Kate W. Shea
speculative fiction author
About Kate
I write books about the people in my head, their quirks, their backstories, and their triumphs.
My debut novel I am Z(arah) is available now.
Ever have to hide your past to survive the present?
Two years ago, Zarah barricaded herself in a closet during a mass shooting. Now, she keeps flashbacks and panic attacks at bay by imagining she becomes her alter-ego Z.
Enter Greg, a heart patient and local comic store clerk who pulls Zarah out of her head and into the real world. But as they grow closer, Zarah faces a choice: confront her past or remain divided as two selves.
“This was a unique book and I can’t really compare it to anything I’ve read before….The themes are very timely in this age of mass shootings, and the author also skillfully explores the aftermath of horror and trauma on the human psyche. Here we have a romance and personal journey entwined – two of society’s more eccentric young people finding and helping each other.”
Judge, 28th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards
From the blog
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2026 Updates
I had big plans in my early 2025 post. In reality, I’ve started two different new jobs after mass layoffs. I’ve been focused on my family and my health. I’ve been renovating a charming but needy old home and overgrown yard. I’ve submitted my short story “Remembering Ravenhelm” to several targeted literary magazines, resulting in…
Kate W. Shea 