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Catherine Shields

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.cathyshieldswriter.com

Twitter

Catshields1

Genre

Memoir, Nonfiction, Parenting

Member Since

October 2016

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/60915900-cathy-shields

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Catherine (Cathy) Shields writes about parenting, disabilities, and self-discovery. In debut memoir, The Shape Of Normal, A Memoir Of Motherhood, Disability And Embracing A Different Kind Of Perfect, Cathy explores the truths and lies parents tell themselves. Her book was named a category WINNER in the 2023 American Writing Awards, and her writing has twice been nominated for a Pushcart. Her essays have been published in NBC Today. Newsweek, Bacopa Literary Review, Grown and Flown, Brevity Blog, Mother Magazine, U Revolution, and Write City Magazine. Cathy resides in Miami, Florida with her husband. They enjoy taking long bike rides and kayaking. Follow her on her Instagram @cathyshieldswriter..

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Catherine Shields’s books

Average rating: 4.77 · 57 ratings · 38 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

The Shape of Normal: A Memoir of Motherhood, Disability and Embracing a Different Kind of Perfect

4.77 avg rating — 57 ratings — 2 editions

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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

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Catherine Shields's Blog

Here’s an excerpt from my book, a story published in Bacopa Literary Review

Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Bacopa-Literar...

The Messenger

My cousin Charlie and I stand six feet apart in my living room. I imagine he has already calculated the prescribed distance before he even stepped over the threshold. He hasn’t changed. Not since I saw him ten years ago when he came to my wedding and wore what seemed to be an exact replica of that long, black coat.

When he call

Catherine is Currently Reading

Catherine Shields is currently reading

The Enchanted Garden Cafe (The South Side Stories Book 1)

by Abigail Drake (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 27, 2024 05:08PM

Catherine Shields is currently reading

But I'm Still Here: Shaking the Tree - brazen. short. memoir. (Vol. 5)

by Marni Freedman

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jan 29, 2024 02:01PM

Catherine Shields is currently reading

The Book Bible: How to Sell Your Manuscript—No Matter What Genre—Without Going Broke or Insane

by Susan Shapiro (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Nov 01, 2022 01:38PM

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Catherine’s Recent Updates

Catherine Shields entered a giveaway The Birdwatcher by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Goodreads Author) 10 copies available, ends on December 09, 2025 Enter to win »
Nov 10, 2025 05:00PM · like · see giveaway
Catherine Shields made a comment on Chantel’s review of The Shape of Normal: A Memoir of Motherhood, Disability and Embracing a Different Kind of Perfect " Wow thank you! "
Oct 24, 2025 06:50AM · see review
Catherine Shields made a comment on Nellie Thorne’s review of The Shape of Normal: A Memoir of Motherhood, Disability and Embracing a Different Kind of Perfect " Thank you for reading! "
Oct 24, 2025 06:48AM · see review
Catherine Shields is now following Deep Choudhary's reviews
Sep 24, 2025 04:12PM · 1 like · like
Catherine Shields liked Deep Choudhary's review of The Shape of Normal: A Memoir of Motherhood, Disability and Embracing a Different Kind of Perfect: "Catherine Shields’ memoir, “The Shape of Normal,” offers a deeply personal and introspective look at the complexities of motherhood, particularly in the context of raising a child with cognitive disabilities. Set against the backdrop of the early 198" Read more of this review »
Sep 24, 2025 04:12PM · see review
Catherine Shields wants to read City of Thieves by David Benioff	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 12, 2025 01:07PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of City of Thieves by David Benioff. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — City of Thieves by David Benioff <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Shields entered a giveaway A Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction by Elizabeth McCracken	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 03, 2025 07:32AM · 1 like · like · see giveaway
Catherine Shields wants to read The Monsters We Make: Murder, Obsession, and the Rise of Criminal Profiling by Rachel Corbett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 22, 2025 03:26PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Monsters We Make by Rachel Corbett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Monsters We Make by Rachel Corbett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Shields wants to read Vagabond: A Memoir by Tim Curry	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 22, 2025 03:25PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Vagabond by Tim Curry. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Vagabond by Tim Curry <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Shields made a comment on Cheryl Young’s review of The Shape of Normal: A Memoir of Motherhood, Disability and Embracing a Different Kind of Perfect " Cheryl, thank you so much! Hope all is well with you. "
Aug 13, 2025 03:39PM · see review

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Catherine’s Quotes

“For years, I struggled to resist the diagnosis, trying to make Jessica normal, trying to fit her into the mold of my imagined future. But what I now see is the valuable lesson Jessica taught me. I was the one who needed to change.”
― Catherine Shields

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