Kemberlee Shortland

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Kemberlee Shortland is a native Northern Californian who was raised in a community dominated by well-known literary figures, such as John Steinbeck, Jack London, Dean Koontz, Robert Campbell, Robert Louis Stevenson, George Sterling, Robinson Jeffers, Mary Austin... just to name a few. With so much literary influence, it's no wonder Kemberlee was writing as soon as she could hold a pen.

Kemberlee's first published work was "Mickey the Mouse," which was self-published in her 5th grade class using only the finest construction paper, original cover art and quality staples! This effort earned her another "Oh, no! Not another one," from her teacher.

The 'Jack of all trades' moniker certainly applies to Kemberlee. She's spent summers pumping gasoline in her family's service station, worked in a French bakery, was a seamstress, cleaned greenware, and babysat sea otters. Working in the pet industry, Kemberlee earned a diploma in Pet Nutrition and studied canine behavior, and trained dogs on her days off. When a job injury sent Kemberlee back to school, she earned a diploma in hotel and restaurant management, ultimately taking a job working for Clint Eastwood in his prestigious Mission Ranch Hotel.

While Kemberlee enjoyed each of these jobs, she always enjoyed writing fiction and finally put pen to paper in the mid 1980s, writing Sarah's Secret, Under the Hawke's Wing and Madeira.

In 1997, Kemberlee couldn't pass up the trip of a lifetime and took the opportunity to spend six month on the Emerald Isle. While in Ireland, she met a man...as one does! Upon permanently relocating to Ireland, Kemberlee and her Irishman tied the knot on 9 September 1999 (9-9-99).

In Ireland, Kemberlee's 'day job' has been in the travel business, working with people traveling to Ireland as a travel consultant. Over the years, Kemberlee has built a reputation as one of Ireland's foremost Irish travel experts. Writing has always been in the foreground of Kemberlee's life. When not writing fiction, she writes articles on historical sites, people and places around Ireland.

Since moving to Ireland, Kemberlee has had the opportunity to study Ireland's rich history and culture, and has even picked up a 'cúpla focal'...a few Irish words. Because of her extensive knowledge of Ireland, she has had the privilege of working with some top authors who have set their stories in Ireland, including Deb Stover for "Mulligan Stew" and "Mulligan Magic."

Kemberlee's literary interests have also extended to book reviewing. She reviewed books from 1996 to 2008, was a charter member of Reviewers' International Organization (RIO) and served as RIO President twice, 2001-2001 and 2006-2008. She's a member of the Central Coast Writer's Club, a chapter of the California Writer's Club, which was founded in 1909 by writers Jack London and Herman Whitaker, and poet George Sterling.

It was in 2006 that Kemberlee enjoyed literary success with the publication of Tutti-Frutti Blues and Dude Looks Like A Lady, both of which are set in her native home of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Moondance and The Power of Love followed the same year, which are both set in Ireland.

A Piece of My Heart, part of the Irish Pride series, is Kemberlee's first published novel-length story, garnering 5 star reviews from readers and reviewers. The short story sequel, Constant Craving, was released in August 2010. Kemberlee encourages fans of these stories to keep their eyes open for Rhythm of My Heart and Shape of My Heart, which are currently being shopped.

Kemberlee has lived in the counties of Dublin, Wicklow, and Cork, but currently resides in County Kildare with her husband Peter and their two "hairy kids," Daisie and Poppy.


Books

Fiction

Non-Fiction

Multiple writing articles with Hearticles: Articles with Heart

Multiple travel articles with All Ireland Travel

Series/Related Titles

IRISH PRIDE series

CARMEL CHARMERS

Awards/Honors

CoffeeTime Romance Readers Award 2010 for A Piece of My Heart

On the Web

See Also

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