ABOUT

Kathryn Aalto is a teacher, speaker, historian, designer, and New York Times best-selling author.

Based in Exeter, England, for the past twenty-five years, her creative practice has fused nature and culture. She is a master teacher of narrative nonfiction, a designer of classic and contemporary gardens, an author of books and essays about the natural world, an experienced public speaker, and writing retreat leader in the United States and Britain.

“I am committed to teaching narrative nonfiction in ways that provide each student with a transformational learning experience,” she writes. “I am guided by a passion for lifelong learning and the ways writing helps reimagine the self, society, and other-than-human life.”

Kathryn is the author of three books including Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks Who Shape How We See the Natural World (2020), The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh: A Walk Through the Forest that Inspired the Hundred Acre Wood (2015), and Nature and Human Intervention (2011). She reviews books and was a literary judge for the 2022 Nature Chronicles Prize. Her essays have appeared in Smithsonian Magazine, Outside magazine, Sierra, Buzzfeed, Resurgence and the Ecologist, and more. Her books have been widely reviewed in print, radio, and digital platforms including National Public Radio, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, BBC Countryfile Magazine, and many more. She has appeared on TV and in film.

An experienced arts administrator, she received the Community Revitalization Award as founder and president of the Monroe Arts Council in Washington State.

Kathryn is represented by Ultra Literary in New York City and is currently working on her fourth book.

DESIGNER & GARDEN HISTORIAN

Thoughtful and meaningful landscapes are created in all project sizes. Designs begin with a client meeting and site analysis and proceed through concept drawings, master plans, planting plans and construction drawings. I work with the best landscapers, engineers, craftsmen, and specialist contractors to create gardens of the highest quality.

Kathryn’s garden designs are noted for their historical narrative, comprehensive site analysis, underlying simplicity, and painter’s eye for composition, colour, shadow and light. A strong background in Italian and English garden history informs her work, she designs classic to contemporary gardens. In the public realm, she has special interest in designing natural playgrounds for children and therapeutic gardens for hospices and hospitals. All her gardens are mindfully designed to enhance mental and physical health. They are designed to invite moments of contemplation for enhanced overall well-being and interconnectedness.

Whenever possible, Kathryn encourages her clients to think about ways they can grow their own food: fruit trees, kitchen gardens, herb borders, and more. Connection, movement and sustainability are ideals enveloped into gardening as a practice for clients. At university, Kathryn lived near the influential Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse whose graceful founder, owner, chef, food activist and author Alice Waters, has influenced seasonal eating and the the Edible Schoolyard Project.

“It is deeply satisfying to tend your own garden,” Kathryn says. “And more so for me to teach people how to grow what they love to eat.”

PUBLIC SPEAKING & COACHING

Kathryn supports fellow writers and is an experienced public speaker.

“I was delighted when Kathryn helped me launch my Yale University Press book, The Doctor’s Garden, in February 2022 via a Zoom ‘In Conversation’ event,” said Dr. Clare Hickman, senior lecturer at Newcastle University.

“Kathryn had carefully read and considered the various angles I had taken to the material. She insightfully drew out the larger themes and scope and understood the originality of my work and how it sits within the wider context of landscape and botanic history. In particular, the discussion interweaving the academic research and my approach to writing was a joy and am sure helped me communicate verbally the processes as well as the outcomes of years of investigation. She was outstanding as an interviewer.”

Author Janisse Ray (Wild Spectacle, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood and six other books) says: “Kathryn Aalto has proven herself to be a person of extreme integrity, of careful preparation, and of utmost professionalism. She graciously agreed to host an online book launch for me. I wanted her to do it because of her seminal and ground-breaking survey of women’s nature writing, Writing Wild.  She proved to be beyond my wildest expectations. She was incredibly calm, obviously adept at managing the myriad threads involved in hosting an in-depth interview being broadcast live—the conversation itself, questions from the audience, the time, and much more. Not only calm, she was remarkably polite, kind, inclusive, and very knowledgeable about the subject at hand. Seemingly without effort she was able to drop into a deep, plundering, soul-stirring conversation, where the audience members felt as if they were eavesdropping, as if at any moment juicy information helpful to their lives might be revealed.”

