Writer, editor, storyteller, speaker, author Patti Richards has spent the more than 25 years spinning yarns and writing stories ….
After a successful education career in which she taught middle and high school language arts, social studies, public speaking and theater, Patti Richards’ inspirational connection with children simply could not be contained in the classroom. Her innate way with a story and her love of literature had long inspired her teaching. She’d written plays for her students and short stories and little snippets of this and that, but in retirement, she found she had much more to say.
“I first knew I was a writer in the 7th grade. My teacher gave us an assignment (I don’t remember what it was), and I remember looking out the window and writing from what felt like another place, outside of the classroom. When I got my paper back she had written a note encouraging me to explore my gift and see how far it would take me. I’ve been exploring for more than 25 years now and loving every minute of it.”
Patti’s insightful features on parenting, women’s health and education have been published in San Diego Parent, The Lookout, Homelife, Metro Parent, UPtv.com and in many other print and digital publications nationwide. Patti was an Honorable Mention Winner in the 2018 Katherine Paterson Prize at Hunger Mountain for her picture book text, WHAT THE SEASHELL SAID, she's also won Honorable Mentions in three consecutive Writer's Digest Fiction contests and received the Gold Medal Award for Special Section Within a Publication (55K+ circulation), from Parenting Publications of America in 2003.
Patti lives with her family in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She enjoys reading, gardening, singing, playing the piano, painting and tending to her flock, which includes Gracie the dog, Barnabas, the big black puppy, and Willow the cat.
