Hi! I’m Kathryn and I’m so glad you’re here.

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I grew up in Richfield, Minnesota, an inner ring suburb of Minneapolis. My father was an appliance repair wizard and my mother, who had started her career in a one-room schoolhouse, was a substitute teacher and avid reader.

Reading introduced me to countless real and fantasy lands, cultures, and peoples, not to mention mysteries and problems to solve! I read every spare moment, and with these fantastical ideas swirling in my brain, created my own stories.

As a child, I was watchful and quiet—except for my incessant question-asking. My mother and teachers bore the brunt of my inquisitive insatiability. Questions led me to journalism in high school and forced me to overcome my quiet nature to interview people, as well as serve as feature page editor of our school newspaper. Curiosity about the world emboldened my seventeen-year-old self to pursue a six-week education program in France. Thanks to that experience, I entered college with new perspectives about myself, my country, and my culture.

I was drawn to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois for its lauded journalism program; however, at the last minute, I switched to the Arts and Science program’s comparative literature track where I “had to” study great works from around the world.

I’m with my fellow teachers in our small Tanzanian village.

In the pursuit of a career to support myself, I found a passion for working on early language development, communication skills, and pre-literacy through speech/language pathology. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field from Northwestern, and later an Educational Specialist Degree from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul. I worked in early childhood diagnostics, and concluded my pre-writing career as a special education administrator.

After college and grad school, I traveled whenever time and funds allowed, and my husband and I have had the great fortune to explore the world together. I particularly treasure our trips to Cuba and our work assisting English and literacy teachers in the Cook Islands and Tanzania.

And now, here we are: these intertwining threads of my life brought me to writing children’s books. I threw myself into the new career with classes, webinars, professional memberships, critique groups, research, travel, and of course, reading bushels of children’s books. I love creating stories that kindle the wonder, curiosity, and drive to learn I felt as a child.

I’m thrilled to be represented by Eve Adler of Red Fox Literary. My debut picture book biography, co-authored by the book’s subject, is planned for release through Knopf. See “Book News!”

I can’t wait for the next adventure—and the next book!!

A few fun facts …

Kathryn’s curious nature turned international! She was officially dubbed “la chica que hace preguntas” (“the girl who asks questions”) by a friend in Cuba.
Kathryn gained people skills, strong legs, and college tuition working as a server in a diner, steakhouse, Greek barbecue, and ultimately an Italian trattoria.
Kathryn treks often on the Superior Hiking Trail, and has taken challenging hikes around the world: Kalalau Trail in Kauai, Half Dome in Yosemite, The Routeburn Track in New Zealand, the Tour du Mont Blanc in the Alps, Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon, and more.
With her husband, Kathryn splits her time between Pennsylvania and Minnesota. She “winters in Philly,” which folks from both states find very funny.
For two decades Kathryn taught beginning kayaking during staff training as a volunteer at a YMCA family camp near the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota.
As a child Kathryn often visited her grandparents’ farm, where she helped in the fields and vegetable garden– except for Tuesdays (Grandma’s baking day!) and any time she could ride one of the neighbors’ horses. She now spends free time with her young grandchildren in picturesque Kennett Square, PA – full circle!

Press Bio

About Kathryn

Kathryn is co-author, along with Mary Verdi-Fletcher, of the upcoming picture book biography, Born to Dance: Mary Verdi-Fletcher and Her Dancing Wheels, planned for release through Knopf in spring 2027. Kathryn is represented by Eve Adler of Red Fox Literary.

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Kathryn has always loved language, learning, children, and writing. After receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, she combined those passions into work as a speech/language pathologist specializing in early language and literacy development. Later, she earned an Educational Specialist degree at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, and worked as a special education administrator. Kathryn now joyously blends those same passions to create nonfiction and fiction books for children.

As a child Kathryn was watchful and quiet, except for her incessant question-asking. She’s no longer quite as quiet, but questions, research, and book ideas never stop floating—and at times spinning—through her mind!

Kathryn belongs to robust kid lit communities in both the Philadelphia area and Minneapolis. She loves to travel, read, and dance whenever possible.