About Katy Read

Mug of tea with Katy Read photo

What I write

I tell stories, whether in the form of  journalism, essays or copywriting. 

  • News and feature articles, essays and book reviews
  • Brochures, advertisements, web content, annual reports and other corporate communications.

Christmas ornament of red-haired woman flyng

My Topics

As a journalist I have written about  a lot of subjects, gaining knowledge and experience I can bring to copywriting projects, as well.

  • Journalism and creative nonfiction:  culture, social sciences, gender roles, boomers and aging, work-life balance, personal finance, books, family, attention management, employment and workplaces
  • Corporate: medical devices, health care, aging services, personal finance and others

     

headshot portrait of Katy Read

Publications and Projects

  • Staff writer, Minneapolis Star Tribune (currently), New Orleans Times-Picayune (previously)
  • Freelance articles and essays: Salon, Real Simple, Working Mother, Parents, Next Avenue, Forbes, AARP the Magazine, River Teeth, Brevity, Brain Child, Literal Latte, Full Grown People, Minnesota Monthly, two anthologies and  Sue William Silverman’s Fearless Confessions: A Writer’s Guide to Memoir.
  • Copywriter and editor at Abbott (formerly St. Jude Medical) for 3+ years.
  • Other clients: General Mills, Sterling Retirement Services, Lifetouch.

Awards and Honors

  • Minnesota Artist Initiative Grant
  • Literary competition awards: Chautauqua Literary Journal, Tiny Lights, Literal Latte, the Mid-American Review and the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition (twice)
  • Twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize
  • Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists Page One Award
  • Journalism fellowships from Columbia University's Age Boom Academy, the Gerontological Society of America and the National Press Foundation