About Kathy Sparrow
About Kathy Sparrow
My Writing Journey
In my early childhood, I knew I wanted to be a writer.
I read voraciously and penned stories but never shared them with others. When I was entering high school, I was told by my guidance counselor that I’d never be a writer.
Luckily, my soul’s voice was much louder than his, and I began to write. Initially, I wrote personal essays, and one submission led me to a long-term gig, writing personality profiles for a community newspaper. Since I lived in Upstate New York, not too far from New York City or the Berkshires in Massachusetts, I was able to capture the stories of many artists, writers, and musicians.
One rainy Sunday afternoon, I sipped tea with Kermit Love, the creator of Sesame Street’s Snuffleupagus and Oscar the Grouch. Another time, I sat in the storeroom of one of The Body Shop stores, interviewing the Founder Anita Roddick. Soon after, I met New Age music pioneer, Stephen Halpern and later penned a story about his music journey.
Over time and with many other publications, my responsibilities grew from freelance writer, to contributing editor, to managing editor. Then the world of book publishing opened up to me, and I began working with a number of publishing houses, including the For Dummies publisher and Masters Press in Indianapolis.
As my portfolio grew, so did the number of people who knew about my work. I often heard the remark, “I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but never knew how to begin.”
That’s when I began coaching private clients in crafting their stories.
I’ve been blessed to work with a number of aspiring authors, guiding them through the writing process to bring their vision alive. After I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Texas Pan American (now Rio Grande Valley), I was hired to teach in UTPA’s First-Year Writing Program.
I have also taught at National University, Pikes Peak Community College, and Southern New Hampshire University, teaching first-year composition classes and also marketing for aspiring writers.
I was recognized as one of the top 15 book coaches in 2023 by LA Weekly!
Publications
In addition to hundreds of magazine articles, my academic research debuted in my thesis, Stories That Heal: Building Cross-Cultural Bridges Through Literature. Here, I approached writing as a healing modality. We gain insights about our experiences as we write, and our readers share that benefit by seeing themselves through our authorial voice.
Stories may even heal the divisions between cultures. When we strip away the labels, we experience the revelation that we want the same things in life. All we want is to feel safe, healthy, happy, and loved.
The project I’m most excited about is my novel, The Whispered Teachings of Grandmother Trout, which is best described as the feminine version of A River Runs Through It. Read more about it and download a sample chapter here…
Stanky & Cece is my first children’s book series, written with my co-author Chad Hanstedt. Here, we introduce two characters (who are real in Chad’s life!), who will take children on adventures to learn the valuable lesson of following the rules and accountability for one’s actions. Available in English and Spanish.
I’m the co-author and project lead for Ignite Your Leadership: Proven Tools for Leaders to Energize Teams, Fuel Momentum, and Accelerate Results. My chapter titled, “The Power of Your Story, Discovering Your Why, Dissolving Your Why Nots,” discusses how we often buy into the vision others have for us until we discover our why…the passion that helps us get out of bed in the morning and take on the world. This anthology, written with ten of my colleagues from Jack Canfield’s advanced training programs, was originally published in 2017, and our new publisher released the second edition in Fall 2021.
Works in Progress
My chapter, “It’s All in the Cast–A Fly Fisher’s Guide to Leadership” also appeared in the anthology, The Innovators: Revolutionary Ideas from Today’s Consulting Leaders. Here, I explain how the fundamentals of fly fishing can be applied as a transformational tool personally and professionally. That chapter is about to become a book––It’s All in the Cast: A Flyfisher’s Guide to Presence, Power & Performance.
Working with Kathy
There are many writing coaches in the world, and I know you have choices.
My recommendation as you consider publishing your first (second, third…) book is to find the right person for you. Working with a writing coach who can help you discover and refine your author’s voice, identify your unique message, and distribute that message to YOUR audience is the key to your success.
Why me?
With both practical and technical experience in the world of writing, I have extensive knowledge in the writing and publishing process (yes, it spans over thirty years, but now I risk dating myself).
I learned the publishing process from start to finish, from proofreading and copywriting to production, cover artwork, interior designs, and titles.
That foundational knowledge has helped me guide clients in the art of writing, many of whom have had their works published in literary journals and become best-selling authors!
In addition to a vast amount of publishing knowledge and a sound grasp of the English language, I have a unique approach to business and consulting. As a writer and entrepreneur, I’m passionate about revealing the spiritual roles we play in birthing our messages for our audience. I’ve studied human development and the science of success extensively with Jack Canfield, learned how to overcome limiting beliefs with Dr. Deb Sandella of The RIM® Institute, and continue my own personal and spiritual development with Laurie Seymour of The Baca Institute.
I believe when ideas come to us, we are being chosen to act as the channel for that specific message. Whether it’s a blog, a book, a course, or something else, once we say “yes” to being the interpreter of that message, it’s our responsibility to listen.
With both practical and technical experience in the world of writing, I have extensive knowledge in the writing and publishing process (yes, it spans over thirty years, but now I risk dating myself).
I learned the publishing process from start to finish, from proofreading and copywriting to production, cover artwork, interior designs, and titles.
That foundational knowledge has helped me guide clients in the art of writing, many of whom have had their works published in literary journals and become best-selling authors!
In addition to a vast amount of publishing knowledge and a sound grasp of the English language, I have a unique approach to business and consulting. As a writer and entrepreneur, I’m passionate about revealing the spiritual roles we play in birthing our messages for our audience. I’ve studied human development and the science of success extensively with Jack Canfield, learned how to overcome limiting beliefs with Dr. Deb Sandella of The RIM® Institute, and continue my own personal and spiritual development with Laurie Seymour of The Baca Institute.
I believe when ideas come to us, we are being chosen to act as the channel for that specific message. Whether it’s a blog, a book, a course, or something else, once we say “yes” to being the interpreter of that message, it’s our responsibility to listen.
Allowing yourself to be guided in the creation process is where brainstorming begins. Ideas are the spice of life and help us develop your outline, write first drafts, and steer the project towards the organic direction the spark is meant to travel.
I’ve experienced, first-hand, what happens when you listen to what wants to be expressed.
Embracing that responsibility is a practice of giving way to our calling.
Each day we get to say “yes” to taking our place as leaders and role models for generations to come.
Words are powerful.
Our stories matter.
In working with me, you can trust you have a partner who is aligned with your mission and values. We’ll collaborate to create a sacred space to develop your ideas, strengthen your authorial voice, overcome the fear that keeps you from embracing your writing practice, and discover platforms to reach the perfect audience for your message.
Come on this journey with me. If you have a message to share, an idea to develop, or a family story to preserve, I welcome you to explore how I can help you leave a legacy to transform the world.