Bio:

Kathleen is a linguistics professor who currently lives in Hong Kong. A former kindergarten teacher and camp counselor, she is an experienced public speaker who regularly gives large-scale presentations to English-language teachers on various topics, including how to integrate picture books into the second language classroom.

She has extensive publications in the academic world, as well as publishing credits in Skipping Stones, Wee Ones, Highlights, and Chicken Soup for a Preschooler’s Mom’s Soul. She has also co-translated several best-selling picture books from Chinese to English. In 2005, her teen novel Life Saving Secrets was nominated for the SCBWI Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award, and this same novel also received the SCBWI 2005 Work-in-Progress Runner-Up Grant for a Contemporary Young Adult Novel.

Kathleen joined SCBWI in 1998 and become the Regional Advisor for Taiwan in 2001. In her role as Regional Advisor, she plans events to help writers and illustrators develop and hone their craft. In 2005, she became the SCBWI Assistant International Advisor, as well as the editor for the International Column in the SCBWI Bulletin. In 2008, she stepped up to become the International Regional Advisor Chairperson. In this role she oversees the running of all the regions outside of the United States, as well as the organization of the Biennial SCBWI Bologna Showcase. SCBWI has opened many doors for her as a writer, and she hopes that her leadership role in this supportive organization will help other writers and illustrators achieve their professional goals as well.

You can find out more about Kathleen at her webpage: www.kathleenahrens.com.


Writer
PAL
Member since 1998
Region: International Central

Contact Information

Website:  http://www.kathleenahrens.com

Published In Children's Market: Yes
Available for Speaking Engagements? Yes