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Kitty Felde
ALLi Author Member
Location: United States of America (the)
Genres: Cosy Mystery, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Children's general
Skills: Performance/Spoken Word, Press/Media Interview, Reading/Literary Event, Self-publishing Workshop/Training, Speaking Engagement/Lecture, Writing Workshop
Kitty Felde is an award-winning journalist, podcaster, and writer of children’s mysteries set on Capitol Hill.
She is also host and executive producer of the Book Club for Kids podcast – named one of the top kidcasts in the world by "The Times" of London. The show has won the DC Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Humanities and the California Library Association Technology Award.
Her award-winning debut novel "Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza" (Chesapeake Press, 2023) is the tale of the 10-year-old daughter of a member of Congress who solves mysteries on Capitol Hill, including the mystery of the Demon Cat. It has been adapted to an 8-part dramatic podcast The Fina Mendoza Mysteries, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc.
Kitty’s second Fina Mendoza mystery "State of the Union" received a FIVE STAR review from Forward Clarion.
Kitty was named “Radio Journalist of the Year” three times in three years by the LA Press Club and Society of Professional Journalists. She hosted Southern California Public Radio KPCC’s afternoon talk show “Talk of the City” for nearly a decade and created the station’s Washington bureau, covering Capitol Hill.
Kitty is also an award-winning playwright whose work has been produced worldwide. She co-founded LA’s Theatre of NOTE and led the playwriting program at the HOLA Youth Theatre in Los Angeles. She grew up in Compton, the eldest of seven children. She is married to writer Tad Daley.
Kitty Felde's books
Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza
The West Wing meets Nancy Drew. The 10-year-old daughter of a congressman solves mysteries in the US Capitol...and introduces civics to kids. Can she save her family from the curse of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill?
"A lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine." Kirkus Reviews
Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza
The West Wing meets Nancy Drew. The 10-year-old daughter of a congressman solves mysteries in the US Capitol...and introduces civics to kids. Can she save her family from the curse of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill?
"A lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine." Kirkus Reviews
State of the Union: a Fina Mendoza Mystery
A mysterious bird poops on the president during the State of the Union address. Is it Chickcharney, the legendary bird from the Caribbean? Did it fly to Washington D.C. with a secret message for the president? Or for Congress? Or is the message for 10-year-old Fina Mendoza, the daughter of a congressman who solves mysteries inside the U.S. Capitol?
Fina gives readers a glimpse behind-the-scenes on Capitol Hill as she learns about American democracy, the electoral process, the U.S. legislative branch, and civic engagement… and solves mysteries after school. Her Dr. Watson is a big orange dog named Senator Something.
While Fina searches for clues, readers are introduced to the inner workings of American democracy, including a congressional battle over immigration reform. There’s another battle in her multigenerational home when Fina’s grandmother is nearly arrested at an immigration protest.
Estado de la Unión
Mi nombre es Fina Mendoza. Resuelvo misterios en el Capitolio de los Estados Unidos con la ayuda de un gran perro naranja llamado Senador Algo. Juntos buscamos una misteriosa ave que le defecó encima al presidente durante un Discurso del Estado de la Unión.
Podría tratarse de Chickcharney, la mítica ave del Caribe. ¿Viajó hasta Washington para darle un mensaje al presidente del Congreso? ¿O es un mensaje para mí? ¡Depende de mí y del Senador Algo encontrar a esa ave!
Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th
A Latina protagonist of spunk and smarts worries about her congressman father on January 6, 2021.
Fina Mendoza, our amateur detective, is in the middle of an investigation to find out who stole the 5th grade pizza. But all thoughts of detection go out the window as she, her sister Gabby, and grandmother Abuelita watch on television as a mob breaks into the Capitol. Is Papa okay? Most of Fina's classmates have parents who work inside that building as well. Their teacher calms their fears and the next day, turns the event into a teaching opportunity, looking back at the bitter presidential election rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The students discuss the importance of both winning and losing, whether it's in a baseball game, a reading competition, or an election.
Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th
A Latina protagonist of spunk and smarts worries about her congressman father on January 6, 2021.