To receive Kathryn’s press kit or to discuss a speaking engagement, please write to publicity@kathrynaalto.com.

 

SPEAKING

Writing Wild Talk

An hour long talk

This book has been adapted into an acclaimed narrative designed for speakers’ series at botanical gardens, museums, libraries, universities, and garden clubs. A lively and intelligent portrait of women and nature in the wider changing culture, like other talks by Kathryn Aalto, Writing Wild is visually rich with a soundscape that transports people to different worlds. The journey begins with a climb up England’s tallest mountain following in the 1818 footsteps of Dorothy Wordsworth, the lesser-known diarist, poet, and inspirational sister of William Wordsworth. Moving to America where Susan Fenimore Cooper, America’s first nature writer, lived and wrote, audiences learn about barriers that “dame scribblers” faced in nineteenth-century publishing.

To book please email publicity@kathrynaalto.com
the natural world of winnie the-pooh book

The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh

An hour long talk

A. A. Milne’s classic stories Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner have delighted parents and children for nearly a century.  The real landscape that inspired Milne and his illustrator E. H. Shepard was Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Part travelogue and natural history, this talk weaves history with humor, and birdsong with booklore. Kathryn Aalto tells the story of the real places and the rare flora and fauna in the forest that inspired Milne to create the Hundred Acre Wood, arguably the most beloved setting in children’s literature. Learn about Milne’s extraordinary childhood and remarkable writing career as well as his creative partnership with Shepard that captured generations of readers. Leave with a new understanding of how the Winnie-the-Pooh books are field guides for 21st-century Christopher Robins — hymns to those days of doing nothing yet learning everything.

To book please email publicity@kathrynaalto.com
the natural world of winnie the-pooh book

Writing Workshops

An hour long talk
To book please email publicity@kathrynaalto.com

SPEAKING ENDORSEMENTS

“Not only was Ms. Aalto thoroughly prepared and professional in her presentation, she was completely charming and engaging to our audience. As a rule, we have a very smart crowd. Ms. Aalto left the crowd delighted and satisfied with their evening out, something that does not always happen with an author presentation! We would gladly have her back for future programs…in fact it cannot be soon enough!” — Jacques Lamarre, Director of Communications, The Mark Twain House and Museum, Connecticut

“I directed Kathryn for a short ‘taster’ film for a pitch of the documentary version of her book ‘The Natural World of Winnie the Pooh’ for BBC Four. I couldn’t have asked for more from a presenter – she was extremely well prepared with excellent, engaging delivery and the ability to take direction and think on her feet. I very much hope we get to work together in the future.”— Jake Hayes, BBC Producer

“Kathryn Aalto’s event at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina drew a packed house and ranks as one of our Top 5 in 34 years. Her talk about The Natural World of Winnie the  Pooh was very informative and at times laugh out loud funny. Her slides kept the audience  interested. She discussed the real Hundred Acre Wood, A.A. Milne, Christopher Robin, and  E. H. Shepard’s illustrations. The audience had fun and lots of folks thanked us for having  her here. And we sold lots of books!” Helen Stewart, Floor Manager, Quail Ridge  Books, Raleigh, North Carolina 

