About Katie
Hi, I’m Katie!
Here is the Sparknotes version of my life story
I grew up in the Boston suburbs with my parents, some pets, and three siblings. My younger years were filled with sports and books. Since childhood, I’ve loved reading and storytelling. So when my brother gave his crappy old laptop to me, I used it to write stories.
My dream to becoming an author started around 9 or 10 years old. So I wrote and wrote and wrote. Soon enough, I self-published my first novel in high school. Also in high school, I discovered another great passion: dance. After binging several seasons of America’s Best Dance Crew, I took my first hip hop class.
The fall of 2017 was my first semester at Boston College, where I majored in Communication and minored in Journalism and International Studies. At BC, I made lifelong friends, joined incredible clubs, and fostered my love of learning. College was about 40% academics, 30% UPrising (my dance team), 20% social life, and 10% everything else.
After graduating in 2021, I flipped my life upside down by moving to Hong Kong to teach English for the year. And it was the most incredible experience. Hong Kong reminded me to prioritize travel and living abroad. (If you ever want to hear me talk for three hours, ask me anything about Hong Kong.)
Still in Hong Kong, I work at one of the best English newspapers in the region: South China Morning Post. There, I am a reporter that focuses on education, highlighting minority voices, featuring incredible artists, athletes, activists, and much more!
I am an author, traveler, and lifelong learner. I love to dance, nerd out about books, and meet new people. And I’m always ready for an adventure or challenge
Cool things that I’ve done
I danced in front of 5,000 - 6,000 audience members … twice!
I self-published a novel when I was in high school
I was BC’s representative for the annual Boston Japanese Speech Conference in 2018 and 2019
I was the Grand Prize Recipient for the very first K-Culture Essay Contest.
I worked on NBC’s Digital Editorial team for the Tokyo, Beijing, and Paris Olympics
I have traveled to 16 different countries and territories.
In 2023 — I launched my own travel podcast!
Get to know me better with some fire round questions!
Where have you lived?
I spent several months in Osaka during my studies, and I moved to Hong Kong for almost a year after graduating college. But for most of my life, I lived in Boston.
What is your favorite book?
Besides my own books?! My favorites include Harry Potter, Pachinko, Miracles of the Namiya General Store, Island of Sea Women, Docile, and The Poppy War! For more book recommendations, check out my Goodreads!
What is your favorite food?
My go-to comfort cuisines are Korea, Indian, and Thai, but my favorite food is sushi. I could eat it every day and never get sick of it (which is exactly what I did when I lived in Japan).
Who is in your family?
I have an older brother, a younger sister, and a younger brother. And a dog!
Quick fun fact: I switch between vegan and pescatarian depending on where I’m living in the world!
What languages do you speak?
English! And I took 3.5 years of Japanese in college (plus an intensive language immersion when I studied abroad). I’m currently looking to perfect my Japanese and also learn Mandarin, Italian, and French.
When did you write your first book?
Well, I wrote a “book” of about a hundred and fifty pages when I was 10 years old. It was called Star Struck. It wasn’t very good. Then, when I was 13, I wrote The Kryptonite Chronicles: The Weather Man and published it four years later.
What is your favorite movie?
My answer is usually Slumdog Millionaire with Joker at a close second. My favorite movies are usually sad, emotional, and upsetting. (I’m also a big fan of foreign films.) Honorable mentions include Taxi Driver, Zero Dark Thirty, Ode to my Father, and The Silent Forest.
Any special skills?
I can juggle. I can do a cartwheel with one hand. And I make incredible breakfast foods (especially smoothie bowls).
