Bringing Life to Characters: Episode 20 Kathleen Donnelly

This week I'll have Award-winning author Kathleen Donnelly, who was a handler for Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines—a Colorado-based narcotics K-9 company. She retired from the K-9 work, but continues to enjoy crafting realism into her fictional stories from her dog-handling experience. Along with working dogs, Kathleen trained horses and loves spending time with her own mare. Her love of the mountains came from growing up in Colorado where her father worked for the U.S. Forest Service. She has a B.A. in Journalism from Colorado State University and formerly wrote for The Berthoud Weekly Surveyor where she won a Colorado Press Award. Her debut novel, Chasing Justice, won a Best Book Award from the American Book Fest, a PenCraft Award for Romantic Suspense and was a 2023 Silver Falchion finalist in the Suspense category and Readers’ Choice Award. Her second book, Hunting The Truth, was a Colorado Authors League finalist in the mystery category and a 2024 Silver Falchion finalist for the Reader’s Choice Award. She lives near the Colorado foothills with her husband and four-legged friends.