ABOUT ME
EMILY'S STORYThough she may not sound quite “from around here,” she was born and raised in the mountains of East Tennessee; she loves this land deep in her bones. Now Emily combines narrative and education, curiosity and connection into a storytelling-based outlook for her life and work in East Tennessee.
But first, a confession: it wasn’t until she went back to graduate school that her various jobs and callings made any sense. Emily’s work in magazine publishing, early childhood education, veterinary medicine, entrepreneurial work—what could possibly be the thread that tied them all together?
Completing her Master of Arts in Communication and Storytelling Studies in 2022 made it all clear. Through every job (in the classroom, the boardroom, the clinic exam room) the common thread all along was communication and storytelling skills. Through the study of storytelling she sees now how we all make meaning and relationship through story, using words and narrative toward connection. She loves bringing the human power of storytelling to audiences and students of all ages.
In a world of short reels and deep fakes, the human art of storytelling especially nourishes a deep hunger for connection. It is truly a gift!
Emily Katt has performed in multigenerational and multicultural settings throughout the region, and has won awards for multiple genres of her writing.
From personal anecdotes to professionally crafted stories, Emily wants to help you uncover your most compelling story arc.
MY STORY PHILOSOPHYI believe we are all made of stories, weaving together meaning from the wholemeal wonder of everyday life, our fairydust imaginations, and the spiciness of the people we meet. I trust in the goodness of story to serve as a bridge for humanity, reaching a grateful hand back to our elders, sending forward a life-sustaining legacy of tales for years and ears to come. My dear hope is to foster this power in each of us, to add more rich storytelling voices to the archive of humanity’s oldest art.
PROFESSIONAL STORY SERVICESReady to explore more stories? Below are just some examples of ready-made workshops and performances. I’d love to talk to you and collaborate on how storytelling can fit your needs - contact me for a free consultation. Let’s story together!
Themed storytelling performances for all ages - themes include bread stories, animal stories, family stories, chicken stories, water-based or nature-based stories, ghost stories, Appalachian folktales and ballads.
School group performances to enhance specific curriculum - specializing in biology or animal science, local history, plus literature and language arts.
Storytelling skill workshops for youth or adults, all levels - including how storytelling enhances career and life skills, telling your own story, advanced story crafting, fable creation, and more.
Writing and Editing services, multiple genres - strong in both fiction and non-fiction, magazine writing, memoir or biography.
“I can’t say enough how pleased I am with the result of the storytelling camp with Emily. Even the quietest students came out of their shell to tell a story.”
Lawren Smith • Program Coordinator, Langston Centre