Honoring the Western Industry
Before becoming a mom (something she thought she’d never do), Waxahachie children’s book author Kacy Burke worked in marketing for some of the biggest brands in the western industry: Professional Bull Riders, Rock & Roll Denim, and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, to name a few. “I grew up in a multi-generation rodeo family and always wanted to contribute to the industry the best way I could, though I hadn’t really competed since high school. My career in marketing the western sports lifestyle really became so important to me. I loved coming up with creative products and experiences and crafting messaging and content that would excite the end user. I definitely was not prepared for the curveball life was about to throw at me.”
Enter Covid and Motherhood
“In spring of 2020 I was laid off from my sports marketing job the same week I found out I was pregnant with my son, Beau. I had just turned 35 and thought, ‘Oh my gosh. What am I going to do?!’” What she didn’t realize at the time was these two major life changes would lead to a complete career change and the biggest professional accomplishment she could hope for – writing and self-publishing a bestselling children’s picture book series, starting with book #1 in October of 2021, Buckaroo Beau Lives on a Ranch. “I had always wanted to write for a living, but truly didn’t have the patience and discipline to sit down and write a novel. When Beau was born he did not sleep well at all. I started making up these little rhymes to sing him to sleep. One early morning after finally laying Beau down around 3 a.m. I thought, ‘Maybe I could make this a children’s book,’ and I just sat down and wrote it all out.” It took a ton of research, networking, getting feedback, collaborating with the perfect children’s book illustrator, Mel Schroeder, and making mistake after mistake, but after a few months she was ready to hit “publish” on Amazon.
Buckaroo Beau and His Many Adventures
Fast forward three years and Burke has four bestselling children’s books and a fifth
on the way:
- Buckaroo Beau Lives on a Ranch
- Vera Vaquera Gets a New Horse
- Buckaroo Beau Goes to the Rodeo
- Cowgirl Callie’s Breakaway Dreams
- Buckaroo Beau Loses his Hat (Fall, 2025)
The books are ideal for ages 4-7 and aim to authentically represent ranching and rodeo lifestyle with simple, rhyming stories that keep kids engaged, teach character-building lessons like responsibility and perseverance, and help children learn to love reading.
Kacy Burke Embraces Waxahachie as Home
Kacy makes a full-time living as a children’s book author and coach right from her home office in Waxahachie. You can find her books on her site at BuckarooBeau.com, on Amazon, or in many western lifestyle retail stores.
Don’t miss an adventure with Buckaroo Beau and his friends! @BUCKAROOBEAUBOOKS–
