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As a child growing up in Dalton, Catherine “Cat” Gayle said she “always had a passion” for creative writing.
“My mom (Paula Swann) still loves to tell about stories that I had written over the years,” Gayle said. “I’ve always loved creative writing and poetry.”
After graduating from Dalton High School in 1996 and the University of Georgia with a business degree in risk management in 2002, Gayle began focusing on achieving that passion, which has since manifested into two published children’s books and several more on the way.
Her first book, titled “When a Monster Dreams,” was published through BookLogix in 2023 and illustrated by Oregon-based artist Joan Coleman. Gayle said the picture book was written to “help calm” her young son Jack’s fear of “monsters” during bedtime.
“By painting monsters in a lovable, cheerful light, they didn’t seem scary to him anymore,” she said. “Looking deeper within the story, this book can apply to overcoming a fear of another person or situation. Although sometimes different or unfamiliar, deep down everyone is the same. We all strive for joy and happiness in our lives and my story reflects these universal wishes and dreams.”
Now living in Atlanta with her husband Woody and their two children Charlotte, 11, and Jack, 7, Gayle said teaching preschool in the city and her own experiences with her family helped cement her love for “being surrounded by children” and her inspiration for writing.
Following her first published work, Gayle turned the picture book into a series with the creation of her second work, titled “When a Monster Meditates,” which was released in 2024 and focuses on introducing children to “the concept of slowing down, taking a deep breath and practicing self care,” she said.
“In today’s world, children are busier than ever and pulled in so many different directions between school, homework, sports and social commitments,” said Gayle. “‘When a Monster Meditates’ reminds children and adults the importance of slowing down, being present, feeling gratitude and finding the beauty in the world around us. Meditation might sound like a big word for a child, but the act of mindfulness is not.”
Following the publication of her second book in the “Monster” series, Gayle was chosen as a 2025 Georgia Author of the Year silver finalist for the children’s book category.
“That was so overwhelming and it was wonderful to think that my message had struck a chord with the judges,” she said. “I was mainly just happy that the message within my book would hopefully be spread to more children’s schools, and I am happy that there’s more recognition for such an important topic like mindfulness and mental health for children. It made me proud.”
Gayle also spends her time visiting schools around the state, reading her works and presenting insight to students on the creative writing process. On Dec. 18, Gayle presented to students in Dalton at Blue Ridge School, which included discussions about the writing process and mindfulness.
“During my presentation, I walk students – and teachers – through relaxing exercises that can be used for stress management,” she said. “Everyone can benefit from finding a little calm in the chaos. Just the importance of breathing has so many benefits for parents and children. Deep breaths for children help in moments of anxiety, when they’re hurt or when they’re angry or frustrated with siblings. My newest book introduces some breathing exercises that they can also use at school or on the ballfield, even if it’s for a brief moment. I’m hoping that parents take away messages from the books, too, whether it’s slowing their racing thoughts or just a little reminder of what’s important in life and shifting focus from problems to more of a peaceful state.”
While presenting at schools, Gayle said her main objective is to “invoke a love of reading, writing and creating.”
“There is such a benefit to that and mental health with children,” she said. “The earlier you can incorporate and make that part of their daily lives, it’ll become second nature to children when they grow up and deal with issues that may come their way. That’s what my hope is – that they stop in the moment and take these breaths. That’s a common factor in all of my books. There’s serious topics, whether it’s overcoming fears, mindfulness or manners, but they’re done with a light and funny spin, which I feel like children can relate to and respond well to.”
Gayle said the third installment in the “Monster” series, “When a Monster Needs Manners,” is set to release this year, with an expected timetable of the “late summer.” Focusing on the importance of manners and loving discipline, Gayle said the next book will be dedicated to her father, James Pilcher, known to Daltonians for having an internal medicine practice in the city for more than 30 years. Another book dedicated to her mother is also in the works, said Gayle.
“I’m working on it now with Joan and it will be a manners book, which I do feel like to some extent manners and mindfulness sort of go hand in hand,” she said. “I feel like you have to be present to understand the needs of others, and the third book is going to teach lessons on patience and kindness while incorporating manners in there as well.”