“I’ve conducted many on-air interviews throughout the last 20 years. You don’t always know what you’re going to get until you’re actually into the interview. Within 10 seconds of my first question with Kathryn, I knew my audience was in for a real treat. Kathryn was engaging, informative, very much at ease, and immediately sucked me into Winnie-the-Pooh’s world. I now have this penchant to play Poohsticks, and I’ve updated my bucket list to include a visit to Ashdown Forest.” — Bryan Earl, Host of the Zesty Garden, Utah Public Radio

past venues

  • Atlanta Botanic Garden, Atlanta, Georgia
  • U.C. Berkeley Botanic Garden
  • Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
  • The Limberlost State Memorial, Geneva, Indiana
  • Piedmont, Orinda, and Marin Garden Clubs, California (Zoom)
  • Bookshop Santa Cruz, California (7 PM PST, Virtual Author Event)
  • The Jefferson Exchange, Jefferson Public Radio in Southern Oregon and Northern California (9-10 AM PST, 5-6 PM BST)
  • The Groks Science Show, WHPK in Chicago, Illinois (7 PM CST, taped)
  • The Morning Show with Chuck Kramer, WEAG in Florida (8:15 AM EST, 1:15 PM BST)
  • Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster, WRKF in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (9:45 AM CST, 3:45 PM BST)
  • In the Author’s Voice & Morning Conversation, WSIU in Illinois (9-9:30 AM Central, 3 PM BST)
  • Smith & Riley Radio Show, WFLF in Orlando/Central Florida (9:30 AM EST,/2:30 PM BST)
  • WGVU Morning Show with Shelley Irwin.
  • Titcomb’s Books, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (5 PM EST, Virtual Author Event)
  • Downtown with Rich Kimball, WZON/ZONE Radio in Bangor, Maine (4:05 PM EST/9:05 PM BST)
  • Interviews & Interactions, KTKK in Salt Lake City, Utah (5-5:30 PM Mountain, 1:30 AM BST )
  • This Green Earth, NPR 4:05 PM BST.
  • Summer Authors Series with Tower Hill Botanic Garden and Berkshire Botanic Garden, Massachusetts (6:30 PM EST)
  • The Culture Buzz.
  • Virtual Bird Fair, Nature Writing Panel
  • Preferred Radio, New Jersey Regional Area (9:18 AM EST, 2:18 PM BST)
  • Writing Wild Nature Writing Workshop, Tower Hill Botanic Gardens and Berkshire Botanic Gardens (6-7:30 PM EST)
  • Private book group webinar.
  • Modesto Garden Club, California (postponed to 2021)
  • Boulder Book Store, 7 PM Mountain Time
  • “The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh,” King County Library, Renton Cluster, Washington (10 AM PST)
  • Woodside Atherton Garden Club, California (postponed to 2021)
  • Whatcom Horticultural Society, Bellingham, Washington (postponed to 2021)
  • “Conversations with Eden” at Bellevue Botanical Garden with Heronswood Garden, Washington (9 AM PST). Register here for webinar.
  • Fairwood Library, Renton, Washington
  • Port Angeles Garden Club, Washington (postponed to 2021)
  • North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles Branch (postponed to 2021)
  • ESRI Auditorium, University of Redlands, California (postponed to 2021)
  • Resurgence Magazine, Monthly Book Group: “The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh.” (2 PM BST)
  • Lexington Community Education, Massachusetts, webinar.
  • The Friendly Little Writing School with James Rebanks (1-day virtual class)
  • Plymouth Public Library, Massachusetts, 11 AM EST.
  • Little Garden Club of Rye, Garden Club of America, webinar. (1 PM EST)
  • Dart Valley U3A, Flavel Arts Centre, Dartmouth, Devon, webinar.
  • Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Rockford, Illinois
  • Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University, North Carolina
  • North Country Garden Club with Old Westbury Gardens, New York (AM)
  • Fort Orange Garden Club, Albany, New York (PM)
  • Cornell University Botanic Garden, New York
  • Farmington Garden Club and Farmington Library, Connecticut
  • New London Garden Club, New Hampshire
  • Weeders and Diggers Garden Club, Montreal, Canada
  • Beaconsfield Garden Club, Montreal, Canada
  • The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island
  • Hamilton College, New York
  • Lexington Community Education, Lexington, Massachusetts
  • Baldwin Library Speakers Series, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
  • Houston Museum of Natural Science. Design lecture: “Designing Natural Gardens for Children Inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood.”
  • The Garden Club of Houston, Texas
  • Children’s Literature Series, Faculty of Education, Cambridge University
  • Rural Writing Institute, Cumbria, UK
  • Bedford Garden Club, Massachusetts
  • New London Garden Club, New Hampshire
  • Ridgefield Library, Connecticut
  • Beaconsfield Garden Club, Montreal, Canada
  • Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Harvard Garden Club, Massachusetts
  • Garden Club of Mountain Lakes, Rockaway River Country Club, New Jersey
  • Bethlehem Garden Club, Pennsylvania
  • Burlington Garden Club, Vermont
  • Yale Peabody Museum, Ostrom Program Series, Connecticut
  • Williamsburg Book Festival, Virginia
  • Garden Club of Macon, Georgia
  • Findlay University, Findlay, Ohio
  • Mazza Museum, Findlay, Ohio
  • Lexington Council of Garden Clubs & the University of Kentucky Extension Master Gardeners Association, Fayette County Extension Office. Lecture & design: “Designing Natural Gardens for Children—Inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood.”
  • University of Tennessee Arboretum Society
  • University of Tennessee Arboretum Lecture Series
  • Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Winchester Writers’ Festival, Winchester, UK. Teaching “The Art of Narrative Nonfiction” and “Writing a Winning Proposal”
  • Cincinnati Museum Center, Insights Lecture Series, Lloyd Library & Museum, Ohio
  • Carmel Clay Public Library, Carmel Clay, Indiana
  • Kingwood Center Gardens, Mansfield, Ohio
  • Environmental Literature
  • Institute, Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire (Attending)
  • Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. Teaching “Research for Writers.”
  • Swanwick Writers’ School, Derbyshire, UK
  • Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA
  • Rakestraw Books, Danville, CA
  • Modesto Garden Club, Modesto, CA
  • Laguna Beach Garden Club, Laguna Beach, CA
  • Ramona Garden Club and Ramona Library, CA
  • Mission Hills Garden Club, San Diego, CA
  • Vromen’s Bookstore, Pasadena, CA
  • University of Redlands, Esri Auditorium, Redlands, CA
  • Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK
  • The Gardens at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
  • State Arboretum of Virginia, Blandy, VA
  • Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, UK
  • St. John’s Outdoor University, Collegeville, MN
  • Twin Cities Book Festival, Minneapolis, MN
  • Pratt Library & Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD
  • Georgia Center for the Book, Atlanta, GA
  • Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, GA
  • State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • The Taft School, Watertown, CT
  • Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH
  • Mary C. O’Keefe Arts and Cultural Center, Oceanside, MS
  • Louisiana Book Festival, Baton Rouge, LA
  • LSU Hilltop Arboretum and Baton Rouge Herb Society, Baton Rouge, LA
  • Garden District Bookshop, New Orleans, LA
  • Fort Worth Garden Club, Fort Worth, TX
  • The New York Public Library, New York, NY
  • United States Botanic Garden, Washington, D.C.
  • Hillwood Estate and Gardens, Washington, DC
  • National Press Club Book Fair, Politics & Prose Bookstore, Washington, D.C.
  • New Dominion Bookshop, Charlottesville, VA
  • Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum, MA
  • Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge, MA
  • Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Bolyston, MA
  • Harvard Bookstore, Boston, MA
  • Titcomb’s Bookstore, Sandwich, MA
  • Water Street Bookstore, Exeter, NH
  • WORD, Jersey City, NJ
  • Hunterdon Library/The Book Garden, Frenchtown, NJ
  • Spotty Dog Books and Ale, Hudson, NY
  • Bookworm/Bernardsville Public Library, NY
  • Doylestown Bookshop, Doylestown, PA
  • The Union League, Philadelphia, PA
  • The Acorn Club, Philadelphia, PA
  • Westport Library, Westport, CT
  • Mark Twain House, Hartford, CT
  • Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC
  • Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
  • McIntyre’s, Pittsboro, NC
  • Virginia Festival of the Book, Charlottesville, VA
  • The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
  • The Newberry Library Chicago, IL
  • Bartholomew County Library, Columbus, IN
  • Hudson Library & Historical Society, Hudson, OH
  • The Town Club, Pasadena, CA
  • Laguna Beach Garden Club, CA
  • Village Books, Bellingham, WA
  • Monroe Public Library, Monroe, WA
  • Third Place Books, Seattle, WA
  • Inland Empire Gardening Club, Spokane, WA
  • Everett Community College, Everett, WA
  • Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Seattle, WA
  • Toby’s Garden Festival, Powerderham Castle, UK
  • Penzance Literary Festival, UK
  • The Gilbert White House, Selbourne, UK
  • Swanwick Writers’ Summer School, UK
  • Ashdown Forest Centre, UK
  • The Garden Museum’s Literary Festival, Hatfield House, UK
  • Devon Wildlife Trust Wildlife Ambassadors Conference, Exeter UK
  • Exeter College, Exeter, UK
  • The Exeter School, Exeter, UK
  • The Maynard School, Exeter, UK

