Best-Selling Children’s Writer Kate Klise is Coming Back to Central Illinois

After a three-year absence, the award-winning author and Peoria native returns home

Illinois Prairie District Public Library is proud to welcome Kate Klise back to Central Illinois on April 7, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. at the IPDPL-Germantown Hills branch, located at 509 Woodland Knolls Rd. in Germantown Hills.  Ms. Klise will give a short presentation on her writing process, writing for children, and offer advice for beginning writers of all ages. 

Kate Klise began writing stories when she was still in grade school and living in Peoria on Moss Avenue.  Her sister, Sarah, drew pictures for it.  One of their first books was intended as a Christmas gift for a sibling, but the work was unappreciated and found in the trash a few days later.  The rejection did nothing to deter the sisters, and they continued to work together while honing their individual talents.  Their first book, Regarding the Fountain (HarperCollins), a middle-grade comedic mystery, was published in 1998. 

Since that time, Ms. Klise has continued to write for readers of all ages, with over 30 books ranging from children’s picture books to young adult and adult novels.  Her most recent work, Mystery on Magnolia Circle (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, 2021) has been described as “Rear Window meets Nancy Drew.”  The middle-grade mystery is about a girl who believes she has witnessed a crime.  With the help of her best friend (who can literally do all the legwork), she is determined to get to the bottom of things.

Ms. Klise has never forgotten her central Illinois roots and has made frequent trips to the area to speak at schools and libraries, presenting writing workshops for children and signing copies of her works.  During her upcoming visit, Ms. Klise will speak at Riverview Elementary School in Spring Bay, IL, and Sowers Elementary School in Roanoke, IL, before the evening event at IPDPL.

Illinois Prairie will give away copies of Mystery on Magnolia Circle to the first 20 people to arrive at the evening event.  Copies of Ms. Klise’s other children’s books will be available for sale.  Ms. Klise will sign books after her presentation.