Editor’s note: Made in Tarrant is an occasional Q&A series on small businesses started in Tarrant County. Submit your business here.
Ann Katagiri is a writer based in Fort Worth. She published “Den Chan: The Cat Who Crossed the Ocean,” a trilingual children’s book, in 2023. Katagiri is currently working on her second book while also looking for a location to open a cafe in the area.
Contact information:
Website: https://www.halfiesrambles.com
Where to buy the book: https://www.halfiesrambles.com/category/den-chan-store
Email: halfiesrambles@outlook.com
Ann Katagiri shared with the Fort Worth Report where the inspiration for her book came from and her experience growing up as a Japanese American. This interview has been edited for grammar, clarity and length.
FWR: Tell us about your book and your trilingual blog.
Katagiri: Five years ago, in a quaint coffee shop tucked away in the bustling city of Tokyo, while sipping on a matcha latte with panda latte art on top, I finished writing the first draft of my children’s book. In 2019, I began my trilingual blog, “A Halfie’s Rambles” in order to provide ad-free blog posts to language learners. Fast forward through many different ups and downs, jobs, and travel to 30 countries, I finally took the leap to start my own business last year.
FWR: Can you share more about the story of your book?
Katagiri: The message conveyed through my first book is that change isn’t scary, and that courage comes in different forms. Other than being geared toward language learners of any age, the hope is to also encourage children to explore our vast world and not be afraid to take that first step.
In the sequel that I am currently writing, the story will take place mostly here in Fort Worth (picking up on where the first book ended). I want to touch on racism as well as discrimination, which children’s books typically stay away from. It’s an important aspect to touch on, especially for kids, who like me, are mixed. We don’t just need representation, we need more books that talk about the hard stuff and teach our kids, when they are young, to better prepare them for a world that can be filled with microaggressions.
FWR: Does your background play a role in your business?
Katagiri: Born in Mississippi, and raised in Japan and Fort Worth, I come from a mixed background. People always ask me where I am from or assume I’m only Asian, but I am a proud Texan: I am both Caucasian American as well as Japanese. I grew up speaking English and Japanese, learning Mandarin Chinese later in life. I believe living in three different countries and traveling to 30 countries before I turned 30 has made me more self-aware and appreciative of other cultures.
FWR: What’s your favorite part of what you do?
Katagiri: Ever since I started my trilingual blog, I have loved having the opportunity to share my thoughts and ideas with others. These first children’s books that I published mean a lot to me because the story embodies my siblings’ as well as my life experiences. I love sharing my story with others through my children’s books utilizing the languages I love.
FWR: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting your own business?
Katagiri: That dreams can come true, you just have to jump and think you’re a cat, then land on your feet. Also, you are very capable of setting things up on your own. There are a lot of resources out there to help you, but most of them can be done for a fraction of the cost — you just have to take a little more extra time.
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