After raising six children, who now range in age from 24 to 36, Katharine “Kitty” Block of Hillsboro decided she should share what she has learned about motherhood and wrote a book, “You Don’t Have To Go It Alone.”
Block will unveil the book at a party from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Festus Public Library, 400 W. Main St. She will read from the book and will autograph copies, which will be available for $15 apiece. Food, music and giveaways also are planned.
“To raise children is the most important work a person has, but there now a whole lot of information on how to do that,” Block said.
However, Block said her first attempt at writing the “how-to” book didn’t go too well.
“It sounded a little preachy,” she said.
She started over, writing her advice in framework of a novel. “Advice about parenting is wrapped in a story,” she said.
The story follows an unwed mother who joins an existing family with six children.
“Over time, the younger woman learns about motherhood from the older woman.
“It’s really a series of conversations between the two women over time,” she said.
Block said the family with six children is based on her family. Although the names have been changed, she said, friends of the family will likely recognize each character as based on a Block family member.
She had the book published through Xulon Press, a print-on-demand publisher.
She and her husband, Frank, also have 15 grandchildren. They live in a home near Hillsboro that is almost 200 years old. Block said they moved their family to Jefferson County 30 years ago to raise their children in the country.
Over the years, the children have attended public and parochial schools and have been home-schooled.
Block attends Victory Church in the Pevely area. A portion of the proceeds from each book will be donated to the church’s mission project to halt international sex slave traffic.
For information or to order a book, visit her website at kittyblock.net.
Book launch party, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 12, Festus Public Library, 400 W. Main St. Hillsboro author Katharine “Kitty” Block is unveiling her book, “You Don’t Have To Go It Alone,” a novel about parenting. Food, giveaways, music and the author will read.
– Peggy Scott
