Kris majored in Graphic Design at the University of Illinois and began her visual communication career in Chicago, then worked in multiple cities throughout the U.S. courtesy of her husband Mike’s military and engineering management careers. Bouncing coast to coast, they raised three sons, each with a unique sense of humor. Two incredible daughters-in-law and two energetic grandsons have joined the posse. After living eight glorious years in Colorado, move seventeenth took them to Iowa for eight years, and now move nineteen to Kansas, where they currently live with a herd of cats and dogs.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, Kris wrote her first children’s book, I love you I love you I love you I do. If you were a sock… then I’d be your shoe, while going through treatment and watching the devastation of 9.11.2001. Through words and images, she conveys her desire to grow roots and give wings to children. Her picture books are colorful, interactive, and best shared out loud to encourage a life-long love of reading. Diagnosed with a benign brain tumor in 2022, she advocates early detection, aggressive treatments, and thriving happily ever after.
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Kris is thrilled to share her young adult HERO SERIES has been edited and re-released by Culicidae Press! FADE TO BLACK & WHITE, I WISH MY WORDS TASTED BETTER, and MY WINGS AREN’T READY TO FLY are available worldwide online, and in brick-and-mortar stores as well as through the Culicidae Press site.
“Kris Abel-Helwig’s skillful combination of current and classic tunes, rock-and-roll the reader throughout this fun-loving continuation of life in a military family; complete with love-struck parents, three military brat siblings, and a year of loveable and endearing ups and downs. Your heart will be grinning madly all the way through.”
– Ellen Filipelli – English Language Arts Educator,
Johns Creek High School, Georgia