FINDING MR. NESS

A children’s book by Katherine Burk and Gloria Burke

“It was one thing to hope for something magical to happen, quite another to have it actually occur.” (page 25)

So much of our children’s lives are spent learning the facts, mechanical skills and critical thinking they need to navigate today’s complex world. But what outlets do we give them to develop their creativity and imagination? And how do we teach them to weave all of these elements together?

One way is through the suggestive power of storytelling. Katherine Burk and Gloria Burke’s book, Finding Mr. Ness, is about possibilities—the powerful things that can happen when we open our minds to the unexpected and unusual. Best friends Clayton and Annie start out in a world of everyday occurrences, but their curiosity and ingenuity leads them one day to Tilania, an exciting world where talking dogs, sea creature engineers, otherworldly scientific inventions and traveling through the power of thought are commonplace.

Finding Mr. Ness is the first book in the Tilania Traveler Series, a series of chapter books written for children ages 7-10. The book is a winning combination of excitement and adventure that will capture children’s attention and keep them planted in their chairs, fully entertained. It’s full of captivating places like the Reflective Reef, Nessen and the Isle of Hearts, scientific devices likepuncture-proof wetsuits and weather machines, and not-quite-familiar creatures like Kalya who’s “a cross between a sea turtle and a crab.” (page 44) Reminiscent of other memorable stories, Finding Mr. Ness transports the reader to another world that seems unreal yet almost possible.

The book addresses such familiar subjects as friendships between generations, good versus evil, and generosity versus greed, in fresh and unconventional ways. The task ahead for Clayton and Annie will require curiosity, open-mindedness, determination and teamwork, as well as the knowledge that they’ve gained from school and other places along the way—subtle themes that will resonate with children long after they finish the book. It’s a delightful example of where these important skills can take you if you let them.

It’s important to pass both wisdom and wonder on to the next generation, and Katherine Burk and Gloria Burke have done a skillful job with Finding Mr. Ness.


While this is their first book together, co-authors Katherine Burk and Gloria Burke are no strangers to imagination and creativity. With Finding Mr. Ness, they have embarked on an exciting journey together. What began as a way for mother and daughter to connect despite the miles between them has turned into a successful cooperative writing adventure, and it has only just begun.

Katherine spent several successful years in the political arena and the cellular telecommunications industry before taking on a new career direction: raising and managing a growing family. She’s now active in her Pacific Northwest community, contributing time and energy to her children’s schools, extracurricular activities and other charitable organizations. Writing and illustration are Katherine’s way of passing on the magic of her childhood to her own children. Many of her fondest childhood memories have to do with the creative energy that her mother Gloria brought to the family; now, Katherine’s storytelling skills provide her own family with imaginative ways to stay connected.

Gloria has always been passionate about child development. A mother and a grandmother, she’s also a recently retired Child Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst who ran a private practice and was the Medical Director at a charitable therapeutic nursery school for low income, high risk families. She has been actively engaged in writing for over 20 years, acquiring a creative writing education through UC Berkeley’s extension program and participating in two writing groups. Co-writing children’s chapter books with her daughter Katherine is a natural extension of her knowledge and love for family, children and creative expression. Gloria lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

With over 800 miles between Katherine and Gloria, the process is sometimes challenging, but always rewarding. They are currently writing the next book in The Tilania Travelers Series, The Scrolls of Tilania.