Hi, my name is Katharine.

 

That's Katharine with an “a”, pronounced the same as Katherine (with an “e”), or Kathryn (with a “y”).

 

Some people, and almost every robocall, pronounce it: Kath-AH-reen. Nice enough name, I guess, but it’s not correct. So, to make it easy on everyone, (and because I’m a bit of a people pleaser) you can call me Kate.

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I was born in Abruzzo (now, Molise), Italy and grew up on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio.

Like most immigrants, my parents and I found ourselves living in two worlds at once - one filled with history and heritage, and the other with wonder and opportunity. These worlds often collided - they still do - but in retrospect, I wouldn't have it any other way.

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My upbringing gave me a deep respect for different cultures and a profound appreciation for people whose lives seem ordinary and unremarkable. But of course, nothing can be further from the truth. No life is mundane or ordinary. Each is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle.

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As a writer of both illustrated children's books and short stories for adults, I've often been told to choose one genre and stick to it, but I've never been one to do as I'm told. I grew up in two worlds, and now I write in two worlds. Challenge accepted.

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I'm the author of two short story collections for adults: Other People's Stories Volume One and Other People's Stories Volume Two, and two illustrated picture books for young readers: Lionel Lincoln Lawrence LePet, The Loudest Child Anyone's Ever Met, and One Rhyme at a Time.

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I hold a B.A. in English from John Carroll University and an M.A. from Michigan State University, although I'm a big Ohio State fan (except the week the Buckeyes play MSU.)

 

BETWEEN THE (BIO) LINES:

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A few things you won’t find in the official bio:

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• When my father and I immigrated to the United States, we traveled on the Andrea Doria, an Italian ocean liner that, two years later, was struck by the M.S. Stockholm. The Andrea Doria now rests at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, not far from Nantucket Island. 🚢

 

• In high school, I received a one-week detention for writing on the inside cover of my French Level One textbook. The offending copy: “This book belongs to the future Mrs. Paul McCartney.” 📚

 

• I once received three speeding tickets in one week. In my defense, if you own a Camero, you shouldn't be required to adhere to a speed limit. 🚨

 

• Yes, I'm Italian. No, I don't like tomatoes. It’s a texture thing.  🚨

 

• The best writing advice I ever received came from a friend. After reading a draft of my story, she simply said, “You can do better.” She was right. 🖊️

 

• I have both SDAM (Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory) and Aphantasia, which means I don’t visualize scenes or recall personal memories the way most people do. It’s one of the reasons I love the writing process: it forces me to construct new worlds from scratch and see life through a different lens. 📷

 

• I contracted COVID in 2022 and lost my sense of taste. It still hasn’t returned — but luckily, it hasn’t affected my ability to savor ice cream. 🍨

 

• If I went to Hogwarts, I’d be sorted into Ravenclaw. 🪄

 

• Three travel memories I’ll never forget: 🧳
  – Riding on the back of a motorcycle through the streets of Florence, Italy. 🛵

  – Strolling through the gardens at Keukenhof in the Netherlands. 🌷

  – Standing in reverent silence at the American cemetery in Normandy, France. ✝️

 

• I’ve directed or performed in nearly 100 shows. Favorite directing project: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with a cast of nearly 20 teenagers. Favorite acting role: Antigone, in Antigone. 🎭

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•  A cherished childhood memory. I’m 11-years-old and a boy in my class asked me to slow dance with him. The song: My Girl, by the Temptations. Thank you for this precious memory, Harold. 💗

 

• If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be New York City. 🗽If I could have a vacation house anywhere in the U.S., it would be in Carmel-by the-Sea, California. 🌊