CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC Marshalltown-based author Katie Kennedy has just released her latest book “The Presidents Decoded,” which is aimed at readers ages 8 to 12.

Marshalltown-based author Katie Kennedy has just released her latest book “The Presidents Decoded,” which is aimed at readers ages 8 to 12.

The book follows up the success of her 2020 release “The Constitution Decoded,” which won a Nautilus Award — taking gold in the young adult nonfiction category.

She and her family moved to Marshalltown in 2016 from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Since that time, she’s worked as an adjunct professor of history at MCC and as a part-time librarian at Marshalltown Public Library, helping out at the information desk.

While Kennedy has been a lifelong reader and history buff, it wasn’t until she turned 40 that she pursued a career as an author, following a health scare with one of her children.

“Our son had cancer as a toddler. I stopped reading at that point. And showering and breathing. He had a zero percent chance of survival and survived anyway,” she explained.

Then a friend helped her rekindle her love of reading.

“I started writing too,” she said.

Kennedy secured an agent and began writing books, some of which remain unpublished, but are some of her favorite manuscripts. Her two published young adult novels are entitled “Learning to Swear in America” and “What Goes Up.”

She noted her “decoded” series, released through Workman Publishing Company, are works for hire.

“That means they had the idea and I got to refine it,” she said. “They wanted somebody who already knew the Constitution and could work faster than other authors. I did doctoral work in history. I’ve always had an interest in Russian history and American history.”

“The Presidents Decoded” was written using more than 125 primary sources including documents, speeches, letters, executive orders and diaries. It features color illustrations and easy to digest information.

“Most kids books don’t go back to primary sources, but I think that’s so important for kids to understand how we do history, how we know what we know. That it’s provable,” she said. “The book at one point was much longer. We had to cut about two-thirds of the book.”

She said teachers and homeschooling parents enjoy having her books around as resources.

“It’s just broken down in more understandable ways,” she said of the format.

One of her favorite fun facts that she uncovered pertains to Ulysses S. Grant, who got a speeding ticket while president.

“He was taken downtown and booked. The officer was incredibly apologetic and Grant said, ‘you’re doing the right thing. I was speeding and we’ll meet again.’ Grant loved fast horses. When you can tell stories like that and connect them I think it’s really fun,” she said.

Kennedy is working on the third book in the series, which is tentatively called “Voting Decoded.” She has a romance novel due out next June through Alcove Press called “Hearts on Thin Ice.”

Kennedy says she enjoys juggling writing the series for kids, plus her romance novels. At MCC, she has taught courses in Western Civilization, U.S. History and Russian history and culture. She has visited Russia in the past and enjoys traveling.

“Basically, the teaching is my morning job, the library is my afternoon job, and the writing is my evening job,” Kennedy said. “I’m really happy with what I’m doing now. I have a YA fantasy book that’s a bit on hold, because I’ve been doing copy edits for the romance. I have another adult romance I’m working on that’s just fun to write. I have the voting book too. I try to keep reading new history books to stay fresh for the classes I teach.”

Her books are available on Amazon and other retailers. Learn more about her here: www.katiekennedybooks.com.