What Do Leap Books Author Kitty Keswick and Orlando Bloom Have in Common?

Many celebrities, including Orlando Bloom, have openly discussed their struggles with dyslexia.  Studies have shown that dyslexics don't use the same part of the brain most people use for reading, so dyslexia makes it hard to read, write, and spell because numbers, letters, and even words often get transposed.For this reason, many dyslexics choose careers that don’t involve reading, writing, or math.

Careers where dyslexics excel include art, interior design, crafts, sports, acting, music, mechanics, politics, and engineering. Famous people who are believed to have dyslexia include Beethoven, George Washington, Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, John Kennedy, Andy Warhol, Edgar Allan Poe, Thomas Jefferson, and Walt Disney.

Like Orlando Bloom and these other famous people, author Kitty Keswick, too, deals with dyslexia on a daily basis. Yet, she did not let her struggles hold her back from reaching her dreams. As she says, “It's my nemesis...and my cheerleader.”

Dyslexia also has a positive side. According to Bright Solutions for Dyslexia, Inc., “People with dyslexia have a larger right-hemisphere in their brains than those of normal readers. That may be one reason people with dyslexia often have significant strengths in areas controlled by the right side of the brain, such as artistic, athletic, and mechanical gifts; 3-D visualization ability; musical talent; creative problem solving skills; and intuitive people skills.”

Keswick’s editor, Kat O’Shea of Leap Books, says that working with Keswick was a joy. “Kitty works hard to make each novel the best it can be. And I strongly believe that the most creative people often have difficulty with spelling and grammar. One of the things that drew me to Kitty’s writing was her unusual word choices and phrasing. It keeps her work from being cliché. That, and her terrific sense of humor and creativity, made me eager to snap up these books.”