02/24/2026
KATIE STRONG & THE MERRYTON AMUSEMENT PARK
A Tale of Courage, Friendship, and a Whole Lot of Cats!
BOOK ONE of The Katie Strong Saga
*Discussion Questions for parents and educators included at the end of each book*
By: Janay Collins Kimble
MA Creative Writing - Full Sail University Full Sail University
BA English Creative Writing - Louisiana State University LSU
Alternate Certification Program - Southeastern Louisiana University Southeastern Louisiana University
Published Poet & Non-Fiction Author https://www.amazon.com/author/janaykimble
Amazon.com
Janay Collins Kimble CAFE JANAY Janaythepoet
Ⓒ2026 Kimble & Kimble Publishing House (small, independent literary press; incorporation pending)
HARDCOVER BOOKS AVAILABLE APRIL 7, 2026 ($15.00 + S&H)
If you would like to order a book for personal use or for use in the classroom or small group setting, please DM Janay Collins Kimble (no spam, no unsolicited manuscripts nor editorial advice, and absolutely NO BULLIES or SCAMMERS will be tolerated!)
If you are still reading, then here's a bonus just for YOU.
A preview of book one, I hope you enjoy reading and hope that you feel loved today. You are enough and you are worthy!
I love you ~KS
CHAPTER ONE: SOGGY SWAMP
A hazy morning settles over SOGGY SWAMP as sunlight creeps
through the grey fog. Moss hangs from cypress trees. Alligators
hide under green water. Birds sing from the branches. And
mosquitoes buzz all around.
In the shadows, lurks a lean and lanky, JAY GRAY. He sits atop
his faded blue dirt bike while Big Gray Cat rubs his whiskers on the
wheels. He scowls as he scribbles in his notebook, plotting ways to
outsmart everyone in town.
“Katie Strong thinks she’s clever,” he muttered, “but she won’t
see this coming.” With a sly grin, Jay tucks the notebook under his
arm and marches out of the bushes, determined to stir up trouble
before the day is done.