Listen to Kathryn launch the book Wild Spectacle by Janisse Ray

Writing Wild

Part travel essay, literary biography, and cultural history, Writing Wild ventures into the landscapes and lives of extraordinary women who have written about the natural world. From Sissinghurst Castle Garden and Scafell Pike in the Lake District to the Southern Sierras in California to the beaches of Cape Cod, Kathryn Aalto explores the lives, literature, and landscapes of twenty-five classic, new, and overlooked female nature writers.

“A fantastic resource for readers looking to grow their TBR piles.” — The Los Angeles Times

“Exciting, inspiring, intimidating, and bold.” — San Francisco Book Review

“A heartening book, granting attention to women who dared to write and ramble wild.” — BBC Countryfile

 

The Natural World of Winnie-The-Pooh

    In this New York Times best seller, Kathryn Aalto explores the people, places, and plants that inspired A. A. Milne to create the Hundred Acre Wood. A three-part narrative packed with classic E. H. Shepard illustrations and hundreds of new and historical photographs.

    “Aalto’s lovely book provides two great pleasures: a visit to the actual wild spots that inform the fictional Pooh world and a chance to slip into our memories of the books themselves.” — The Washington Post

    “Lavishly illustrated with superb photographs as well as reproductions of the delightfully familiar Shepard illustrations… an affectionate book written with enthusiasm.” — The Wall Street Journal

    “A vivid guide to the 6,000 acres of Ashdown Forest in England, a landscape celebrated by A. A.  Milne and illustrator E. H. Shepard as the make-believe Hundred Acre Wood where Christopher Robin and their friends had their adventures.”  — The New York Times

    nature and human intervention

    Nature and Human Intervention

    A project for Laurent-Perrier: Luciano Giubbilei, Kengo Kuma, Peter Randall-Page – This book by Kathryn Aalto is a collection of lyrical essays celebrating the vision and artists behind the Laurent-Perrier Garden at the 2010 Chelsea Flower Show. Printed in 1000 copies numbered from 1 to 1000.

    ENDORSEMENTS

    “After six months of working with Kathryn–which is a bit like entering the space of a handwritten letter, what with her sharp aesthetic sense, far-ranging intelligence, wit, and curiosity–I’ve made tangible progress on an unwieldy, long-form project I was struggling to articulate. I came to her Memoir and Life Writing class for accountability, and came away having experienced the kind of support, writing insight, and real feeling of friendship that can be difficult to find in a workshop environment. Kathryn fostered a warm, charming atmosphere in class (a real feat online), allowing for life-long connections to develop among our group of writers. She cares about the arc of her student’s writing lives–a form of attention that encourages artistic growth and positive risk-taking. She not only brought her years of writing and publishing experience to class and to our bi-monthly writing assignments (her personal feedback, often handwritten, is invaluable), she also brought her unique perspective. Writer-gardener-historians are, I think, particularly adept at imagining the possibilities for a piece, no matter your subject. Kathryn pushed me to dig deeper, moving my writing in new directions. No matter where one is in their writing life, working with Kathryn will be an experience of profound joy, insight, and artistic deepening.

