages and themes, including how to handle sibling rivalry and coping with stress, along with bullying, trust, death and dying and self-esteem. But those themes are within tales of adventure and fun characters, and all told in rhyme.
"I'm a pretty positive person and I like happy endings," she said. "All the stories have really positive messages."
Barnes & Noble carries the complete line of Brodsky's books and they are available at amazon.com and kathybrodsky.com.
Question: I know that you've written several books now. What is the latest one?
Answer: We recently made two into Spanish language books. All books are in rhyme. "A Catfish Tale" is coming out soon and "My Bent Tree," because we wanted to make them bilingual. My first book was "My Bent Tree" in 2008, so it will really be like the 10-year anniversary for that one.
The last one I did in English was "High Wire Act" which is dedicated to anyone who wonders if they really matter. It tells the story of a traffic light that blows down into the bed of a truck during a high wind. It travels the city and without it, roads become a mess and it realizes how important it is. This book also features all the characters from all my other books. They all show up, so there's a pig and an envelope…all kinds of things.
Q: What sort of other messages can be found in your books?
A: Well, in "My Bent Tree" there's a crooked pine. It explains about being different. When they want to cut it down there are protests. All my books have questions in the back. For this it's "Do you know anyone who is different?" "What can they do that you can't?" and some other questions. For the older kids, there are questions about what action you can take if you're opposed to something. That's what makes my books different and that's what teachers like.
Q: This has become a second career for you. How did you start out?
A: When I was at Marietta, there was a big, big tree outside one of the dorms and I remember thinking that that tree must have seen so much history. So my son said maybe it actually started there and I didn't know it.
In 2001, for my mom's birthday, I put a poem in the invitation and thought it was really fun. (After a writing course) I thought, I've been a therapist since 1970, I have thousands of stories. In 2004, I wrote a book of poems and photos called "Moments in Our Lives" about all kinds of transitions, like having a baby, sending a child to college…I thought I was done then.
Q: What kept things going?
A: I say I never know where an idea will come from. I was walking in April in New Hampshire and the leaves weren't on the trees yet. I was on a road that I'm on everyday and I noticed that this tree was crooked. I started repeating these four lines to myself all the way home, then when I got there, finished the story. I was taking tango classes and my instructor actually turned out to be an illustrator and that's how it really started. I had to find out how to get something published because I had no idea.
Q: Do you actively try to come up with ideas for your books now or do you let them come naturally to you?
A: You have to get really smart people to help you. My editor recently said "Well, you're going to be a grandmother soon. Why don't you do something around that?" That's become a book about a little tummy with a baby and when the baby gets out he wonders what he wants to be. He sees a cat and wonders if he'll look like that. Then he sees a dog, a horse, a pig, until he finally see some people and realizes where he belongs. It's just a little idea and then you go with it.
Q: Do you go into schools to read a lot?
A: I do and it's really fun to see the kids. It's fun to see how kids react. This was something so unexpected for me at this time in my life. I mean, who knew? I think one of the most important things in life is to be open to new situations and adventures.
Q: What's the age range that your books are meant for?
A: It depends on the kids, but I would say 2 to 8 or 9. Little kids like the pictures and the rhyme and the older ones get the messages. I've even had a high school guidance counselor use "My Bent Tree" for an LGBT group since it is about diversity and differences. It can be used in so many ways.
Q: Why is it so important for you to tell stories that have these important messages?
A: The messages are a part of me. I've been a therapist for thousands of years and it's part of what I do on a daily basis. It just shows up.
On a snowy day, I was mailing envelopes for a friend and then four nights later at midnight the story came to me about an envelope being taken from its box--its only home--and being terrified as it goes to the post office and through the mail system. I thought at first it was about the mail system but then I realized--no, this is a book about change.
Q: Have you gotten some great feedback from children who've read the books?
A: I have one, "A Horse Named Special," about a therapy horse who used to race. It's about re-invention. I found out about a real kid from a woman in Mexico who owns a horse therapy program. This 10-year-old boy had a problem with frequently passing out. He read the book and would carry it everywhere with him. She had a horse delivered who was skin and bones and the boy befriended it and named it Special. They became a team and he longer passed out. That to me is amazing.
Q: You're returning to Marietta next month for the college's Homecoming?
A: Yes, and I'm going to donate a set of books to the education department.
It's a great town. I used to love to walk in the fall with the leaves changing.
Kate York conducted this interview.
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About Kathy Brodsky
¯ Age: 72.
¯ Residence: Manchester, N.H.
¯ Hometown: Larchmont, N.Y.
¯ Family: Two sons, first grandchild due in November.
¯ Education: Bachelors degree from Marietta College in 1967; Masters of Social Work from Simmons College in Boston.
¯ Occupation: Psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker specializing in women's, couple's and family issues.
Source: Kathy Brodsky.