Fina Mendoza, our amateur detective, is in the middle of an investigation to find out who stole the 5th grade pizza. But all thoughts of detection go out the window as she, her sister Gabby, and grandmother Abuelita watch on television as a mob breaks into the Capitol. Is Papa okay? Most of Fina's classmates have parents who work inside that building as well. Their teacher calms their fears and the next day, turns the event into a teaching opportunity, looking back at the bitter presidential election rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The students discuss the importance of both winning and losing, whether it's in a baseball game, a reading competition, or an election.
Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th
A Latina protagonist of spunk and smarts worries about her congressman father on January 6, 2021.
Fina Mendoza, our amateur detective, is in the middle of an investigation to find out who stole the 5th grade pizza. But all thoughts of detection go out the window as she, her sister Gabby, and grandmother Abuelita watch on television as a mob breaks into the Capitol. Is Papa okay? Most of Fina's classmates have parents who work inside that building as well. Their teacher calms their fears and the next day, turns the event into a teaching opportunity, looking back at the bitter presidential election rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The students discuss the importance of both winning and losing, whether it's in a baseball game, a reading competition, or an election.
Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th
A Latina protagonist of spunk and smarts worries about her congressman father on January 6, 2021.
Fina Mendoza, our amateur detective, is in the middle of an investigation to find out who stole the 5th grade pizza. But all thoughts of detection go out the window as she, her sister Gabby, and grandmother Abuelita watch on television as a mob breaks into the Capitol. Is Papa okay? Most of Fina's classmates have parents who work inside that building as well. Their teacher calms their fears and the next day, turns the event into a teaching opportunity, looking back at the bitter presidential election rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The students discuss the importance of both winning and losing, whether it's in a baseball game, a reading competition, or an election.
Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th
A Latina protagonist of spunk and smarts worries about her congressman father on January 6, 2021.
Fina Mendoza, our amateur detective, is in the middle of an investigation to find out who stole the 5th grade pizza. But all thoughts of detection go out the window as she, her sister Gabby, and grandmother Abuelita watch on television as a mob breaks into the Capitol. Is Papa okay? Most of Fina's classmates have parents who work inside that building as well. Their teacher calms their fears and the next day, turns the event into a teaching opportunity, looking back at the bitter presidential election rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The students discuss the importance of both winning and losing, whether it's in a baseball game, a reading competition, or an election.
Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th
A Latina protagonist of spunk and smarts worries about her congressman father on January 6, 2021.
Fina Mendoza, our amateur detective, is in the middle of an investigation to find out who stole the 5th grade pizza. But all thoughts of detection go out the window as she, her sister Gabby, and grandmother Abuelita watch on television as a mob breaks into the Capitol. Is Papa okay? Most of Fina's classmates have parents who work inside that building as well. Their teacher calms their fears and the next day, turns the event into a teaching opportunity, looking back at the bitter presidential election rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The students discuss the importance of both winning and losing, whether it's in a baseball game, a reading competition, or an election.
Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th
A Latina protagonist of spunk and smarts worries about her congressman father on January 6, 2021.
Fina Mendoza, our amateur detective, is in the middle of an investigation to find out who stole the 5th grade pizza. But all thoughts of detection go out the window as she, her sister Gabby, and grandmother Abuelita watch on television as a mob breaks into the Capitol. Is Papa okay? Most of Fina's classmates have parents who work inside that building as well. Their teacher calms their fears and the next day, turns the event into a teaching opportunity, looking back at the bitter presidential election rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The students discuss the importance of both winning and losing, whether it's in a baseball game, a reading competition, or an election.
Losing is Democratic How to Talk to Kids About January 6th
A Latina protagonist of spunk and smarts worries about her congressman father on January 6, 2021.
Fina Mendoza, our amateur detective, is in the middle of an investigation to find out who stole the 5th grade pizza. But all thoughts of detection go out the window as she, her sister Gabby, and grandmother Abuelita watch on television as a mob breaks into the Capitol. Is Papa okay? Most of Fina's classmates have parents who work inside that building as well. Their teacher calms their fears and the next day, turns the event into a teaching opportunity, looking back at the bitter presidential election rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The students discuss the importance of both winning and losing, whether it's in a baseball game, a reading competition, or an election.