ALUMNI MASTERCLASS

Author Kate O’Shaughnessy ’03

Writes Specifically For 12-Year-Olds

Middle grade author and alumna Kate O’Shaughnessy ’03 was interviewed by Middle School English Teacher Shaun Kelly on April 11 as part of the Alumni Office’s ongoing Masterclass series.

Ms. O’Shaughnessy is the author of The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane and Lasagna Means I Love You, published in Feb. 2023. Her books have received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly. “Maybelle Lane finds courage she didn’t know she had—and it’s contagious. A rich and rewarding debut,” states the Kirkus review.

Ms. O’Shaugnessy has a soft spot for the 12-year-old protagonist, the age of both of her main characters. “It’s a time of so much transition. You’re going from being a little kid to understanding that the world is complex. I love to live in that space and hope to connect with my readers, let them know that they are not alone.”

On her school visits, she tells students that she started writing only after high school. “I was in special classes for reading in Lower School and it took me a couple of years to catch up. People think that you have to have some great gift early on. That was not my story.”

Ms. O’Shaughnessy started writing in college when she was “lonely and bored.” She compares writing to building cabinetry. “You only get better through practice—lots of daily reading and writing.”

Research is an important part of her writing process. The main character of The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane is look-

Paul’s presentation explored how parent and work relationships have shifted post pandemic and beyond. “I can tell you that in five years the dynamic in our homes between spouses is going to be different, but it’s only going to be different in a positive way if we’re talking about the changes. The Company of Dads is passionate about leading that positive discussion, which will benefit us and our children,” he said.

Before starting The Company of Dads in 2021, Paul J. Sullivan wrote the Wealth Matters column in The New York Times for 13 years. He also created the Money Game column in Golf magazine. He is the author of two books Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don’t and The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of The Super Wealthy ing for her father and embarks on a road trip from Louisiana to Nashville. Ms. O’Shaughnessy took the same road trip with her sister and noted the sensory details in her journal while in the passenger seat.

Ms. O’Shaughnessy lives in California now but stays connected to GCDS because her niece and nephew attend the school. She has fond memories of her time here and values the special bonds she made with her teachers. “All of the teachers are so unique. You felt so taken care of in each class.”

Look out for Ms. O’Shaughnessy third book The Wrong Way Home, which is coming out next spring. Check out the full interview on GCDS Connect.

This year’s Tiger Bash—themed Viva Country Day! —brought over 1,000 parents, guardians, faculty, and staff together under one of the largest tents ever constructed in Connecticut.

It was a night to remember, filling the tent with laughter, games, entertainment, refreshments, community spirit, and lots of Tiger Pride! The event raised over $1 million dollars for the Capital Campaign, and over $100,000 to support financial aid. Tiger Bash Committee Co-Chairs Stacey Higdon and Amy Balducci and their team of over 100 volunteers deserve a huge thank you for their hard work in creating this joy-filled community event.