About Matt Gullett

Where It All Began

Growing up, I have 4 sisters, 3 younger than me. When I was already a teen, my dad started story-time with my younger sisters a few times a week. He developed those stories into what he called "A Pack of Lies" or "Pack o' Lies" I suppose, and told of adventures of 3 little girls, trolls, bats, cats, bears, forests, and more. While he didn't tell me those stories, I always loved how he did that.

Continuing the Tradition

When my kids were growing up, I continued the tradition and told my own pack o' lies a couple times a week. Those bedtime stories became something magical—characters would develop personalities, story arcs would stretch across weeks, and my children would eagerly anticipate the next chapter. I discovered that storytelling wasn't just entertainment; it was a way to help my kids work through real challenges, explore big questions, and learn lessons that stuck with them far longer than any lecture ever could.

That tradition developed into a passion for writing children's books that do more than just entertain. Each story carries both heart and substance—practical life lessons about courage, kindness, and perseverance woven seamlessly with educational elements worthy of a classroom setting. My characters come alive on the page just as they did in those bedtime stories, each with distinct voices, quirks, and genuine growth arcs that young readers can connect with.

Where Willowmere Lane Comes Alive

I live on a dual cul-de-sac street where I like to imagine Willowmere Lane-style magic might actually exist. We have talking mailboxes (well, they could be talking when no one's looking), a snarky old natural gas furnace in my basement that definitely has attitude, and a magnificent oak tree at one end that's seen decades of neighborhood stories unfold beneath its branches.

While we don't have Victorian farmhouses in sight, there's something about this street that makes me believe in the possibility of everyday magic—the kind where grumpy cats reluctantly save the day and ordinary objects might just have extraordinary secrets.

The Shadow Series

My daughter's black cat—Oscar—inspired much of "The Cat Who Hated..." series. Welcome to the world of Shadow and his reluctant adventures on Willowmere Lane. This beloved series captures the humor and heart of a grumpy cat who just wants to sleep through the holidays but keeps getting pulled into mysterious adventures.

But beneath the laughs and the mayhem, each book explores genuine themes: facing fears, understanding different perspectives, finding courage when you'd rather hide under the bed, and discovering that even the grumpiest among us can make a difference.

These aren't just stories—they're experiences that help young readers navigate their own worlds while strengthening reading skills, building vocabulary, and sparking curiosity about everything from history to science to the art of good storytelling itself.