A Lone Birch: My Artistic Journey

by Kate Moynihan

This is a candid and moving book in which Kate asks the question that every female artist has to How do I live and love and stay true to myself and my art? A question she feels she is grappling with alone in her small-town Michigan life. In the end, she resorts to an old method of escape, with disastrous consequences. Abandoned, shamed and without resources, she faces an uphill battle as she struggles to regain her self-esteem.
It's a journey that is both unique and universal, as Kate shows in tracing her own brave and often turbulent life.
Read this inspiring book for its lessons and its lovely honest prose.

Genres: Nonfiction

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2018

Reviews

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book completely by accident, or maybe not really if you believe in divine messages. I liked the idea of the book and decided to purchase it. Once I received it and started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I honestly can't wait to buy copies for a few artists that I know could benefit from all of the lessons in this book. It's a tremendously insightful look into the life of someone who was pushed to live a life that she was "supposed" to live. A normal life where you get married, have 2.5 kids, live in a subdivision with a dog or cat and work for "the man" from 9-5 for 30 years and "hope" you can retire after that.

I love how brave Kate was in making the choice to leave her family in pursuit of her passions. Many will argue with me on that front, but I work with people every day who live lives that other people chose for them or they're doing what society says they "should" be doing and they're absolutely miserable. I commend Kate for doing what her heart told her to do and being brave. I also commend her for baring her soul for all to see. She did this with love in her heart so that others can understand that it's perfectly ok to question societal and familial norms and follow your own dreams.

Bless you Kate for your courage and conviction!!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in Holland, I have long been an admirer of Kate's artwork. Kate's iconic signature above her storefront made her one of the most recognizable merchants in Holland's shopping district. I still mourn the closing of her gallery every time I am downtown. Having only known of her as a successful artist and community leader, I found this book to be an interesting and inspiring glimpse into her backstory. So often we think of successful public figures as having it all together and assume that they were just born that way and achievements came effortlessly, but once you know their history you realize that their lives can be just as messy as anybody else's, and that it's what you do with it that matters.

I appreciated her humility in sharing the less flattering parts of her life story, her tenacity in the struggle to forge an identity as an individual and as an artist, and her testimony to the value of therapy and journaling in that process. I found many points of connection and enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at what it took to become the confident, successful businesswoman we see today.

This was an engrossing memoir that kept me hooked all the way through to the end, and will have me thinking on some of the larger themes for a while. Since finishing this book I have also ordered one of her adventure stories for kids, Beached in a Camper, to have on hand for my grandkids when they come to visit. From the previews I can tell that her skill for vivid descriptions and entertaining writing extend to this age group as well, and will be a delight for junior readers.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure. Honesty is the best policy.
But how often are you flat-out honest, in public, in print, with all your flaws and foibles and fears?
That's quite a lot to ask of anyone, and Kate Moynihan -- artist, author, public speaker -- does just that in her new memoir, "A Lone Birch." If you'd like to dismount from your high horse for a while and take in the unvarnished account of how Kate struggled on her way to a successful career in the arts ... you'll learn a lot on the journey with this talented artist. The author shares her story of travels and travails brought on by family strife and a complicated married life. She also inspires with her obvious determination to prevail. To create. To succeed. Would that many of us could face our troubles with quite as much fortitude as Kate. This is a worthwhile story of obstacles overcome. --Mark

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting local memoir. Self publishing has brought a whole new realm to “books”. Everyone’s an author and everyone’s a critic. I’ve been to this store and it was interesting to read her struggles, but at times it felt like I was reading a long store promotional pamphlet. The store is closing, but all retail is in serious decline. I hope that she continues to paint and I appreciated her honesty and growth that comes from reflecting back.

[Sandie Coffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real people, real situations--Kate Moynihan speaks candidly, revealing personal facts and sharing questions she asked herself, about what she was facing and where she was headed. She tells it like it was without the sugar coating, face on, for all to see. Her colorful descriptions of characters and freedom to open up to us kept me engaged while reading her journey. I found bits of myself in there and more than once paused for a time to do some personal assessment and evaluation. Certainly, she leads in her tenacity to continue, grow from mistakes, and proceed with persistent determination. Kate doesn't crawl in a hole or give up when faced with adversity or while staring at the (not so good) effects of personal decisions made. Everybody needs a cheerleader. She overcame difficulties. You can too! Get up. Grow. Keep going! Kate doesn't grow old. Kate is fearless in trying new things!

