Spring is in full bloom here in my part of the world! Yay! The return of warmer weather and gorgeous flowers had my girls building fairy houses when they were younger. So what time of year could be more perfect for the release of a fairy-themed chapter book?! That’s right, for the first time on the First Stories blog, I’ll be chatting with a chapter book author!
(Actually, I’d love to start featuring more chapter book and middle grade authors on First Stories! If you’re interested, drop me a comment below or DM me on Instagram!)
Before we dive into the interview, allow me to introduce you to Lori Keating!
Lori Keating is an award-winning author known for her ability to create captivating stories for children of all ages and genres. When she isn’t busy writing or illustrating, she enjoys spending quality time with her amazing husband and daughter at the beach, boating, or cruising in their car with the music blasting and the sunroof open. Often, you’ll find her cozied up on the couch with a great book, fully absorbed in a world of adventure. For updates on Lori’s upcoming books, you can visit her website at www.lorikeating.com.
Me: Welcome to First Stories, Lori!
Lori: Thanks for having me, Heather!
Me: Today, we get to chat about the first stories you wrote, the ones that inspired you to plunge into the crazy and fun world of publishing! Would you please tell us about that first story? What inspired you to write it? What was it about?
Lori: The first story I ever wrote was about a crane. It was inspired by a real sandhill crane that used to visit our back door here in Florida, and we couldn’t help but consider him as our outdoor pet. We named him Pete, and he quickly became part of our daily routine.
That story was my first attempt at writing with the intention of publishing, even though it was not quite ready yet. I queried it several times and never received an offer. Years later, I pulled it out of my shelved manuscripts and gave it the attention it deserved. After revisions, it now has layers of humor, a dash of silliness, and a much stronger story arc. I still have a soft spot for it and hope that one day it will find its way into the world.
Me: A sandhill crane? I love it! Near where I live, our local wildlife refuge hosts a Festival of the Cranes every year because it is a stop for the endangered whooping crane! Lots of sandhills stop by too! I love this story and I hope it makes it into the world also. 🙂
Where is it now?
Lori: It is currently in my picture book file, patiently waiting for its turn to resurface again.
Me: Are there any themes in that story that you can see in your writing today?
Lori: Absolutely. The humor that started in that first story has become a consistent thread throughout much of my writing today.
Me: That’s fantastic! Humor can be hard, but kids love it! And let’s face it, so do parents! It’s so fun to read a book that makes you laugh out loud over and over again. 🙂
Looking back, what elements of that first story made it unmarketable? Did you receive feedback on that story? What did that feedback teach you?
Lori: At the time, the story suffered from weak rhyming and an underdeveloped narrative. I did not receive formal feedback on it back then, but after years of learning, reading, and studying picture books, I recently revisited the manuscript with fresh eyes. Applying everything I have learned since, the structure and voice are now strong, and I believe it is a marketable story that kids would truly enjoy.
Me: Like I said before, I hope to see it in print one day. 🙂 Why is that “first story” special to you? How was it important for your writing journey?
Lori: It is special because it was my first, plain and simple. It marked the beginning of my writing journey and taught me some of my most important lessons. Do not give up, do not stop writing, and trust that stories evolve. Not every story makes it into the world right away, but every story deserves the chance to be revised, re-imagined, and given new life.
Me: There’s something special about that first story, isn’t there? That’s one reason I love hearing about them from different authors! Everyone learns something different or has a different inspiration.
But now, I would love to hear about your latest project! Tell me ALL about your new chapter book, Shaila Holmes, Fairy Detective!! How did you come up with the idea for this book? Does it relate at all to your “first Story”?
My latest book released YESTERDAY!! March 17, 2026!! Shaila Holmes Fairy Detective follows Shaila, a clever detective fairy, and her mischievous sidekick, Itsy, as they solve mysteries throughout Englewood Forest. While Shaila carefully gathers clues, Itsy tends to get into a bit of trouble along the way, which keeps things interesting.
This story connects back to my first story in that it centers on small critters and leans heavily into humor. I am so excited for readers to meet Shaila and tag along on her fairy-sized cases.
Me: I love all of this so much! As a massive Sherlock Holmes fan, I see the reference you threw in there! I hope that she ends up being the lead detective in a series, like Sherlock.
Thank you, Lori, for dropping by First Stories!
Lori: Thank you for having me!
Lori is offering a signed copy of the book…if you submit a request that Shaila Holmes, Fairy Detective be included in YOUR local library collection. Please comment below with the words – “I submitted a library request at [Name of local library]” to be entered in the drawing.
Be sure to follow Lori and order copies of her books at the following links:
Website: http://www.lorikeating.com
Twitter: @LoriMKeating
Instagram: @LoriMKeating
BlueSky: @lorikeating.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.keating.7/
TikTok: @lorikeatingauthor
Heather C. Morris 
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