About The Author…
Why write a story book about Carmel-by-the-Sea?
I grew up in Pacific Grove and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
My Grandmother lived one block from town, so the village was basically my backyard. She never learned to drive a car, so we walked everywhere. We ran her errands hand in hand, from picking up her mail at the post office to grocery shopping at Bruno’s Market and stopping by Hansel and Gretel’s candy shop. We visited the library every week, watched movies at the cinema in town and attended outdoor plays at The Forest Theatre. I spent so much time with her, that I frequented most of the senior centers often, even though I was just a child. I learned to play bingo at The Carmel Foundation and watched them set up fabulous luncheons at The Carmel Woman’s Club while I snuck sugar cubes from the kitchen. We loved our picnics in the park with sandwiches from Mediterranean Market and she would always give me a penny to throw in the fish pond there.
When I was a teenager, I performed shows at Sunset Center and hung at the beach with my friends watching all the cute surfers. I would wake up early and walk down to the beach on weekends and eat my cereal in pure bliss, with the ocean as my dining companion. I realized at a very young age, that on the long walk back up the hill I felt a sense of calm, I had never felt anywhere else. My attachment to Carmel was born and has never left me.
My path to becoming an author…
I have had many careers from being a Realtor, boutique owner, jewelry and gift designer, to restaurant owner and event planner. I’d like to think each one contributed to where I am now, and I have learned valuable lessons from each and every experience.
18 years ago, I became a military wife and we moved all over the United States and Europe. I always hoped that we would return here someday, and finally the time was right and we moved back to Carmel, just three blocks away from my grandmother’s home.
Life has raced by and I am now the proud mom of 29-year-old twin daughters, Sterling and Monique and our amazing son-in-law, Cody. I am also a very blessed “dog mommy” to Olly and to our sweet Lucille, who is now in heaven. My husband, Jean-Paul is my biggest supporter and we are now creating our own memories of Carmel together.
Once we settled down here, I felt like there was something I was supposed to do, maybe my next chapter in life, but I was not sure what it would be. I had lived enough to know what I was not interested in doing. I was certain that I wanted to create something to add a little more brightness to our world, especially for children. One day
as we were sitting at an outdoor café with our pups, the energy of the area inspired me in a way that I cannot explain. The idea of a children’s book, featuring dogs came to me and ideas began flooding in and my imagination took off. I clearly envisioned the story, the illustrations, all the little details in bringing the charm of our village and the pet’s personalities to life. I decided that at this time and place in my life, this is what I was meant to do.
It is my hope that this book will inspire you to begin your own adventure of your neighborhood, village, town or city and create your own memories.
By buying this book, you are also supporting local nonprofits in their mission to improve the lives of pets and humans and preserve the beauty of our area.
I encourage you to follow the walking map of Carmel-by-the-Sea of all the actual places featured in the story. If you can bring your pet or a loved one along…even better!
My life feels like it has come full circle now in a way I never imagined. There is a bench just outside my grandmother’s former home on Ocean Avenue, where her and I used to sit together and wait for the bus. I visit there often now, just sitting and reflecting and feeling the warmth of those childhood memories that shaped me into who I am today, and immense gratitude for each and every one of them.
May you always believe in the beauty of your own dreams,
Kirsten
Sharing our love of pets, reading and Carmel-by-the-Sea with you.
Written by local author
Kirsten Tarman