    Veronica, Portland, Oregon

    “I have been making my living with journalistic texts for four years now. Tied to my desk due to the pandemic I decided it was time to take my writing to another level and enrolled in The Art of Narrative Nonfiction. Being skeptical of virtual courses at first, I was immediately drawn into the group by her professional and yet entertaining moderation of the weekly online gatherings. With an attractive mix of lecture, discussion, workshop and personal tutoring she enabled us to not only profit from her vast experience as a writer but also to open up our pieces to our peers from various cultural backgrounds. I’ll definitely be back for more.”

    Johannes, Cologne, Germany

    “I tend to underachieve in courses where I feel the instructor is simply reading what’s on a slide or handout, obviously not engaged with the material or the students. But you’re different. You challenge students to perform at their very best. You care. You want us to break free of our box, not adhere to some minimum standard, and I greatly appreciate that. You are a professor. It’s remarkable. I have told every student I know to enroll in any class you teach, and I stand behind those words. As long as there are teachers out there in the world such as yourself, the quality of education received is of great value, importance, and overall high quality and standards. You raise the bar, Professor Aalto.”

    Craig, Seattle, Washington

    “Kathryn’s workshops are absolute troves of clear, thoughtfully presented material. She seamlessly blends engaging and foundational readings, compelling lecture, and meaningful workshopping. What I was most blown away by, though, was her fierce dedication to each participant’s journey – meeting each one of us where we were and guiding us further along in our writing path. From handwritten feedback to answering questions after hours, Katy really went above and beyond to ensure our growth and success.”

    Kimberly, Atlanta, Georgia

    “I think it can be really hard for people with a neurodiversity to consider a class as a hobby or pleasure. There’s just SO much anxiety about once again being judged, by a teacher or peer group, and being found lacking or “other” rather than valuable and connected. It’s something most of us have experienced far too often in educational and social settings, so we avoid making ourselves vulnerable to those experiences in future. But this can cut us off from taking joy in our interests within a community, which is isolating and also stops our stories being heard. The foremost reason that I chose Kathryn’s class was trust. She will always find both the most relatable and the most admirably unique aspects of everyone’s writing, and help them to bring those aspects into communion. Her classes are consciously inclusive – more than inclusive; celebratory! – of every individual and their different talents and challenges. I’ve really appreciated all my classmates too. There’s been such an atmosphere of warmth and enjoyment along with all the learning and practicing and growing. Writing genuinely can be rewarding for everyone.”

    Robin, San Francisco, California

    I was privileged to be part of 2018’s Rural Writing Institute cohort and to meet an amazing and diverse group of writers through that. However, taking a course with Katy has been the catalyst which has not only got me into the habit of writing, but has taken that writing to a whole new level. Katy helped me to see that I could do better, through a mixture of well-managed discussion and timely, constructive feedback. She has turned me from an aspiring writer into an emerging one. It sounds cheesy, but her course really has been life-changing.” 

    Sarah, Yorkshire. England

    “Kathryn Aalto is an exceptional teacher. As a best-selling author, she knows the publishing industry first-hand. And she is highly adept at refining one’s technical skills without stifling a writer’s voice. I love the combination of rigor and nurturing she provides. Without her mentoring, I would still be stumbling in the dark along my path to publication. Her guidance, support and knowledge are game changers. I cannot recommend her enough!”

