Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Wissner.
Hi Tina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2009, I wrote my first draft of Santa’s Kittens, a picture book for children ages 2 to 6. Because I was working on a variety of stories in 2009, I put Santa’s Kittens into my WIP (Work in Progress) folder. After three years had passed, I picked up where I left off and had some critique partners give suggestions. I rewrote the story in rhyme, changed a few names, and began adding art notes. As a collector of Beanie Babies, I then drafted a toy kitten prototype for a toymaker to consider. For me, this process was the easiest. In the year 2018, with good timing and a little luck, I was able to order seven unique kittens. Once I held the plush toys, I immediately knew I was onto something big. My next step was to secure a SANTA’s KITTENS trademark in the US and EU. From there, I had 300 of each of the seven kittens made.
Once I realized that my dream was becoming a reality, I began exploring self-publishing options. Since this wasn’t simply a book but a tradition that included a toy, I wanted to maintain all artistic control. This included the illustrations in the book. Covid made the process extremely challenging since companies were short-staffed. My publication journey took three years.
It was exhilarating and exhausting, frustrating and rewarding. My perseverance and patience were put to the test.
Today my fellow writers and creators ask me, “If you had to do it all over again, would you?” My answer is: Yes. Absolutely yes!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A huge struggle occurred during the illustration stage. The artist and artist liaison were not communicating clearly. My art notes and character descriptions somehow got completely lost in translation. It took over one year for my vision to come to fruition. My objective was to have books printed to sell for Christmas 2021. Now I am grateful for missing my deadline because my book release would’ve been virtual instead of in person. This struggle was a blessing in disguise.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What prompted me to invest my time, money and energy into this endeavor was nothing short of a miracle. My birth name is Mary Christine and my birthdate December 29.
I like to tease that I was destined to start a Christmas tradition since my name sounds like Merry Christmas and that I was born during the Christmas holiday.
Anyhow, one cold and dreary December 29th, my husband, daughters and I were preparing to leave for my birthday dinner. When my oldest daughter, who has Type 1 Diabetes, seemed to be taking much too long to come downstairs, I ran up to her room to check on her. She was unresponsive and needed emergency care.
As the EMS doctors were treating her, I immediately realized how blessed our family had been over the holidays. From the time my daughter was three years old (now 20) not one single Christmas was spent in the hospital.
My passion for SANTA’S KITTENS grew as I was stricken with the idea of providing books and plush kittens to children who were hospitalized on Christmas morning. My mission was to take that same magic that inspired the book and toy into the child’s room. To share the magic in a way that proved Santa indeed visited and that SANTA’s KITTEN helped him finish the milk that was left out for him. If my daughter had to experience Christmas in a hospital bed, I would certainly want the magic of Christmas filling the room.
What matters most to you?
Giving back. Because I’ve been given so much.
Family. Keeps me grounded. Teaches me kindness and patience. Strengthens my gratitude.
Faith. Gives me a healthier and more spiritual perspective on life, love and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Email: tinawissner@gmail.com
- Website: santaskittens.com
- Instagram: @santaskittens
- Facebook: Facebook/santaskittens.com
- Twitter: @tinawissner
- Youtube: Santa’s Kittens
