About L. K. Houk (and how she became an author)

Many years ago, when my son was just a toddler, we lived in an old farm house we had renovated. We had milk cows, fattening hogs, chickens, and a few turkeys. One day, as I was making the bed I glanced out the window to see one of the baby chicks teetering on the rim of one of the old 3# coffee cans of water we had scattered about the yard. Suddenly the chick fell into the bucket and almost as suddenly one of the young turkeys, who was much taller, of course, dipped his head down into the bucket and grabbed the chick and flung it out onto the ground.

That was the beginning. I awoke in the middle of the night a couple of years later, walked into the kitchen where I had my typewriter (yes, typewriter. It was a thing.) and words began to fill the page. Suddenly I had Tom T., the farm, the chickens, the other animals, and stories.  

Other stories followed: usually from out of nowhere. Usually in the middle of the night. And complete. Top to bottom. Start to finish. It seemed somehow ordained. For 38 years, with periods of despair and periods of determination, I attempted to interest publishers in my creations, to no avail. They were obviously picture book stories, but, unlike my Aunt Tez, who is a writer and illustrator, I was no illustrator. Finally, I gave up, decided it was fruitless.

Then my daughter introduced me to a new friend from the writers' group she had joined. Kathy Perry of Chickadee Words, LLC, became my mentor, my friend, and my sister. Through another friend, I found my wonderful illustrator, and then my amazing Spanish translator. Kathy knew the ropes of independent publishing, and wasn't afraid to help me - in spite of the Herculean learning curve I brought to the table. Again, it almost seemed ordained.

So here we go! I hope you enjoy the lives lived Down Home on the Farm. And as this process becomes easier for me,  watch for books of poetry, and devotional books that follow closely on Tom T.'s heels. Sometimes we do really set foot off the farm. Come on down and join us.