Kaelen Elise Felix is an American author and illustrator who recently published her first children’s book, Wings and Whispers: Tales of Friendship, Volume 1. Her passion for art began at the age of two, and just six months later, she decided to pursue that dream seriously. Kaelen graduated from the Memphis College of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration in May 2018.
While earning her undergraduate degree, she began illustrating stories and attempted to write the original stories. However, she didn’t enjoy the original script, so she decided to scrap it. During her time at MCA, she realized that her style was particularly suited for children’s books, especially in creating fantastical animals and nature scenes. Despite this insight, she put the idea aside amid a period of deep depression. Eventually, she felt a renewed sense of purpose and heard the words, “Kaelen, it is time to write one more time. After emerging from that challenging time, Kaelen wrote her book and found a publisher through Instagram. She submitted her manuscript to Prolific Pulse Press, which accepted her story. Kaelen achieved her dream. at the age of twenty-nine. Within a month of her book’s release, she reached the Top 3 Charts on Amazon for Kindle Unlimited. Remarkably, she became a finalist for a Children’s Book International Award in March 2025, less than a month after her book’s launch!
Her book features two personal characters inspired by her nieces, along with various animals and a strong message about kindness. The morals in each of the animal’s stories are related to the personal messages the author experienced in her life. The story emphasizes the courage to be kind even when the world feels chaotic, relaying themes of hope, happiness, and compassion. Once Kaelen let go of depression, her life changed.