Keli Wilson
I'm the author of a debut picture book in a planned children's series and founder of Tale Bound, LLC, an independent publishing house. Our mission is to help caregivers and teachers make it easier to start meaningful conversations through storytelling. These stories allow reflection and discussion about social and emotional well-being topics in a fun, warm way, fostering individual growth and positively impacting relationships and communities.
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Beyond my writing, I bring 20+ years of experience in HR risk management consulting, spanning governance, compliance, and risk; culture and conduct; and organizational effectiveness. I'm dedicated to expanding access to employment and higher education by identifying and mitigating systemic barriers.​ I have a B.A. in Psychology from West Virginia University where I was a Division I swimmer and a M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Xavier University.
My Story
Having worked in a professional setting and consulted with management across industries and sizes, I never imagined stepping into a world where children were my new audience.​ However, the pandemic forced me to turn my basement into a classroom for my kids and some of their friends. In doing so, I had a front-row seat to their ups and downs in terms of social and emotional well-being throughout remote learning. Around that same time, I came across an ad for Howard Community College's online course in children's literature. I signed up and began channeling my passion for writing toward this younger audience.​
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I've always understood the power of literacy, having grown up with a mother who is a reading specialist and supporting a child who faced early challenges with reading and speech. But my understanding of the need for empathy and developing with grace became even more personal when my other child experienced a neurological condition. Those experiences deepened my commitment to helping children and their caregivers navigate reading literacy, sense of self, and all the big feelings that come with each.​
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Tale Bound was born from the belief that a story about a dog's experiences as he understands his identity, skills, and relationships would offer a unique way to start difficult conversations more easily. I never had a dog growing up, and never planned to get one for my kids. Just days before we unexpectedly brought home our first (yes, first) pup, I made my kids a responsibility chart. Each child had daily tasks to complete, and if they achieved full marks by the end of the month, they'd earn a fish—one fish to share.
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But as a baseball mom with two boys on travel teams, I've learned that life throws curveballs. ​Ours came as a tree that fell directly onto my car during a windstorm while I was driving my youngest to daycare. The good news? We were both safe. The twist? That weekend didn't teach my kids responsibility; it taught them spontaneity. The happy ending is that we now have a beautiful, medicated, anxiety-diagnosed dog. The less-happy ending is that I'm highly allergic to my dog. I mean, dogs, but that's a story for the planned sequel.​
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Thank you for being here and believing that my books will make conversations easier. Get ready to fall head over paws for Cole, the heartfelt series star! His tail-wagging tale will warm your heart and allow a gentle start to meaningful talks.​