Meet Kate Seng | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Seng and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

Work life balance is very important to me. I love Poe & Company Bookstore and my staff and I have poured our hearts into making it successful. It is important to me that we celebrate our family milestones, go on vacation and take care of our loved ones. We all work together to help each other out without neglecting the store or the community. There are always times when the balance will be off, weighted heavier one way or another, but the goal is to regain balance. It takes a purposeful and collaborative approach to tasks and events to stay consistent. Having boundaries is important as well as being able to say no.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am also a children’s author. I have published two children’s books, Doodle Noodle (2021) and Mazie’s Full Heart (2022). Doodle Noodle has won two awards, third place in the Bookfest awards in Children-Animal and was a finalist in the International Book Awards.

Writing continues to be a learning experience and it takes a village.  I am so thankful for my village.  I am currently working on a fiction novel and could not do it without my editor, Atlanta Writers Critique Group, and friends who give me amazing ideas, interviews and welcomed feedback.

My second book, Mazie’s Full Heart, is based on the joyful curiosity of an adopted child and is based on my own adoption story. It discusses the innate desire to know where we come from and culminates with Mazie sharing her happiness and gratitude for where she is right now and her adopted parents!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take her to Cafe Intermezzo for coffee and breakfast. We would run through downtown Milton and take a yoga class on the green in Crabapple.  At dinner we would head to Casi Cielo, a great Mexican restaurant in Atlanta.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh Wow! My husband, Brian and my family are the first on the list! They have been a huge support. I would not have been able to accomplish this without them. In the past there have been things that I have done without their support and it was much more difficult. There is definitely comfort and in having their support and backing!

Second, my staff is huge in the success at Poe & Co. I could not do what I do at the store without them. They pour their energy into the customers, authors, events and story time! It’s such a wonderful group of people!

Third, Multiple community members have helped me to connect with business leaders, writing groups, and authors. I’d love to give a shout-out to Karen White, Kimberly Brock, Emily Carpenter and the Wild Women Who Write podcast who have helped me tremendously.

Website: poeandcompanybookstore.com

Instagram: @poeandcompanybookstorellc

Facebook: poe&companybookstore

Image Credits
Savannah M Photography for my profile picture