Kristine Meldrum Denholm

I write in a clear, concise and relevant way, so readers can understand and feel moved and interested. And if readers relate to the story--understand why it calls to them--they are more likely to pick up your publication and interact with your brand.

With an understanding of human psychology (the need for someone to have validation, sympathy and compassion), I interview subjects well. I get good quotes but more--I get to the crux--the true heart-- of the story. So armed with research and psychology, mixed in with some solid story-telling skills, I can help you tell this story that needs to be told, on deadline.

These days, anyone with an internet connection pronounces themselves a "writer." If you hire me for an assignment, not only do you geta professional writer producing outstanding copy content, but you get someone who's received a top-knotch education in journalism from Duquesne University, professional internships and many, many years of professional communications experience.

My story:

From the Great Lakes Region to Steel Country to the Nation's Capital...

I love to tell a story. Maybe it's from my Scottish and Irish ancestors, but I think it's from growing up in a boisterous, fun household in Cleveland, where I had to get some attention in the shadow of athletic brothers. I fixed up an area in my basement sometime in 5th grade and created a neighborhood newspaper, and somehow convinced neighbors to buy this paper for 10 cents. An editor was born...but I craved more. Fast forward about 7 more years, and I was reporting and writing stories in the journalism lab at Duquesne University, while a professor threw things at us, because, he said, this is how the newsroom is: full of distraction. I interned at a TV station and a public relations firm in Pittsburgh, and I soon earned the j-degree (and psych minor) magna cum laude and...headed out to the real world.

I landed in Washington, DC, working for a government agency's press office. I was cranking out all sorts of copy: articles for national trade publications like Law Enforcement Technology Magazine, Firehouse Magazine, employee newsletter stories, national press releases, bios of our officials, and speeches and remarks for the director-- and even an occasional undersecretary or celebrity.

I still wanted more. I volunteered to write, report and anchor a local public affairs program in the evenings on a community television channel. I hosted an occasional public affairs show too.

I worked in that intense press office with daily media interaction for 10 years, gaining accolades, awards and promotions. Yet I soon had a family and left the office. I've authored essays, one in the upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Dog's Life (April, 2011), another in the best-selling Chocolate for a Teen's Soul (Kay Allenbaugh/Simon & Schuster) and the upcoming anthology Unsent Letters to Our Fathers. I've written stories published in Cleveland Family, Akron Family and Lake Family magazines, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, Mahoning Valley Parent Magazine, The Vindicator, the Sun newspapers (Cleveland area chain), and New Jersey Family Magazine.Oh, and... I have a non-fiction inspirational book proposal in the works; a local parenting book proposal being evaluated; and I've written my first novel which I'm editing and revising.

Working in OH, PA and DC/VA, I've earned experience, a hard work ethic, and an excellent education, all while getting to know some amazing people. Let me put this passion about life's stories to work for you.

Writing is what I love. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work!

 Recent Published Credits:

"Your Teen's Maddening Moodiness," Northeast Ohio Family Magazines, November, 2011

Handling Threats: "I'm Going to Kill You!"  feature story, Police Magazine, October 2011

"Officer Layoffs: Getting the Pink Slip,"and sidebar articles on police layoffs, Police Magazine, special issue, summer 2011

"10 Ways to Help Your Child Study for a Test," Northeast Ohio Family Magazines, September 2011 

"Coming Unraveled," feature story on chronic stress, p.39, Northeast Ohio Family Magazines, July 2011

Humor columnist for Sharewik.com

"Head Start: From Prenatal to Preschool," Northeast Ohio Family Magazines, July 2011

"The Winds of War," feature story, DD-214 Chronicle, July/August, 2011

"Skaneateles, When Visiting Was An Art," Life in the Finger Lakes magazine Summer, 2011

"Honey I Shrank the Kids," humor column, Northeast Ohio Family Magazines, June 2011

"When Kids are Violated," feature article, Northeast Ohio Family Magazines, May 2011

"Saving Grace," essay, Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Dog's Life, April, 2011 

"Stuck on Baby No. 1?" feature article about secondary infertility, Northeast Ohio Family Magazines, April 2011

"Handle With Care: With Special Needs Children, Marriages Can be Fragile," feature article, New Jersey Family Magazine, March, 2011

"Bullying: Is Your Child Backed Against the Wall?" feature article, part 1, Cleveland Family Magazine, March, 2011

"Taming Teenzillas: Why Children Today Show Disrespect, and How to Put a Stop to it," feature, Cleveland Family Mag., March 2011

"Stuck in the middle of middle school angst? You're Not Alone," feature for Cleveland Family, January 2011

"Start Your Engines, Rev It Up and.. Slow It Down?" FundsForWriters.com, January 2011

"Hard to Place, Easy to Love," feature for Cleveland Family, Nov. 2010

"Your Home Office: Haven or Hell? 9 Tips for Some Peace and Quiet," WOW! Women on Writing-Nov. 2010 

"Chasing Ghosts," award-winning feature article about a 1965 race-based murder of a sheriff's deputy; "The Coldest of Cases," Police Magazine, October, 2010

Teaching your child about their heritage, Cleveland Family magazine, cover story, Sept. 2010

"Please Mom, just one more show" Television and Tots--How much is too much? feature article in Cleveland Family magazine, August 2010 

"Chaos on the Kid Calendar" How many activities are too many for your kindergartner? Cleveland Family magazine, August 2010

"When Father Knows Best Meets Daddy Day Care," feature article in Cleveland, Akron and Lake Family magazines, June 2010

"When Kids Become Moms," award-winning feature article in Cleveland, Akron and Geauga Family magazines, April 2010

"Moving Day Mayhem: A 12 Tip Map for Unpacking and Settling In with Your Kids," New Jersey Family magazine, June 2010

"Defining Yourself," essay in anthology Chocolate for a Teen's Soul (Kay Allenbaugh/Simon & Schuster) 

"Traffic, Slugs and the Cycle of Life," Potomac News, Manassas Journal Messenger (InsideNOVA.com), May, 2009

article in Jan. Feb. 2010 issue for The Newsletter Newsletter

"Writing for Lou Grant and Those Dark Suits,"  Funds for Writers.com, Nov. 2009

upcoming essay in anthology Unsent Letters to Our Fathers

"Sun and Fun? Think About the Consequences" June 21, 2009, The Sun chain of newspapers, Cleveland

"Hanging On To a Faith That Lacks All the Answers," The Plain Dealer

Feature article about holiday traditions, Mahoning Valley Parent magazine

articles for law enforcement publications 

*Please email me for my full list of dozens of publishing credits