|
SUPERMAKER: CRAFTING BUSINESS ON YOUR OWN TERMS (Chronicle, September 2020)COLLABORATIVE WRITER | I worked alongside business dynamo Jaime Schmidt to help her tell her story of taking Schmidt's Naturals from farmers market favorite to global brand. Part how-to, part memoir, Supermaker reveals Jaime's hard-won business insights, unfiltered stories, and tactical advice—perfect for entrepreneurs, makers, and anyone merging creativity and career.
Kelly was the perfect companion for bringing my book Supermaker to the world. A "business book meets memoir" is no easy task to pull off. Kelly was patient yet persistent when she saw opportunity to dig deeper to ensure the most compelling story. She did a beautiful job at capturing my voice and was relentless in getting it just right. Kelly was an all-around pleasure to work with. —Jaime Schmidt |
|
|
LOCKDOWN: LOS ANGELES (July 2020)INTERVIEWER | I conducted the interviews for Dan Shetron's latest film, Lockdown: LA, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in April. Creating a safe space for people to share and really listening to them is, for me, the most rewarding thing. I’m so proud of the film we made and the important, heartrending stories we were able to feature. Featured on Monster Children.
|
|
CRAIG & FRED: A MARINE, A STRAY DOG, AND HOW THEY RESCUED EACH OTHER (William Morrow, October 2017)COLLABORATIVE WRITER | I worked intimately with author U.S. Marine Craig Grossi to develop this narrative about his dog Fred, a stray who became Craig's companion while fighting in Afghanistan. Craig ultimately rescues Fred, bringing him back to America where the two embark on a cross-country road trip—with Fred becoming the thread connecting the world of Afghanistan with home. The book is based on the viral article viewed over 50 million times on the Dodo.
A Wall Street Journal Bestseller Read an excerpt → Working with Kelly on CRAIG & FRED was an experience that I'll never forget. She was totally invested in my story and made the writing process feel as effortless as sharing a story with an old friend. Her enthusiasm and professionalism was contagious, even when we were working under difficult conditions and a tight schedule. I'm proud to have worked with her and hope to do so again. —Craig Grossi |
|
THE CROWDSOURCERESS: GET SMART, GET FUNDED, AND KICKSTART YOUR NEXT BIG IDEA (Hachette, March 2017)COLLABORATIVE WRITER | Working alongside “Crowdsourceress” Alex Daly, I played an instrumental role in co-writing this instructive, one-of-a-kind guide. The book, published in March 2017 from Public Affairs, reveals how Daly has raised over $20 million in more than 50 successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns for creators including artists, documentarians, makers, and designers—and how you can, too.
Read an excerpt → From beginning to end, Kelly and I were in the trenches together writing this book. She was expert at helping me share my story, offering patience, kindness, and exceptional attention to detail along the way. Her extensive support was unparalleled. You are a gem, Kelly. This book wouldn't exist without you. —Alex Daly |
|
OBAMA FOUNDATION / STORYCORPS (2017)LEAD RESEARCHER | I identified and pre-interviewed dozens of candidates for this oral history collection produced for the Obama Foundation with Blue State Digital and StoryCorps. I worked closely alongside team members to uncover personal stories (about racism, sexism, healthcare, LGBTQ issues, and others) with sensitivity, care, and respect. The final sixteen audio shorts feature everyday people talking about the impact of the Obama presidency on their lives, and it is part of a big picture historical timeline of key achievements of President Obama’s legislation.
Kelly is a pleasure to work with. Throughout this project, she was steadfast, hard-working, and positive under a tight deadline, and her leads were invaluable in enriching the quality and diversity of the stories we were able to tell. It's clear she has a seasoned understanding of good storytelling and is able to connect with people of all backgrounds. I recommend her highly. —Amelia Tovey, Senior Creative Producer at Blue State Digital |
|
TWO CREATE PROJECTCO-CREATOR | Heidi Sistare and I launched Two Create in 2016 as a platform for exploring the ways in which creative duos collaborate. We interviewed people of diverse backgrounds and disciplines about collaboration, process, and partnership, publishing and promoting each interview as an ongoing celebration of the ways in which collaboration inspires and sustains what people make and do. We gathered collaborators' wisdom in a Collaborator's Guide, which you can download for free, and we now offer workshops that explore how to cultivate an everyday sense of fulfillment by creating, practicing, and sticking to your own rituals.
|
|
VINCENT VAN GOGH: CREATIVE INSPIRATION (September Publishing, October 2017)CURATOR + EDITOR | From hundreds of his letters, I curated a selection of Van Gogh’s most inspiring writing, pairing each with a corresponding sketch by the artist. The final product, published by September Publishing, is a beautiful art book designed to inspire and delight.
We have worked with Kelly across several projects. She has been an outstanding collaborator, editor and writer and brought rare intelligence and accuracy to each project. Her role in each has delivered a special addition to both books. She is also incredibly reliable and professional and an engaging, enriching person to work with. |
|
A PASSION FOR CHINA: A LITTLE BOOK ABOUT THE OBJECTS WE EAT FROM, LIVE WITH, AND LOVE (September Publishing, November 2017)LEAD RESEARCHER + FACT CHECKER | I worked closely with American artist and ceramicist Molly Hatch to source and distill the fascinating histories behind treasured pieces of ceramic art.
Working with Kelly was amazing! I was overwhelmed with research and the extra help did so much to keep me on track to meet deadlines. Kelly presented the research with notes about what to look at in particular and gave me many options to review that were relevant to the project. Whenever I needed additional research she was ready to go! Kelly is easy to work with, responsive and all around lovely! —Molly Hatch |
|
CALLINGS: THE PURPOSE AND PASSION OF WORK and TIES THAT BIND: STORIES OF LOVE AND GRATITUDE FROM THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF STORYCORPS (Penguin Press, 2016 and 2014)EDITORIAL ASSISTANT | I provided research, copyediting, and fact checking support in these collections of unforgettable stories from StoryCorps and Penguin Books.
|