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    • Home
    • About Tangled Spirits
    • About The Iron Palace
    • About Kate
    • Order Books
    • Contact & FAQ
    • Blog
    • Book Clubs
    • Bibliography
    • Era Names and Time
  • Home
  • About Tangled Spirits
  • About The Iron Palace
  • About Kate
  • Order Books
  • Contact & FAQ
  • Blog
  • Book Clubs
  • Bibliography
  • Era Names and Time

KATE SHANAHAN BOOKS: historical fiction set in japan

KATE SHANAHAN BOOKS: historical fiction set in japanKATE SHANAHAN BOOKS: historical fiction set in japanKATE SHANAHAN BOOKS: historical fiction set in japan

About kate

Reader. Writer. Mother of Two. Wife of One. Family Chef. 

Kate claims her novels are historical fiction, but she insists on weaving history with folklore, so her books cross into historical fantasy. She always explains in her author's notes which elements are based on history and which are not. Her award-winning Tangled Spirits series takes readers on a journey into ancient and modern Japan, exploring themes of friendship and courage. With rich historical details and engaging storytelling, her books offer a unique glimpse into ancient Japanese culture.


After graduating from the University of Michigan with a BA in Political Science (East Asia Concentration), Kate taught English in Sapporo, Japan for two years. She enjoyed the experience so much that she returned to U of M for an MA in Asian Studies (Japan Specialization), and while there, worked part-time for the Center for Japanese Studies. Fortunately for Kate, Honda was expanding operations in Ohio around the time she finished, and she spent an entire career at Honda in project, business, and people management, thrilled to be able to travel to Japan and speak Japanese for work. After moving to Florida's Gulf Coast, Kate completed her first novel, Tangled Spirits, which earned the Florida Authors and Publishers' (FAPA) Silver Award for Historical Fiction. Her second novel, The Iron Palace, was published in 2025, and earned the FAPA Gold Award for Folklore.


Copyright © 2022 Kate Shanahan - All Rights Reserved.

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