ABOUT KATHLYN

Greetings from Broken Arrow, OK! Life took me to Texas for three years in the 70's; however, a return to Oklahoma was in the cards. This has been home for the majority of my life.
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My writing journey began in junior high but it wasn’t until I went back to school to get re-certified for teaching in the 1980s that my interest really sparked on where the writing could take me. My focus is on stories that lift people up, gives them reasons to smile or hope for better things to come. I like to be positive even though my characters will often go through troubles and heartaches. 

Short stories called Flash Fiction are a favorite. I’ve had ‘First 10 Words’ contests on Facebook where friends submit up to ten words to start a story. After submissions are in, everyone gets to vote for a favorite starter and I’ll do the rest. Some of those you will see here if you sign up for my circle.     

I have several Works In Progress that need to be finished up and I’ll let you know when these become available. My romance stories usually feature older couples because I believe they have a story to tell, too!
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I’m a retired teacher and a retired realtor. My time now is spent with my husband, my family, writing, playing golf and traveling. The grandchildren give me lots of story ideas!

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Memberships, Awards, Recognitions and Publications

Memberships:

• ​Member of Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc. (OWFI) for over fifteen years. Members are from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and other states.
• Member of Tulsa Night Writers (TNW) for over fifteen years.
• Member of Romance Writers Ink (RWI) in Tulsa, VP and Pres.
• Past Member of Romance Writers of America (RWA)
• Many classroom hours for creative writing, conferences, workshops and critique groups.
• Contest judge for RWI annual contests.
  
• Provided professional editing and review for Shades of Color, a 355-page book by Clifton Savoy. Shades… is a medal finalist in the 2023 Florida Authors & Publishers Association non-fiction category.

Awards/Recognitions/Publications​:
   Friends of the Tulsa City County Libraries – (Lifetime Membership in this Group)
      Adult Creative Writing Contest 2009 – Honorable Mention for Unpublished Short Story –
             Right Time/Right Place 
 
   OWFI – 2012 Annual Contest – First Place – Confession Category - The Man I Loved Gave Me a Goose Egg
                 2013 Annual Contest – 3rd Honorable Mention – Flash Fiction Category – The Switch
                 2016 Annual Contest – 1st Honorable Mention – Essay Category – Dating at Sixty
                 2019 Annual Contest – 2nd Honorable Mention – Picture Book: Fiction or Nonfiction Category – The Bugahump
                 2022 Annual Contest – 2nd Place – Short Story: Short (Juvenile) – The Orange Bird Search
  
     TNW – First Place Annual Flash Fiction Story 
                  Host the TNW Annual Christmas Party – for the past ten Years
                  2019 TNW of the Year Nominee
 
      Anthology Contributor 2012: An Anthology of Love - Romance The Spice of Life:  Sips and Slices   
 
      Anthology Contributor 2020:  From Behind the Mask:  Right Time/Right Place and Sidewalk Suspicions 
 
      Children’s Picture Book 2023: The Orange Bird Search