Story of Kay M. Bates

COLFAX – Colfax resident and children's author Kay M. Bates, 33, bounced around a lot growing up. Starting in California and the Seattle area, it was when her father went to WSU that she found what she calls home: the Palouse.

Bates imagined that she would be a writer when she was a kid. "I had a friend in California who I would have writing contests to see who could write it faster," Bates said. "I was 11, and the story was 39 pages long." As she grew up though she started looking into different fields, attending the University of Idaho for a Bachelor's in Microbiology, and onto get her Master's degree.

Bates was working as a medical labratory scientist when she had to get PRK corrective eye surgery. "Unknown to me or my optomologist, I had an auto immune disorder," she said, "It attacked my cornia, so I couldn't see for three to four months." Bates couldn't do anything for herself, getting through with the help of her husband, family and neighbors.

"There was one day my eyes were hurting super bad. I was in the closet hiding under a blanket eating a popsicle," she explained. "My cat came up to me and started snuggling, which got me thinking how this was probably a weird thing I was doing." Bates asked her husband to leave her laptop open, putting on a dark pair of sunglasses, she just started writing.

Bates wrote stories about her sister's cat, and as her eyesight started to come back she realized she had a book, "Gordon Pumpkin Smith the second," finished around five years ago. In the book Gordon doesn't really have plot. Each chapter is a small story in the life of the cat, when the dog moved into the house, or when he was brought. "That cat lived to be about 16 years old I think," she said.

She had more stories to tell as well having written three books since, which are available at Tick Klock here in Colfax. Her books include The Adventures of Rug Bug Volumes 1 and 2 for ages 7-9, and "B" is for Baylee for ages 10-12. Gordon is for 7-9 year olds, or anyone who has an appreciation for cats.

The Adventures of Rug Bug tells a tale of a rug bug's adventures including getting chased by a big cat named mr. whiskers, as well as finding a mouse colony called mousetopia. "B" is for Bailey is about a middle-schooler who loses her eyesight in a softball accident, and rebuild her life afterwards. "B" is for Bailey is also a audiobook narrated by Kas Nixson.

Kathryn R. Smith, Bates' sister and a local artist, did all of the artwork for Gordon Pumpkin Smith the second, and the front cover of Rug Bug. The second volume's artwork was done by Mary Zen who mimicked Smith's artwork, Bates brother also helped design "B" is for Bailey.

Bates' lives in Colfax, is currently a medical laboratory manager in Pullman, and always finds the time to be inspired and write now.