Katie Zapfel is a marketing and communications professional, accomplished blogger, and children's book author. With an English teacher for a mother and a lover of literature as a father, Katie was literally born to write.After earning her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Katie went on to build a successful career in marketing for the last 20 years in fields including higher education and mental healthcare.Through her blogs, she has covered topics including parenting, humor, and grief, which won her a spot on the cast of the Milwaukee chapter of the Listen to Your Mother national storytelling show and features on various national blogs.Inspired by the unexpected early-in-life loss of her own mother, Katie's focus on grief support advocacy led her to receive formal training through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Dougy Center.Katie lives in Wisconsin with her husband John, three sons, Leo, Finn, and Noah, and their English cream golden retriever, Winter.