    Lise, Los Angeles, California

    “I learnt so much from taking Kathryn’s Memoir and Life Writing course. Although I had published a lot of academic work, I was struggling making the transition to writing in a more personal vein and lacking in confidence. I found in Kathryn a superbly knowledgeable and lucid teacher. Through the lectures and class discussion, I learnt how to implement narrative nonfiction techniques and, in just a few weeks, saw my writing become much more engaging and evocative. I also benefited from being part of a supportive and friendly learning community, and building relationships that I expect to last far beyond the duration of the course. Finally, I really appreciated Kathryn’s warmth and positivity, both in the virtual classroom and in her individual feedback. She was an attentive and sympathetic reader of my work, giving clear guidance for improvement while simultaneously building my confidence. The course enabled me to see new possibilities in my writing and I am keen to work with Kathryn again as I continue to develop.” 

    David, Leeds, England

    “Kathryn was a fabulous mentor at a time when I needed it the most. I was working on the manuscript of my first nonfiction book, and Kathryn had recently finished Writing Wild, which has a similar structure to mine. She provided wonderful advice about how to balance different chapters, how to better tell a story, and always reminded me to be specific rather than vague. Kathryn gave me courage to pursue interviews with higher profile people than I would have otherwise approached, and boosted my confidence as a writer. Our weekly call gave me goals, a schedule, and kept me accountable in my writing process. Because of Kathryn, I had a clearer sense of what makes a full-length nonfiction book work and how to get there. Working with her while I was in the final stages of my manuscript dramatically improved my final product and gave me skills that I will carry with me for my writing career.”

    McKenzie, California

    “The Art of Narrative Nonfiction is a wonderful class, and Katy is an amazing teacher. As an emerging writer, I was a bit nervous to take the course. Katy’s welcoming presence from the first minute put me at ease, and I have enjoyed and benefitted from all that she offers: interesting writing assignments, wonderful books and readings, workshopping opportunities with supportive classmates, an author visit, etc.  The effort that Katy spends in reading each of our drafts and providing valuable feedback has helped me immensely in the past several weeks. I am excited to take more classes with her in the future.”

    Jeanine, Pennsylvania

    “It has been an absolute pleasure spending the past year in the Memoir and Life Writing Class with Kathryn and a small group of aspiring writers. Kathryn encouraged us to go deep into our “writing well,” supporting us with a wide breadth of reading and discussion. The opportunity to talk with published authors was invaluable in the writing and planning process. Kathryn taught us to look at our writing with fresh eyes, opening the group to thoughtful conversation and supportive advice. Her teaching style is relaxed, measured, and thought-provoking. This class is a journey; it has vast implications in the life writing process. I grew as a writer, reader, and person. I am grateful for Kathryn’s guidance.”

    Jeanne, Peterborough, New Hampshire

    Kathryn is an inspiring writer and gifted teacher of narrative non-fiction. She creates a warm and inviting atmosphere in the virtual classroom, even as she encourages writers to pursue their craft with rigour and tenacity. The classes pivot from instructor-led teaching to student-centred learning, with a dynamic range of activities, including lectures, discussions of craft/technique in assigned readings, writing prompts, workshops, Q&A sessions with published authors, industry insights and more. Aspiring writers receive detailed and actionable feedback, whether to build on existing skills or experiment with fresh approaches to craft. Beyond the classroom, Katy is happy to answer any questions, suggest further readings and encourage writers to publish.

    Wendy, Maidenhead, England

    “Kathryn is an exceptional teacher. We’d start each class with a short lecture about the craft of writing, and then we’d apply what we learnt through work-shopping and readings. I think that’s the best thing about Kathryn’s classes: that we are taught the skills we need to continue learning for ourselves. At the end of the six weeks, I wasn’t left high and dry, scratching my head wondering what to do next. Through the online classes, I interacted with people from all over the world. And Kathryn has a gift for holding the space, so I felt safe sharing my work and opening myself up for critique. Learning from Kathryn is a fantastic experience, which is why I keep signing up for more!”

