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A literary leap
1978 after a two-year battle in the hospital.
“I visited him nearly every day,” Walsh
said. “We were talking about his life, and
eaview author Kent D. Walsh recent- one of the things he said was, ‘Ken, I could
write a book.’ But he never did. I thought
ly released his eighth book, “The
that is really a shame, and those words
Little Spotted Frog,” which tells of
inspired me to write.”
a young boy who attempts to catch a cute
Walsh’s wife, Madeline, a cancer survi-
little frog with his bare hands … and gets
vor, inspires him as well.
more than he bargained for.
“She encouraged me to be more serious
The story is based on Walsh’s expe-
about my writing and get published. I
riences at Burnt Bridge Creek, a small
guess you could say she inspired me
stream about half a mile from his child-
through her battle,” Walsh said. “I figured,
hood home in Vancouver, Washington. A
if she could win a battle like cancer, I could
writer of fiction, nonfiction, young adult
accomplish something, too.”
and children’s books, Walsh drew inspira-
Walsh, whose books often take a year or
tion for this latest work from his childhood
more to complete, speaks as if his charac-
love of fishing and catching frogs.
ters have a life of their
A lighthearted cau-
own.
tionary tale with a twist
brother asked me
at the end, “The Little
‘SHE ENCOURAGED how “My
I come up with the
Spotted Frog” is about a
ME TO BE MORE
names and the things my
boy’s quest for adventure
SERIOUS
ABOUT characters do. I joked, ‘I
despite the best advice
of his mom, and speaks
MY WRITING AND don’t create their names,
to every child’s sense of
GET PUBLISHED. I their parents do.’ I don’t
the events; they
mischief.
GUESS YOU COULD control
just seem to be there,”
It is also a family
SAY SHE INSPIRED Walsh said.
collaboration: The illus-
ME THROUGH HER
The author prefers to
trations were drawn by
BATTLE. I FIGURED write at his vintage roll
Walsh’s daughter-in-law,
Jennifer U. Ranker, a
IF SHE COULD WIN top oak desk, a family
heirloom. When working
professional illustrator.
A BATTLE LIKE
a lengthy book, he will
“She does the illus-
CANCER, I COULD on
write nearly every day.
trations, and I do the writ-
ACCOMPLISH
For anyone who would
ing,” Walsh said, adding
SOMETHING,
TOO.’ like to take writing more
that Ranker is working on
seriously, Walsh advises:
another book for him.
“You don’t have to spend
Another of Walsh’s
your whole life writing — an hour here or
children’s books, “Thaddeus T. and
Barnaby,” is also about frogs and tadpoles. there. Everyone has a book in them, and
when someone reads it, you’re so happy.
Walsh’s former coworker purchased that
You think: I did that. That came out of my
one for her 8-year-old son, who called it
brain.”
the best book he ever read in his life, the
author recalled.
“I felt that was a real compliment,”
At home in Seaview
Walsh said. “That’s one of the things that
Born in Minot, North Dakota, Walsh
inspires you to write. When someone says
grew up in Vancouver and spent the next
good stuff about your work, that makes
you want to keep writing.”
Continued on Page 15
By HEATHER DOUGLAS
FOR COAST WEEKEND
S
‘That came out of my brain’
Something else that keeps Walsh
writing: Words from his father who died in
Kent D. Walsh holds up his latest book, “The
Little Spotted Frog.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
‘The Little Spotted Frog’ is
Kent D. Walsh’s latest children’s tale