Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlene Partee.
Hi Charlene, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was in my sophomore English class in college, we had to write a short story. When my professor returned my paper he said, “you are really good at this, you should consider doing this professionally.” I was very proud and grateful for his comments, but couldn’t imagine calling my mother to tell her I was changing my major from Biology/Pre-Med to English to pursue a career as a writer. It would not have gone well. Plus, I had decided when I was a sophomore in high school that I wanted to be a doctor and I could not just change my mind, right? Seriously, once you tell people you are going to be a doctor, that kinda becomes your identity.
So, I became a doctor. When I said I wanted to help people on my medical school interview, I truly meant it. I went on to study public health because I was so disturbed by the amount of youth coming in with gunshot wounds when I did my trauma rotation at The Med (now Regional One). I wanted to figure out how to help communities because one patient at a time did not feel efficient or effective.
I completed a pediatric internship, a psychiatry residency, and a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship. It has been very fulfilling serving my patients over the years, but I never forgot what my professor told me in college.
In 2017, I wrote a children’s book called Kingdom of Sunshine, though it took until 2024 to get it illustrated and published. During this same period, I rediscovered my love for reading fiction—something I had enjoyed extensively as a child but abandoned when I started college. This renewed passion for reading has inspired me to begin writing a contemporary fiction novel, which I’m currently working on. The entire writing process has been incredibly fulfilling and brought me a lot of joy.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. The seven-year delay between writing Kingdom of Sunshine and seeing it fully realized demonstrates just how daunting the process can be, especially when you need to find an illustrator but lack those artistic skills yourself. Self-doubt became a constant companion along the way. Eventually, I shifted my mindset and decided to pursue writing as a form of self-care rather than for external validation. While I hope others will connect with my work, I’ve learned not to burden myself with that pressure. My primary goal now is simply to find joy in the writing process itself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a child and adolescent psychiatrist who has channeled my lifelong passion for reading into creating meaningful children’s literature. I specialize in writing stories that blend spiritual truths with engaging narratives, helping young readers develop both emotional intelligence and faith understanding.
My debut book, “Kingdom of Sunshine,” which presents the Gospel message through the allegorical story of Prince Josh bringing light to a dark village. I’m known for making complex spiritual concepts accessible to children while maintaining the depth that appeals to adults reading alongside them.
I’m most proud of creating a story that serves as both entertainment and spiritual foundation—where children can grasp the beauty of Christ’s sacrificial love while learning they too can be light-bearers in their world. The book bridges my professional understanding of child development with my faith, creating something that nurtures both heart and mind.
My unique combination of psychiatric expertise and storytelling allows me to craft narratives that are developmentally appropriate while addressing deep spiritual themes. I understand how children process concepts like sacrifice, love, and transformation, which enables me to present these truths in ways that resonate rather than overwhelm. My approach honors both the child’s developmental stage and the profound nature of the Gospel message.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Most people might be surprised to learn that my love for reading was so intense as a child that I regularly got in trouble for staying up way past my bedtime, unable to put a book down until I discovered how the story ended. That same inability to resist a good story is what drives me today—I want to write the kinds of books that would have kept my younger self up all night.
Pricing:
- $15.99- Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Sunshine-Charlene-Partee/dp/B0CZV59Y2T/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OufIs_f19rpNx9SeNRu6TxqaOgXo3deo6eV2TCwsa1mjYFYOKvs30499KN3_WJ32THBo5chIIk67tYeQMdNTudW0OIn_xg1W4zbEJ6OFxwXjSlV1Pc9wR8XKivbOyl7JPgdc7zAws5xxxtQWkJj41GX0LFs5dQw3aHFX-Egtyzu3mcGuiah4TxwdySoXqZ3yMZW6uVn0RdbV7SArKVUcciXLc3DOo57cn2hJSU_FSA4.eqWAZ6_AVaIDxv2UOl8qm2yYhwi8Jk-vCIetsd-6_ug&qid=1752704123&sr=8-1
Contact Info:
- Website: https://charlenepartee.crd.co/
- Instagram: @refreshingfamilies
