By Bill Radford
Katie Vieira tried her best to control her two daughters’ screen time on their iPads. Despite her efforts, they began to show signs of what some have labeled “digital addiction.”
“I always thought I had it under control. But you started seeing the temper tantrums and a lack of interest in anything else,” Vieira said. “We would be outside playing, and they’d be asking to go inside to play on their iPads. I thought, this is not for us.”
Her daughters — and that struggle — inspired Vieira to write a self-published children’s book, *Into the Field: Tennessee Summer,* encouraging kids and parents to balance screen time with outdoor time.
“It is 2026, and technology is all around us. Our kids will need to learn about technology and how to navigate it,” she said. However, she emphasized the need for balance between the digital world and the real world. She points to the 1,000 Hours Outside movement, which aims to encourage families to set aside screens and get outside.
Vieira and her family settled in Falcon about two years ago after moving from Florida, with a yearlong stop in Kansas City before arriving in Colorado. In addition to their two daughters, ages 8 and 6, she and her husband have a 2-year-old son. Vieira is a former classroom teacher and literacy trainer who uses her teaching skills to homeschool her children; her husband is an account executive for a specialty pharmacy. They are “very much outdoor enthusiasts,” drawn to the mountains more than Florida’s beaches.
“We didn’t really know Falcon was a thing,” she said. “It was just happenstance that we found a house we loved that met our needs.” Although she initially wanted to be closer to the mountains, she added, “I love this area so much. I have met such amazing people who have been so supportive.”
*Tennessee Summer* is the first in a series Vieira is planning; Colorado will be the setting for the second installment. She wants each book to be set in a different state and biome.
Vieira’s cousin, Yvette Cancel, provided the illustrations for *Tennessee Summer*. “She has always been an artist, always doodling. I would finish a chapter, send it to her, and she would add her flair,” Vieira said.
Her daughters not only inspired her but also provided feedback. As Vieira finished each chapter, she read it to them, and they offered their thoughts.
The two main characters, Claire and Finley, are inspired by her daughters. “The oldest character reflects my oldest daughter in some personality traits — like how she doesn’t want to get dirty and is a bit more responsible. The other girl is more like my younger daughter, who is a bit more wild,” Vieira said.
The story follows the two girls as they come to the aid of their friend George, who is trapped in a video game. While it’s a magical adventure, Vieira emphasized, “I wanted morals and values to stand strong in this story.” For example, it was important to her that the girls tell their mom about their adventure at the end.
“A lot of books have a line that says, ‘Don’t tell your parents.’ That’s not a message I encourage; I prefer honesty and openness.”
Ironically, Vieira found herself feeling a touch of digital addiction while promoting her book.
“My friends told me if you don’t get on social media and you’re choosing this independent author route, no one will know your book exists,” Vieira said. “So I pushed through and tried to build a platform on social media to shout about my book from the mountaintop. In the process, I started to see myself getting addicted to the screen. It’s such a slippery slope because of the dopamine hits and the instant gratification, and that’s what our kids are facing.”
You can buy *Into the Field: Tennessee Summer,* aimed at kids ages 4 to 10, at amazon.com and other online booksellers. More information on the book is available at https://katievieira.com.
Local author Katie Vieira is planning a second book for kids and their ride with social media. That book will be set in Colorado.
