Thank you for visiting our blog! My daughter, Maia, and I created this blog together to share our writing, creativity, and advocacy inspiration… The logo was inspired by our cat, Katara (yes, a nod to the Avatar character), many years ago…hence the name Mad Kat Publishing 😉
It has been a while since I have shared on here. I took a much needed break from social media advocacy. After years of doing ostomy advocacy, I hit burnout, facing the stigma that many of us folk with disabilities deal with on a daily basis (you read that right… I have an ileostomy due UC. I had an emergency colectomy in 2000. More about this later). Ableism is so deeply engrained in our society, mindsets, and, wow, can that be overwhelming and sad, tbh. Rest assured that I have never stopped being an advocate. I will always be one of those people you can count on to be mindful, self-educating, and speak bravely. After all, this is a gift I have embraced my whole life, since a very young age.
I also did a lot of soul searching, research about my heritage, and needed some time to process all of that, ground myself, and move through and past what essentially might be described as identity crisis. Ya know, when you recognize AGAIN that the family lied. That said, thankfully, my ancestors have had a firm hold on me – essentially carrying me back to the cultures that are home to me and keeping me close: Brazilian with a blend of West African Yoruba and indigenous roots – trained the Afro-Brazilian Martial Art for many years. Through training and teaching Capoeira, I was often singing to my ancestors and the deities that empowered and protected them. How amazing is that. Jewish – trained and taught MMA with Krav Maga and Israeli Self Defense. Became part of a Jewish community and felt at home. Indian – practiced Hindu meditations for many years, learning from Indian Hindu masters, traveled to the Himalaya Mountains and visited an ashram.
The call to our truth is powerful.
If you’re neurodivergent yourself, or know, love, and appreciate someone who is, you may recognize that I am also autistic. Whew. Self realizations abound, and here I am updating this blog and envisioning my path forward…
Want to know more about my story? Here are some snippets…
- What an amazing opportunity it was to do a takeover on the Diversability’s instagram. I admire Tiffany Wu, the founder, corporate speaker, and author for her advocacy work and voice.
- Watch her TedEx.
- If you haven’t read her book,
- It was an honor to be featured in “8 Instagram Athletes Who Crush It With UC” on Health Central.
- I enjoyed sharing my experience and tips in my guest blog post, “An Ostomate’s Survival Kit,” for Spoonie Threads. I wrote another piece for their blog in the summer of 2025, Being Active with An Ostomy. Read about Co-Founders, Dr. Julie Sanchez and Saba Kamaras, and their story.
- Listen to my podcast interview with Stephanie Gish about my IBD story and near death experience, Episode 22: Katie Vyn, Ulcerative Colitis and the beautiful journey of life, on CrohnsFitnessFood.com and PodBean.
As I mentioned, these are essentially snippets…glimpses into my life and story. I ask you to be kind and respectful. Leave my story with me. Share if you like, but remember the golden rule of being an ally – never try to take over someone else’s story or voice. Know how to hold yourself accountable to this or be quiet, listen, and learn. Speak from your own experience. And I do not like gossip.
That said, as you likely gather, there have been some serious delays. Due to my light sensitivity and chronic ocular migraines, I dedicate much of my work time and screen time to work. I am still a health coach, and love what I do! We will be re-evaluating some of our writing drafts over time and seeing what’s next…
And back to publications…
Chapter 1 of Chloe Rose: Book I is available as an audiobook excerpt on our YouTube channel! Click here to listen. You can buy the ebook on Amazon.
Our illustrated children’s book about Capoeira is available as an ebook on Amazon. Click on image below to buy your copy, or to read in Kindle Unlimited.
Rise Above
Copyright © 2018 Katherine Vyn
Sculpted
from red, brown dusty earth
Warmed
by fire and eternal love
Cooled and Calmed
by endless seas
Carried
by wind, air, and ether
We are brought to life
and sustained
Rise above
Taught
by hardship, kindness, and trust
Guided
by acts, words, and motions
Healed
by compassion, love, and faith
Unified
by tragedy, loss, and understanding
We are more than human
We are one
Rise above
Get it now on Amazon – CLICK HERE
Copyright ©2016 Katherine Vyn and Maia Vyn McFarlane
Thank you for reading!
Comments from readers:
Journey to another place and time in this vividly descriptive Alice in Wonderland type tale of Chloe Rose and her family’s disappearance. The debut authors’ expressive writing creates images which bring the reader’s imagination into the story. “Raspberry sorbet colored blossoms cascade from tree branches and spread across the forest floor like a velvet blanket.” This delightful story is truly captivating! Well done!
-Female Adult Reader
Brilliant, brilliant…read the book this morning. Real raw talent. Sure hope you’re all going to make it into a movie. Seriously. Love it way up.
-Adult Male Reader
OMG, I love this part in the forest. This is the best book ever!!!!!!!!!!! I love how detailed all the characters are. It makes it feel like you’re in the book. I also love how different all of the characters are. Can’t wait for the other two!
-Female Young Adult Reader
Excellent narrative and I absolutely loved how the elements of nature and wild come alive in this mystery novel!! Recommended for all ages!
-Female Adult Reader
Read an excerpt below, following the book description.
A fantasy-adventure book about a young girl who goes on a life changing journey into a surreal forest to find her father. She quickly learns there’s an evil presence lurking close by, which she must overcome to save the forest and herself. With each step, a new danger surfaces, and she’s pushed to realize the strength she holds within and the invincibility of friendships.
For young adult and adult readers.
CHLOE ROSE
Chapter 1
The swirls of green come alive on the canvas. A large gaping mouth at the center, saliva slides down, caressing the silvery tongue that hangs out the side. Flower petals larger than life surround this green beast-like creature. There’s an unexpected kindness in its dark eyes flecked with yellow. Chloe Rose steps closer to the painting.
“Its eyes are like dad’s,” she says, turning towards her mother. Lauren’s sitting on a wooden stool in her art studio, her paint speckled apron barely covers her dress. Her dark brown hair is pulled back loosely into a hair tie, some longer hairs escaping to frame her face—one even got swept up by a draft apparently and dipped into the paint–and her deep brown eyes are lost in thought for a moment.
“I didn’t notice,” Lauren says without moving away from her painting. “Won’t Holly be here soon, Rosie?” Lauren gives Chloe Rose a look up and down and raises her eyebrow at her. Chloe Rose backs away from the painting slowly.
“I’ll go get ready,” she says, walking out of the room and disappearing around the corner. Lauren looks over her shoulder at the painting behind her. The eyes stare back at her.
©2016 Katherine Vyn & Maia Vyn-McFarlane
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Mad Kat Publishing 