After retiring from her role as a residence counselor at the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind, and spending three decades at the school, Kathleen Livingstone soon would begin the next chapter of her life.
Livingstone, who has made her home in Brant County for years, discussed her career at W. Ross Macdonald and working with children.
“I began as an EA in the school board, working with younger children, which has been a lifelong passion. And then I got an opportunity to go to the W. Ross McDonald school, and it was a very humbling experience. During my career at the school, I could see what the children could do…I would see the tiny things that they accomplished, and it was amazing, and to also witness their growth. I really looked up to the children for what they tried to do and what they could do and what they did do. I’ve had students who are now teachers, and I’m very proud of them. My experience was an emotional one and very rewarding…and I still remain friends with many of my students,” she noted.
Four years after retiring, Livingstone found a passion for writing, gaining inspiration from her grandchildren.
“I was very close with my grandchildren and still am…but some of them have gone in different directions, as some of them are adults now. I’ve got grandchildren ranging from the age of two to 21, and] they have been such a big part of my life. Also, I have always enjoyed reading to my grandchildren…. And every gift I have given them, no matter what the occasion, has included a book,” the author explained. “But the writing started one night, when I thought about my grandchildren, and the wonderful memories I have with them through the years….and that led to my first book, ‘Sleepovers at Grandmas’ make me smile’. I wrote it down and I initially thought it would be a gift for my children, and my grandchildren. And then a friend suggested that I should make it into a book that others could read too. And it snowballed from there.”
However, Livingstone, who also wrote “Meeting My New Pet makes me smile”…and “Meeting My New Friend makes me smile,” which are books two and three in the ‘makes me smile’ series, draws on her personal friendships, which has also inspired her.
“It’s all about friendships….I always think about my friends and how friendships have helped me grow as a person. I’m very fortunate to have very strong and everlasting friendships in my life, and have come to see how important friends are in helping a person have a richer life,” the author reflected. “I have also come to realize….how each friendship teaches you something. It doesn’t matter how old you are…you can always take something from a friendship, as long as you give something in return.”
One major theme that runs through Livingstone’s books is experiencing special moments while treasuring memories that have been made.
“I have a memory with one of my grandsons. We would go out in our pajamas and look up at the sky, and I would tell him loved him as much as all the stars in the sky. And I have always tried to think of ways that I could express how much I loved each of my grandchildren with a different saying,” she said. “In that first book, any one of my grandchildren can pick out which page is relevant to them, because I did all those things with them. Like having a picnic on the porch…my 21-year-old granddaughter still remembers that, and she was two. So, it’s just about building bonds and creating these special moments. I didn’t have a grandma myself when I was growing up. Mine were in Belgium…so I never got to experience having a grandma, and I always wanted one, because my friends all had theirs. I think it’s important to me to be a good grandma.”
In her fifth book that will be published very soon, called Friendships of the Forest, it was inspired by children interacting with animals.
“Although I am retired, I still sometimes work at a daycare…and have watched the children there interact with animals like puppies as well as my own grandchildren enjoy being dogs and cats. And those interactions would sometimes lead to finding and making new friends. We encourage a lot at the daycare…to be kind and to be good to one’s friends and others. So, I wrote that book just so I could read it the children there….and watching them interact with other kids. It’s quite amazing to see how some children have confidence while the shy ones try really hard to be part of the group, and then you’ve got the compassionate children, which, if someone’s getting bullied or, made fun of, they go to help them. That really inspired me to write this book,” she said.
Nevertheless, Livingstone has gotten positive feedback from readers especially doing readings in the community.
“I’ve done some readings at schools, libraries and at markets and especially with Sleepovers at Grandmas’ make me smile book. A lot of grandmas will buy it because of the message, and drawing on the special connection between grandmothers and their grandchildren. It’s given me a lot of joy to write this first book and develop this series, and create an opportunity for families to read together,” she noted. “To be quite honest, I’m actually extremely shy, so for me to even go out and read in front of children is a lot for me to do. It’s a huge accomplishment for me to even be in the public, but it’s been a growing experience for me, especially when I see the reaction of the kids when I do read my story to them. It’s a wonderful experience which pushes me to get out there more.”
More recently, Livingstone had a chance to participate at the first annual Kids Adventure Expo by EduColor Press’ held at the Woodman Park Community Centre in February 2026.
“The organization was wonderful and hosted a great event. I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the parents and the many people that came out as well as the vendors that participated. It was great to see all the families coming out with their kids, and to see them…enjoying the balloon animals, games, magicians, and the different vendors introducing them to so many interactive experiences. But to see the excitement from the children and all the families bonding at that Expo was something I won’t forget,” Livingstone stated.
As Livingstone wrote her books, she also sought important collaborations to create illustrations. This led to working with three talented artists.
“It took me a year and a half to find an illustrator for my first book. Patti Errygers, who hails from St. George, illustrated my first three books. She’s retired and illustrating was a hobby of hers….I am so very grateful for her work on these books, and it has been a great journey for us both which has blossomed into a friendship. Samantha Davis, who is my brother’s niece, and was a university student, was quite excited to do the illustrations for my fourth book. It’s very colorful and the response from young readers to it has been great.,” she noted. “And for my latest book, I have Kathy Russell, who is a very close friend and was a co-worker of mine from the W Ross MacDonald school, doing the illustrations. She has always been a good artist, and I’ve always loved what she has created including her beautiful greeting cards she does by hand. I reached out to her, as she is currently living in British Columbia, and she said that she always wanted to do a book, so we’ve been doing this collaboration online.”
As well, Livingstone has also continued to build a strong relationship with her publisher.
“I have been working with Chrissy Hobbs and the Indie Publishing Group in London. She has been great. She has been helping me through the process of publishing my books because I am not that computer savvy. So, with the first book, I actually drove to meet her because everything was handwritten…and from there, she’s been teaching me and my partner how to do things electronically in order to get my books published quicker,” she noted.
However, the author has learned a great deal over the last few years, from writing and publishing her books.
“I always pour my heart out when I’m writing my books….and I feel you have to, especially when it comes to children’s books, yet in saying that, I have learned to take criticism without being too emotional about it, which, for me, is the hardest lesson I’ve had to learn. Also, another learning curve has been to overcome my shyness. This has been very important, because I wanted to go in public and share my books with parents, grandparents and children in the community. But it’s been worthwhile and I know I will continue to grow as an author and as a person,” she said.
