We are fiction and nonfiction authors. Editors and journalists. Technologists and literary junkies. We are your content team.
MICHELE KELLY, ITALIAN MOTHER/COFOUNDER/CEO/ CORPORATE STORYTELLER AND FICTION WRITER
Storytelling is About Passion
Michele cries once a day - emotion is like a breeze against her arms. She has no sense of direction nor time, which makes her often late. Yet she would stop everything if you stopped by (she’d love that!). She believes beauty is inside each person, moreso in our fault lines. Her ADHD makes her love and hate structure. Being the mother of her Three Everythings is why she was born. Roderick is her rock and refuge. Faith is her North Star.
Michele is tech geek, graduating with a computer science degree from Florida Tech. Mostly, her Italian parents taught her to live an extraordinary life in small ways. Her philosophy: let your story tell the truth. She has brought 50+ brands to life, and named nearly a dozen cool companies and “things.” She is a 4x published ghostwriter of nonfiction books and a contributing author to three: Today’s Inspired Leader, Goldenheart II: We Are Your Family (Amazon bestseller in three categories), 81 Words, a UK-published book of short stories. She is currently work on a book of short fiction. Connect with me on LinkedIn.
RODERICK KELLY, ORIGINAL CO-FOUNDER/EDITORIAL ADVISOR/ALWAYS AN EAGLE SCOUT
Small Town Stories are the Best
While exiting in 2022 to build an aviation company from the ground up, Roderick continues to serve as a second editor for K+L Storytellers, a throwback from his days as bureau chief for Copley News Service. He co-founded K+L Storytellers, and it wouldn’t exist today without him. He is a believer in others, leaving his Minnesota town of 1,200 with an unmatched love of story. He has interviewed U.S. presidents, famous authors and serial killers. He has led PR, brand and content for Fortune 500s like Motorola and US Foods.
DAWN KLINGENSMITH, STORY ASSEMBLER/SERIAL DEADLINE SLAYER
Masterful storytelling requires as much curiosity as it does creativity
Dawn's curiosity is boundless. She believes that asking the right questions can unlock an intriguing story about literally any person, place, or thing. And she's proved it, having won an award for her magazine feature about cement. (It's fascinating!) As a journalist, she's interviewed movie stars, bestselling authors, astronauts, combat veterans, politicians, addicts, hoarders, Fortune 500 CEOs, and even a human cannonball. As a content provider, she serves various industries including technology, healthcare, commercial real estate, personal finance, higher education, and energy. When she's not writing, she enjoys Loire Valley cabernet franc, Chicago storefront theatre, collecting art and pottery, backpacking, Pilates, beekeeping, and browsing historic cemeteries (headstones being concise stories). Check out her website. You’ll love the birds.
BETH SULLIVAN, BRAND ASSISTANT/IDEA NAVIGATOR/ENERGY LIFTER
Every Conversation is an Adventure
Beth has worked in the marketing and development industry for over 20 years. Since joining the K+L Storytellers team in 2023, she continues to use her experience by focusing on client relationships. Beth specializes in event planning, travel coordination, fundraising, galas, and developing long-term relationships with clients and donors. She has played key roles in creating the “Dreams Do Come True” program at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, Illinois. This program has allowed hundreds of underprivileged children to enjoy live theatre for free. Beth currently resides in Aurora, Illinois. She’s the proud mother of Mick and Molly, and recently celebrated her 25-year anniversary with husband Shawn.
NATALIE BROWN, WRITER + STORYTELLER/DIFFERENCE-MAKER
The More You Travel, the More You Walk in Another’s Shoes
Natalie is a gifted writer and motivational speaker. She is the award-winning author of Fifty-Two Cups of Coffee, a weekly devotional for the modern believer seeking intimacy with God. Passionate about the Gospel, she uses storytelling as a means to encourage, challenge and inspire others.
Natalie has traveled to South Africa, China, Israel, Australia, and Jamaica. With each opportunity, she has walked away with a greater desire to transcend cultural differences, race and religion through her writing. Natalie is founder of 4:14 Ministries, a creative platform designed to empower modern women to discover their God-given purpose and walk in accordance. Check out her website (and her incredible blogs!).
BIG IDEAS WRITING:
OUR PRESS RELEASE DISTRIBUTION PARTNER
Big Ideas Writing was formed in 2012 by Karen Dix, an integrated marketing communications specialist with more than 20 years of agency experience, who moved from the Detroit area to Chicago. She is a published author, extraordinary writer and editor (she was Michele’s editor for Today’s Inspired Leader!), book ghostwriter, and is an accomplished journalist and PR expert. Big Ideas Writing manages press release distribution for K+L Storytellers’ clients. Check out Big Ideas Writing here.