Keen Ideas Publishing is a creative home for stories and art shaped by curiosity, craft, and imagination. We bring together writers and illustrators who care deeply about storytelling, visual beauty, and the joy of discovery.
Wendy Weston, Publisher, Editor, & Illustrator
Wendy Weston, BFA, is the owner and publisher of Keen Ideas Publishing. She is a visual artist, designer, woodblock printmaker, watercolour painter, and professional photographer, known for her strong sense of craftsmanship and refined production techniques.
Wendy’s illustrative work appears in Lexi Catt’s Meowmoirs—Tales of Heroic Scientists, Alexander Catt’s Adventures—Tales of His Nine Lives, and Abigail Skunk’s Lessons for Her Kits. Her artwork has been exhibited in numerous galleries throughout the Vancouver area, and she continues to work as a commissioned artist.
Wendy earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria and brings a careful, creative eye to every aspect of publishing at Keen Ideas.
Marian Keen, Author
Marian Keen is a seasoned Canadian author of children’s, young adult, and adult fiction, known for her dedication to historical accuracy and vivid storytelling. After moving to Canada, Marian became a Grade 5 and 6 school teacher while remaining active in the arts, particularly painting.
The arrival of computers in the early 1990s sparked Marian’s journey into writing, leading to the creation of two beloved series: Alexander Catt’s Adventures—Tales of His Nine Lives and Lexi Catt’s Meowmoirs—Tales of Heroic Scientists.
These imaginative “meowmoirs” introduce young readers to famous figures and pivotal moments in science, medicine, art, exploration, and human history.
Marian’s stories often feature British Columbian wildlife, including skunks, raccoons, owls, bears, squirrels, crows, and seagulls, as seen in Abigail Skunk’s Lessons for Her Kits. Her first young adult novel, Verity, marked an important milestone in her career.
She is also the author of the adult historical novel The Jewel of Britannia, set in British Columbia during the First World War. Upcoming works include a story about the founding of the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police, witnessed by Alex the Catt, and the young adult novel Mystery at Pleasure Beach.
Marian Keen has been writing across genres since the 1980s, with a lifelong passion for historical fiction for children and youth.
Jodie Dias, Editor, & Illustrator
Jodie Dias, BA, is a children’s illustrator, painter, designer, and photographer. She earned her degree in Art History from the University of British Columbia. Her whimsical, expressive style brings warmth and personality to Lexi Catt’s Meowmoirs—Tales of Heroic Scientists, Alexander Catt’s Adventures—Tales of His Nine Lives, and Abigail Skunk’s Lessons for Her Kits, pairing playful imagery with historically accurate settings.
Jodie has worked as a production manager for the animated children’s film Legend of the Candy Cane and is also a commissioned portrait artist. She is currently a partner in Keen Ideas Publishing.