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I am a contemplative writer, holistic teacher, and multimedia artist. I am the author of the critically-acclaimed YA contemporary novels, HOW TO BE BRAVE (2015) and THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER (2016), both from St. Martin’s Press/Griffin Teen. I am also the writer, voice, and co-creator of Yoga with Eleonora on PillowFortTV and the co-writer with Vanitha Swaminathan of the forthcoming picture book, A RAINBOW INSIDE MY BODY, illustrated by Holly Hatam (Viking 2024). In June 2023, my visual art piece, YOU WERE BORN OF LOVE, was selected by glendaleOUT for their exhibit, MAPPING MY QUEER: Body Mapping Our Queer Identity held at the Adams Mini-Park Gas Station and at the Brand Library as part of Glendale’s Second Annual Pride Events and hosted by the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture. I am grateful for the creative invitations to meditate on my body’s histories, presence, and healing/-ed futures through my written and visual works. In addition to my current position as Associate Professor of English at Pasadena City College, I am proud of my work as a middle, high school, and community college teacher for over two decades. I hold an M.A. in English from the University of California, Irvine, as well as an M.S. in Kinesiology, with a focus on Integrative Wellness, from Point Loma Nazarene University. Having completed multiple certifications, including becoming a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200, 2011), an ACE-certified personal trainer (2019), and an ACE-certified health coach (2021), while also living with multiple invisible illnesses and neurodivergence, I am passionate about bodily self-determination and health equity. I believe that holistic and inclusive approaches to expression, healing, and growth should be accessible to all. I have served as a board member for the Children's Literature Council of Southern California and as a volunteer for We Need Diverse Books. I was especially humbled to be honored as PCC's 2019 Ally of the Year for my work supporting undocumented and LGBTQ students and received PCC's 2021 Above and Beyond Award for Outstanding Service to Students. I am the queer daughter of immigrants. My Greek father fought against the Nazis during World War II when he was only fifteen years old; my mother's Jewish family fought against and ultimately were forced to flee the pogroms in the Pale of Settlement. As such, I am interested in the stories we tell, the stories we are given, and the ways we can redefine our worlds by discovering which stories are true. I believe in working towards a future that is inclusive, empathetic, and full of love. I also love to garden, woodwork, craft with thrifted and reclaimed items, snuggle with fluffy animals, hike flat wooded paths, and draw on the kitchen walls while the spaghetti boils. (Sometimes I space out and the pasta ends up overcooked, but it's nothing a drizzle of EEVO and a heaping mound of parmesan can't fix.) Connect with Katherine (she/her) on the medias: IG, YouTube, FB, or LinkedIn. |
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Check out Katherine’s new series, Yoga with Eleonora on YouTube,
which helps kids of all ages calm their minds and bodies so they can respond to and communicate their feelings in healthy ways. |
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*Image of woven fabric from a handmade bag crafted by my grandmother.
Ekaterini Kottaras, whose name I carry,
who lived and died in Greece before I was born,
but whose creative energies I honor and cherish as part of my own
Ekaterini Kottaras, whose name I carry,
who lived and died in Greece before I was born,
but whose creative energies I honor and cherish as part of my own
Copyright 2022 by E. Katherine Kottaras