According to Gayle, the book will cover “everything from table manners and etiquette to chores and having confidence in social interactions.”
“It’s going to be wonderful and my illustrator Joan is great at bringing all of the books to life,” she said. “Each book takes place in an alternate universe where monsters are just like children, so it’s very dreamlike and she was good about making the illustrations whimsical and kind of dreamy.”
Along with her next picture book installment, Gayle said her first chapter book is in the works – a project she said was “10 years in the making.”
“When I first graduated from college, I lived in New York and I had started writing a chapter book series focusing on a cat named Buster,” she said. “The idea of it is a short chapter book, so it’s an early independent reader probably for ages 6 to 10. My time there in New York City sort of inspired the series.”
Titled “Buster’s ‘BIG’ Night Out,” Gayle said the book will “hopefully spark an interest in culture and travel in children” with a tentative release date of 2027.
“I also have notes for the second volume of the series that is going to take place in London, where I also spent a summer after college,” she said. “Buster will go across the pond. I sort of think of him as my ‘baby’ because that’s the one that I wrote around 10 years ago just with the idea of being for early independent readers. I feel like the ‘Monster’ books are more lesson based and the chapter books are going to kind of be more or less just fun for kids that age.”
Gayle said her goal with each book is that the lessons inside are transferred to the “whole family.”
“The poems are very simple, but a lot of the story is kind of told through the vision and the illustrations,” she said. “So, through the illustrations in my books, I hope that they remind people to think about what’s really important and take a step back, and take a moment for themselves. Another important component throughout both of my books is the importance of music in life, too. Music is such an important part of my life and I tried to incorporate it in several illustrations about how listening to music is meditative. It relaxes people and can create a sense of happiness and peace.”
Both of Gayle’s released books can be purchased online through Amazon, Walmart and Barnes & Noble in both paperback and hardcover.
“If anyone wants them signed and with free shipping, they can also reach out to me via my website (catgaylebooks.com) or through Instagram (@catgaylebooks),” she said. “I would also love to do local book signings and more school visits in Dalton in the future.”
As a child growing up in Dalton, Catherine “Cat” Gayle said she “always had a passion” for creative writing.
“My mom (Paula Swann) still loves to tell about stories that I had written over the years,” Gayle said. “I’ve always loved creative writing and poetry.”
After graduating from Dalton High School in 1996 and the University of Georgia with a business degree in risk management in 2002, Gayle began focusing on achieving that passion, which has since manifested into two published children’s books and several more on the way.
Her first book, titled “When a Monster Dreams,” was published through BookLogix in 2023 and illustrated by Oregon-based artist Joan Coleman. Gayle said the picture book was written to “help calm” her young son Jack’s fear of “monsters” during bedtime.
“By painting monsters in a lovable, cheerful light, they didn’t seem scary to him anymore,” she said. “Looking deeper within the story, this book can apply to overcoming a fear of another person or situation. Although sometimes different or unfamiliar, deep down everyone is the same. We all strive for joy and happiness in our lives and my story reflects these universal wishes and dreams.”
Now living in Atlanta with her husband Woody and their two children Charlotte, 11, and Jack, 7, Gayle said teaching preschool in the city and her own experiences with her family helped cement her love for “being surrounded by children” and her inspiration for writing.
Following her first published work, Gayle turned the picture book into a series with the creation of her second work, titled “When a Monster Meditates,” which was released in 2024 and focuses on introducing children to “the concept of slowing down, taking a deep breath and practicing self care,” she said.
“In today’s world, children are busier than ever and pulled in so many different directions between school, homework, sports and social commitments,” said Gayle. “‘When a Monster Meditates’ reminds children and adults the importance of slowing down, being present, feeling gratitude and finding the beauty in the world around us. Meditation might sound like a big word for a child, but the act of mindfulness is not.”
Following the publication of her second book in the “Monster” series, Gayle was chosen as a 2025 Georgia Author of the Year silver finalist for the children’s book category.
“That was so overwhelming and it was wonderful to think that my message had struck a chord with the judges,” she said. “I was mainly just happy that the message within my book would hopefully be spread to more children’s schools, and I am happy that there’s more recognition for such an important topic like mindfulness and mental health for children. It made me proud.”
