In 2008 I returned from China after a nearly 5-year living stint. I was broken. I felt hopeless because I was leaving behind what I felt was my reason for being. My passion. The thing that brought out the true me. I had started, organized, and led a volunteer group in a local orphanage. As a team, we did many really good things. We witnessed abuse and trauma, internalizing much of it, but we also improved and saved lives of children. We loved and we lost.
When it was time for me to come home, I felt empty.
In 2009, I took all the journal entries I’d been writing those five years and put them into my very first book, a memoir called Silent Tears; A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage.
Going back through everything made me re-live it. I suffered greatly emotionally and physically, but I got through it and that book eventually sold more than 100,000 copies and helped many more children than I ever did with boots on the ground. It led to people adopting from China, supporting the children in foster care and other ways, and encouraged others around that country to do something similar.
After that, I went back to work in corporate HR. I loved it at first, then I found myself drowning in big egos and office politics. I hated it.
In 2013, I decided to write another book. This time fiction and based on a true story. It was called Chasing China and was immediately rejected. So I tried again. I wrote A Thread Unbroken, and it was accepted.
That began my career in writing fiction and building my readership. I’ve made so many close friends from my readers, and I’ve created a network of individuals that care for me, and for each other. In my fiction, I use my own childhood and early adulthood trauma to write my characters. My work is known for packing a huge emotional wallop.
Today, nearly 16 years after that first book published, I released book #40. It’s number 12 in a series that has shocked me with how well it’s done.
I’m not sure what magic I captured with Hart’s Ridge, but I hope I can repeat it as I keep giving you more and more of the Gray family, and their small town mysteries.
I give thanks to all of you who support my work, and I thank the good Lord above for giving me the ability to give voices to those who carry trauma in their lives, and find forgiveness and healing through the happily ever afters I write.
Much love,
Kay Bratt
Kay Bratt
Every Little Thing
Available in Ebook and Paperback
Audio Coming Soon
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Kay, I love the Hart Ridge series and your writing style!
Is there a place to find the characters and connections besides in the books themselves?
I’m not that old (71) but sometimes have a hard time remembering the connections from earlier books 🥴
Thanks!
Robin Kay
Hi Robin,
Sorry to say that I only have my author Bible for the series, but what a great idea for me to try to make up something that readers can use! I’ll put that on my to do list! Thank you for supporting my work!
I just found the Hart’s Ridge series and I’m hooked! Unfortunately my library doesn’t have the audio books past In My Life. 😥
Hoping the others show up soon so I can continue the story!
Hi Alisa! Thank you for reading my work! You can try to request those books from your library so that they might order them. Have a wonderful day!
Please keep writing more books for Hart’s Ridge – the characters are so real and stories so engaging. I am such a fan of the series!
Love to hear about new fans of Hart’s Ridge! Thank you, Heather!
Love all your books, but especially love your Hearts Ridge series. The stories are so real and the depth and complexities of the characters. I am thrilled it is continuing through with Taylor and Sam’s Graystone Investigations. Kudos to you Kay Bratt. Keep writing!
Thanks, Carole Anne! I really appreciate your support for my work!
Thank you for sharing. I’m not surprised as the expressed feelings were so right., down to soul level. Glad u continued with series as its a family for me.
Soul level!? That’s a huge compliment. Made my day! Thanks, Suzanne!
Im happy for finding the books. Thank you for sharing. I’m not surprised as the expressed feelings were so right., down to soul level. Glad u continued with series as its a family for me.
Hi Mitchell,
So glad the Grays feel like family to you! That’s a huge compliment!
best,
Kay
I started reading your books. They have given me some insight in the Chinese way of life I never realized how they are or were so against girl children. I have read all of the Hart’s Ridge books. I so enjoy all of your books keep up the good work that you do. Looking forward to more of all you have to offer.
Thank you so much, Sue! I’ll add that the preference of boys in China is changing fast with the new generations! They’ve come a long way in their beliefs. Thanks for supporting my work!