As an art facilitator, I use examples from Kate's life lessons in her book to bring HOPE. Her facebook posts and website contents are also useful to share artistic principles while sharing her delightful, colorful style. I'm inspired by her journey artistically and feel like she did when she discovered water color paints. I'm quoting her on page 24, "I felt inspired, challenged, and eager for more."--that's the effect her book had on me.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew of Kate Moynihan as a gallery owner and talented artist in the town I live. What I didn’t know was the story behind what it took for her to become a successful businesswoman and well-known professional artist. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the author’s story of determination to make a career as an artist after working 15 years as a nurse. Kate chose to include some aspects of her life she is not proud of and may disappoint some readers, but her story also demonstrates that one can overcome past mistakes and still achieve one’s goals and dreams. For anyone who has dealt with their parents’ questioning of their career decisions, will relate to this book as well. I enjoyed reading A Lone Birch and found it easy to read with short chapters.

I read A Lone Birch as part of a book club and recommend it for other book clubs. There are many topics to discuss such as: life choices, career change, women & men’s roles, and what sacrifices one would make to achieve our dreams.

[Sally Rasch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading A Lone Birch. I could feel you growing with each new chapter and challenge. I admired your courage to find the solutions to get your life back on track to where you wanted/needed to be--closer to your boys. I understand how it is to think someone else is responsible for your happiness, but in reality , it's inside of you! You just needed to figure out how to make that happen, and you certainly have accomplished that! Ihope others who read your book will be inspired not to give up on their dreams. Be brave and try new experiences! "Be resilient like a birch tree"!! I think I'll plant a few birch trees in my woods! It will encourage me to embrace the changes I'd like to see in myself as I approach my seventies!! I make the happiness happen, not someone else!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshingly honest book! In this autobiography, the author shares her journey from feeling unfulfilled, like she had a Tonka truck in her chest, her journey through several hiccups and unfortunate choices to finding her way as an artist (as well as making a living from it) and finding love and fulfillment. The narrative was gripping and I read the whole thing in one sitting. Luckily, my husband was on hand to bring me drinks and tissues (lol)! Several parts of the book resonated with me personally, and I think many women would see themselves in many of the experiences that Kate went through and felt.
I highly recommend this book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest life story without pretense - she tells the good and the bad about her life, her marriages, her struggles with following her dream, her successes and failures in personal relationships with her family, her husband, her "hope" fiancée and her children and her parents and her second marriage and all of the people who came to her aid when she needed it most. Her life as an artist was a great deal of interest to me and her humility is endearing as so many artists are on ego trips without regard as to how they are viewed by others.

[Hope Olson]

I read this incredible memoir cover to cover in one single summer day. Kate Moynihan bears her heart in A Lone Birch and bravely shares both the gorgeous and the gritty parts of her life as an artist, daughter, wife, and mother. I enjoyed learning about the trajectory of Kate's career as I am a professional painter myself. But it was through reading her personal stories of trial, heartbreak, and forgiveness, that I really felt like I "got to know" Kate as a passionate and curious fellow human being, walking through life with her hands and heart wide open.

[Mary Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been in Kate's gallery many times. I never realized the struggles she went through. She is a hero to me because she persevered. She knew what she wanted and made plans to reach that goal. There were hardships, disappointments and failures along with success. I am so happy for her that she is retiring from a successful art gallery and moving on to other things, such as lectures and grandkids.

[Darci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate's book is amazingly candid and real. Not only does it illustrate the struggles of a female artist, but also the challenge of following your dreams and making difficult changes in order to do that. Kate holds nothing back from this book- all her triumphs, failures, fears- everything is put out there for the reader. The result of this honesty is the moving journey of a woman trying to find happiness and self-fulfillment, and can help the reader do the same.

[Aimee G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think her watercolors are beautiful. I enjoyed learning about her background and how she was first an RN and went on to become an artist. She is very candid about her life - I appreciate her honesty and how difficult that was for her to write it down and share.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

One artistic woman's journey to find herself and make her dream a reality.
Hers is a story of resiliency in the face of setbacks. I highly recommend this for anyone
wanting to read a story of strength. It was easy to read and I felt the emotions throughout each chapter.

[Mary Vanderkooy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The author lives in the Holland area so it had some local interest for me. It tells the story of her life and how she became an artist.

[Denise J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

She writes beautifully the simplicity of her technique allows the complexity of her narrative to shine through.

[Sandra Sikkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

So interesting to read the memoir of a hometown artist. I found the book well written and easy to read.

[Carol Wit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was extremely fortunate to obtain one of Kate Moynihan's paintings, and I love it!! She does amazing and absolutely beautiful work! I was in the process of reading A Lone Birch: My Artistic Journey that she wrote when I obtained her painting, so the painting was even more special to me. She went thru so much in her life, but she always followed her heart. She wrote a wonderful, interesting story of her life and journey, at times it almost brought me to tears and other times I couldn't help but laugh, I read it almost all the way thru without stopping! It was a wonderful, interesting look into her life and her personal and artistic journey. I heard she is writing another book, I hope so, as I will be purchasing it!