    Marissa, Austria

    “The Writer-to-Writer Mentorship Program with Kathryn Aalto, sponsored by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, was a tremendous boost to my career as a creative writer. Judging the success of our relationship is easy: less than a year after we started, I have had five of the six essays she critiqued accepted for publication. Kathryn did more than just review and suggest, she recommended books and articles I should read, authors I should follow, conferences and short courses I should attend. She emphasized the importance of developing an online presence. She provided a detailed description of her career as a writer; the path she followed to becoming an internationally known, bestselling author. I still have much to learn, but Kathryn provided, encouragement, tools, and skills that will enable me to grow and chart my own course.”

    Andrew, Maine

    “The Art of the Personal Essay was a great class. Kathryn was encouraging, letting us know what we did well, but she also took time to give us suggestions for how we could improve our work. Her feedback made me more confident and enthusiastic about trying my hand at writing. The esprit de corps in our class was beyond what I would have thought possible in a Zoom class. The energy was lovely and it was a real pleasure to share work with writers from Australia to Europe to America.”

    Kimberley, Michigan

    “I’ve had the privilege of learning from Katy as part of the Rural Writing Institute, and in her Life Writing class. The class every fortnight gave me momentum and accountability, things which can be hard to muster on my own. As well as learning loads about theory, and reading some brilliantly insightful books together, I benefitted hugely from submitting writing each session and having others read it and feedback — this was something I was nervous of at the start, but it became one of the things I most valued. Katy’s experience and passion shine through, and each of us could feel that she cared about our words, and cared deeply about us becoming the best writers we can be. My writing and ideas felt safe here, which encouraged me to dig deeper. An unexpected gift of the course was the incredibly supportive community — something I hadn’t realised was so important in the writing life, but which now feels as vital as pen and paper. Thank you Katy for sharing your knowledge, experience, encouragement and passion with us, and for building such a great community.”

    Elizabeth, Devon, England

    “Margaret Atwood said “If you really want to write, and you’re struggling to get started, you’re afraid of something”. Kathryn fixes those nagging fears by showing writers what we have that is already good, and what we can do better tomorrow. It’s win-win, and she remakes a traditional “class” into such an enjoyable, productive journey. I’ve also been lucky enough to experience the awe-inspiring surroundings and warm community that form the bedrock of the Rural Writing Institute. It’s not often that you can genuinely say that one long weekend shifted the way you look at the world, but the effects are still with me in my reading and writing years later.”

    Caroline, Aberdeen, Scotland

    “Kathryn possesses a rare talent to hold a learning space in such a way each participant is supported while doing the hard work of being vulnerable. She extends an invitation to share space together in a small circle across time and distance as writers gather from around the world in a digital classroom with warmth and grace.  As a new writer, I felt unsure and intimidated. Was I ready? Did I have anything interesting to say?  Kathryn dispelled my fears, welcomed me and never stopped encouraging me to stretch just a little further. She weaves and layers lectures, writing prompts with workshopping along with insightful feedback (often with sketches!) for every session. Kathryn is attentive to the temperament of each class, pausing a little longer here, waving a brief hello to something over there. I rave about these classes! Not only for how each has helped me to learn the craft of writing but for how she has helped me discover my voice. Quite honestly, growing as a writer has profoundly affected my relationships. Deepening my relationship to self, to loved ones and the world I habit. What a joy!” Beth Anne, New Jersey 

    “I would like to say how much I have enjoyed this course. It has been absolutely worth every penny. The two week gaps are perfect for getting writing done – I normally simmer and background read for a week, then start to plan properly in the second week. It may not seem like it but it works for me. I have found the tutorials rich and insightful and the book recommendations well worth the time. The company and the guest readers have been stimulating so thank you very much for that.”
    Nicky, England