Gayle also spends her time visiting schools around the state, reading her works and presenting insight to students on the creative writing process. On Dec. 18, Gayle presented to students in Dalton at Blue Ridge School, which included discussions about the writing process and mindfulness.
“During my presentation, I walk students – and teachers – through relaxing exercises that can be used for stress management,” she said. “Everyone can benefit from finding a little calm in the chaos. Just the importance of breathing has so many benefits for parents and children. Deep breaths for children help in moments of anxiety, when they’re hurt or when they’re angry or frustrated with siblings. My newest book introduces some breathing exercises that they can also use at school or on the ballfield, even if it’s for a brief moment. I’m hoping that parents take away messages from the books, too, whether it’s slowing their racing thoughts or just a little reminder of what’s important in life and shifting focus from problems to more of a peaceful state.”
While presenting at schools, Gayle said her main objective is to “invoke a love of reading, writing and creating.”
“There is such a benefit to that and mental health with children,” she said. “The earlier you can incorporate and make that part of their daily lives, it’ll become second nature to children when they grow up and deal with issues that may come their way. That’s what my hope is – that they stop in the moment and take these breaths. That’s a common factor in all of my books. There’s serious topics, whether it’s overcoming fears, mindfulness or manners, but they’re done with a light and funny spin, which I feel like children can relate to and respond well to.”
Gayle said the third installment in the “Monster” series, “When a Monster Needs Manners,” is set to release this year, with an expected timetable of the “late summer.” Focusing on the importance of manners and loving discipline, Gayle said the next book will be dedicated to her father, James Pilcher, known to Daltonians for having an internal medicine practice in the city for more than 30 years. Another book dedicated to her mother is also in the works, said Gayle.
“I’m working on it now with Joan and it will be a manners book, which I do feel like to some extent manners and mindfulness sort of go hand in hand,” she said. “I feel like you have to be present to understand the needs of others, and the third book is going to teach lessons on patience and kindness while incorporating manners in there as well.”
According to Gayle, the book will cover “everything from table manners and etiquette to chores and having confidence in social interactions.”
“It’s going to be wonderful and my illustrator Joan is great at bringing all of the books to life,” she said. “Each book takes place in an alternate universe where monsters are just like children, so it’s very dreamlike and she was good about making the illustrations whimsical and kind of dreamy.”
Along with her next picture book installment, Gayle said her first chapter book is in the works – a project she said was “10 years in the making.”
“When I first graduated from college, I lived in New York and I had started writing a chapter book series focusing on a cat named Buster,” she said. “The idea of it is a short chapter book, so it’s an early independent reader probably for ages 6 to 10. My time there in New York City sort of inspired the series.”
Titled “Buster’s ‘BIG’ Night Out,” Gayle said the book will “hopefully spark an interest in culture and travel in children” with a tentative release date of 2027.
“I also have notes for the second volume of the series that is going to take place in London, where I also spent a summer after college,” she said. “Buster will go across the pond. I sort of think of him as my ‘baby’ because that’s the one that I wrote around 10 years ago just with the idea of being for early independent readers. I feel like the ‘Monster’ books are more lesson based and the chapter books are going to kind of be more or less just fun for kids that age.”
Gayle said her goal with each book is that the lessons inside are transferred to the “whole family.”
“The poems are very simple, but a lot of the story is kind of told through the vision and the illustrations,” she said. “So, through the illustrations in my books, I hope that they remind people to think about what’s really important and take a step back, and take a moment for themselves. Another important component throughout both of my books is the importance of music in life, too. Music is such an important part of my life and I tried to incorporate it in several illustrations about how listening to music is meditative. It relaxes people and can create a sense of happiness and peace.”
Both of Gayle’s released books can be purchased online through Amazon, Walmart and Barnes & Noble in both paperback and hardcover.
“If anyone wants them signed and with free shipping, they can also reach out to me via my website (catgaylebooks.com) or through Instagram (@catgaylebooks),” she said. “I would also love to do local book signings and more school visits in Dalton in the future.”
