Kathryn "Kali" Frankhauser

I have been repeatedly blessed with mentors, connections, and supporters who have guided me throughout my ever-winding journey, including my mother, who has always encouraged me to pursue whatever direction my heart desires. As a result, my focus has shifted many times, but each of those turns in attention has led me to where I am now: working in an industry that allows me to draw upon all of those interests.

I have always been something of a jack-of-all-trades, with a deep curiosity that has led me into writing and editing, spirituality and holistic practices, publishing, education, and many other areas along the way. What once might have looked like a collection of unrelated interests has become one of my greatest professional strengths. Every experience has given me another lens through which to understand the people and ideas I encounter in my work.

Relationships have been equally important. The first full-length book I worked on opened the door to a meaningful relationship with a publisher whose owner became a dear friend and mentor, connecting me with valuable opportunities that continue to impact my career today. Similar connections have appeared throughout my life, often at exactly the right moment.

So while I certainly attribute some of my success to curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to follow an unconventional path, I would never describe that success as mine alone. I am the product of countless conversations, opportunities, encouragements, lessons, and relationships. I have been fortunate to have people who saw something in me, taught me what they knew, opened doors, and encouraged me to keep exploring—and I try to offer that same generosity and encouragement to others whenever I can.

Some of the best career advice I've received came from my friend and mentor, Alyson Gannon, who taught me never to underestimate my skill and value or make myself smaller to accommodate others.

I've learned that recognizing your worth isn't arrogance; it's an important part of building a sustainable career. That means standing confidently behind the expertise I've worked to develop, charging appropriately for that expertise, and being selective about the clients and opportunities I accept. Not every project is the right fit, and saying no to the wrong opportunity can create room for the right one.

That advice has helped me become more confident not only in what I bring to the table, but also in trusting my own judgment about where, how, and with whom I want to do my best work.

Show up authentically in everything you do. Don't be a dilettante, but don't be afraid to pursue a diverse education, either. Explore what genuinely interests you, learn deeply, and remain open to opportunities that may not fit neatly into the career path you originally imagined.

Every project and experience teaches you something. Some will develop your technical skills; others will teach you how to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, run a business, or better understand the people you serve. Very little learning is wasted if you remain curious enough to recognize where it can be applied.

I would also encourage young women not to believe they have to make themselves fit a particular professional mold in order to be taken seriously. Develop your expertise, do excellent work, and continue learning—but allow the person you genuinely are to be part of what you bring to that work. Your perspective, interests, experiences, and even the unexpected turns in your path may eventually become some of your greatest strengths.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is helping people understand what editing actually is. Editing and proofreading are often used interchangeably, but proofreading is only one stage of a much larger editorial process, and in fact, it's the last stage. Developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading each examine a manuscript through a different lens and serve different purposes in bringing a book toward publication.

A manuscript can be grammatically correct and virtually free of typographical errors while still struggling with structure, pacing, clarity, consistency, or connection with its intended reader. Those are not proofreading problems, and correcting them requires a different kind of editorial attention.

There is also a misconception that seeking an editor means a writer has failed to produce a good manuscript. In reality, editing is part of professional writing. An editor isn't there to replace the author's voice or take ownership of the work, but to provide the informed outside perspective that is almost impossible to have when you are deeply immersed in something you've created yourself.

Great editing is an investment in the work. At its best, it elevates an author's voice rather than replacing it, hones the vision behind the manuscript, and helps shape the work into what it was meant to become.

Relationship and connection are at the heart of both my personal and professional values. I believe we are shaped by our relationships—with one another, our communities, and the living world around us—and that those relationships carry responsibilities of reciprocity, respect, and care.

For me, connection does not mean sameness. I value individuality, curiosity, authenticity, and the freedom for people to have their own voices, experiences, beliefs, and perspectives. In my work as an editor, that means helping writers strengthen what they want to say without imposing my own voice or worldview on their work. My role is not to homogenize or make someone’s writing sound like me; it is to help them sound more fully like themselves. In my personal life, this looks like allowing the people in my life to show up as they are.

I value integrity, compassion, and meaningful work. Whether I am editing a manuscript, developing a publishing project, or simply moving through my personal life, I try to approach others with curiosity rather than certainty and partnership rather than authority. Ultimately, I want my work and my life to contribute to deeper connection—with ourselves, with one another, and with the world we belong to.