I hate this part. Describing myself for someone to read on a screen feels uncomfortable and conceited and fake. I spent years in a career where I helped small businesses describe themselves and hone their voice, but doing it for myself just feels… ugh. For all the words in the human language, “ugh” feels like the best way to describe it. I know I am not alone or the first one to say that, so let me put on my big girl pants and give it a go.
I’m Katie D. I have never won a literary award and have not made it a goal to try and do so (though maybe we will make that a goal in the future). I write stories to process the world around me and hope that it helps others process the world around them.
I have lived the life of a copywriter who spent years developing the voice for others and their small businesses, and as an English Teacher helping the next generation appreciate words and their importance to our world.
Now, I’m beginning again as a stay-at-home mom where I live in a small town, much like other small towns, with my handsome husband, Travis, and my mini-me, Dex.
That’s the basics. If I were to really tell you about myself, though, I would say that I am a plant enthusiast. I grow a small tea garden and am often annoying the neighbors by letting the weeds around the house grow just a little too tall so I can correctly identify and then forage them. My greatest peace comes from being out in nature and listening to the wind blow through the trees.
However, my passion sparks when working with people. I have been a wedding planner, a copywriter, and most recently a high school English teacher. The part I loved about all of my jobs was the people and helping their visions, voices, and strengths come to life. I am terrified that by staying home, I won’t have those opportunities anymore.
More than any of that though, I have always felt a need to write. I have been telling stories since I was a little girl. I loved coming up with fantasy worlds with stubborn princesses and horrific demons (I’ve always been a horror fan). Then as I got older, I started writing more and more to process information and my experiences. In 2022, I came out with my debut poetry collection, To a Student Dear to Me. The collection was a self-published piece about my life and the realizations I made while working with students at a mental health residential facility.
I am now querying a children’s series with the working title DiDi’s Magic Garden that explores the natural world in relation to my daughter and the lessons I am teaching her. I am also working on a dystopian novel inspired by recent events happening in our world. My short stories often have mental health and political messages laced between their words.
I want to create stories that help others feel seen and portray messages that are sometimes hard to digest or understand. You can follow me here as I attempt to complete such a goal.
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