About Me

 

I believe in the power of words.

When we say what we mean, and mean what we say, real communication and connection are possible.  I have a passion for helping others say what it is they truly intend to say. The depth and breadth of our language make it a beautiful instrument for expression, nuance, precision, and artistry.  But it is also a challenge to fit the English language to those purposes.  It is my privilege to help make my clients’ work more compelling, precise, and succinct.

My love of editing comes from a passion for reading.  Stories that delight me include Kiese Laymon’s Heavy, for the honesty, courage, and deft storytelling that stayed with me long after I’d closed the book, and most any work by Ursula K. Le Guin, for the subtle morality that pervades her writing, her spare language, and the lively intelligence behind her imagination.  Hanya Yanagihara’s eloquent treatment of suffering and compassion in A Little Life bowled me over.  The masterful way that Nabokov made words into playthings in Lolita also left me in awe.

I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, spent 14 years in the San Francisco east bay, and lived for four years in Belgium.  My unconventional educational path included culinary school in upstate New York before studying Near Eastern archaeology and three foreign languages (which made grammar my friend) at UC Berkeley.  In 2006 I returned to my roots in the Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania where I learned to raise fruits, vegetables, livestock, and occasionally some havoc, on a small backyard homestead.

Throughout that journey, I always came back to excellence in writing and reading.  I would be delighted to accompany you on your writing adventure, and to help you say what you mean to say.

 
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Testimonials

“Katherine was fantastic! She is incredibly kind,
very well spoken and communicates clearly. She is
very well organized and is really on top of her work.
In addition to her ability to write astoundingly well -
she is incredibly professional. She kept me motivated and focused and returned
to me with revisions in record time. I ended up with a
story that was everything I could have dreamed of -
and Katherine was a huge part of
making this possible.

— Beth H.”
“Katherine is a highly effective, thorough editor.
She works quickly and has added value to any
project I’ve brought her over the years. Recently,
she enhanced the quality of my poetry manuscript
tenfold. In addition to her knowledge and prowess
of the writing craft, she’s compassionate, patient,
and encouraging. She’s adept at polishing
manuscripts while also helping writers find their own
voice. If you choose to work with Katherine, your
writing product will improve. I highly recommend
Katherine! Be prepared for good rates, reliable
counsel and growth!

— Conor M.”
“I worked with Katherine and she was absolutely
amazing. She went above and beyond to make me
feel like my manuscript was her top priority.
She is very experienced, knowledgeable, and a
careful reader. She offers priceless input, and really
helped guide me to make choices I felt good about.
I communicated with her frequently during the process
of revision and she worked on multiple drafts until
we got it perfect. You’ll love working with her.

— Alexander G.”