Kathryn Kahn

Kathryn Kahn writes stories about Oakland, California, where she has lived for many years. Her Sheltered pandemic trilogy tells the story of a diverse group of neighbors during a time of global crisis. As one problem after another intrudes into their quiet neighborhood, they work together to find solutions based on compassion and a sense of community.

Sheltered: A Pandemic Love Story (pub 2020) was followed by Grounded: A Community Story (pub 2021), and the two books take the characters to the end of 2020. Inspired: A Renewal Story (pub 2022) takes place through the year of 2021.

Kathryn began writing fiction after her retirement following a multifaceted career that spanned a number of industries and organizations; she was a college professor, marketing communications manager for tech companies, publicist for nonprofits, arts education advocate, music school director, and much more.

Kathryn’s love for Oakland has led to many of her most interesting experiences and relationships. While the characters in her books are fictional, they share qualities of kindness and decency she has so often seen in ordinary Oaklanders. She is delighted to now be writing stories that emphasize the honorable side of humanity during a cynical and angry time, especially with this vigorous and multidimensional city as a backdrop.