Catherine Hughes

Meet Catherine Hughes.

Raised in a small town just southeast of Pittsburgh—once lovingly dubbed “the most boring town in Pennsylvania”—Catherine Hughes has always known that extraordinary stories can come from the most unexpected places. As the daughter of two English professors, she grew up surrounded by language, learning, and the belief that words can change lives.

Today, Catherine is an internationally bestselling author, editor, and visionary advocate whose work blends storytelling with purpose. She has contributed to and led the creation of more than twenty books, each rooted in resilience, community, and transformation.

Her long-awaited memoir, Imprisoned No More: A Mother and Son Embrace Autism and Journey to Freedom, released in August 2020, is both a deeply personal story and a powerful call for understanding and liberation. She also honored her late father’s legacy through Seeking Utopia: The Art, Poems, and Passages of John J. Tomko, a collection released on what would have been his 77th birthday—fulfilling a promise made in his final days: to carry his words, and her own, forward into the world.

In 2018, Catherine founded her platform The Caffeinated Advocate, a space where advocacy meets authenticity and encouragement is always served with a side of bold truth. In 2020, she expanded that mission into The Caffeinated Advocate, LLC, where she serves as Chief Inspirational Officer, offering impactful support as an author, editor, speaker, trainer, consultant, and Certified Master Life Coach.

For more than two decades, Catherine has devoted her life’s calling—not merely a career—to walking alongside individuals with disabilities, self-advocates, and families as they navigate systems, build community, and reclaim possibility. Known for leading with both grace and grit, she is a servant leader committed to cultivating relationships and creating programs that truly transform lives.

She proudly serves as the Director of Family Support and Community Engagement at Achieving True Self, supporting families across the Northeastern United States with compassion, strategy, and unwavering dedication.

Catherine’s life is full of heart, humor, and a very “not boring” household back home—where she lives with her beloved Mama Betty, her son Christian, and six feline companions who keep things lively: Callie, Cookie, Candie, Hannah, Maddie, and Raven.

Through every chapter she writes and every life she touches, Catherine remains guided by one mission: to inspire, empower, and advocate for a world where every individual is free to live as their truest self.

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Connect with Catherine through her website, the caffeinated advocate dot com (no spaces), or on social media:

Facebook: @caffeinatedadvocate

Instagram: @caffeinatedadvocate

LinkedIn: @catherineahughes