This writer is looking for an agent.

I'm an award-winning freelance writer, author, and editorial consultant who specializes in women's health and fitness (including mind/body and complementary medicine), spirituality and consciousness, travel, and lifestyle topics.

My work has included trend stories, service writing, personality profiles, news reporting, and first-person essays--in addition to editing, ghostwriting, and book doctoring.

I am the author of Family Fun in the Smokies: A Family-Friendly Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains (Great Smoky Mountains Association, 2012; available here), a finalist in the 2013 Association of Partners for Public Lands Media competition. I also wrote a Sutro Media travel app called Smoky Mountain Travel Guide, available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android.

My children's picture book is entitled The Banana Police (Willow Moon, 2012; available here).

"Katy Koontz is on my writing dream team. She is a scribe-extraordinaire with an upbeat, get 'er done attitude and work ethic that is in the upper one percent of everyone I've ever worked with. She is a superstar writer, editor, and researcher. And I really don't want the rest of the world to know how good she is, in case I need her for another project. So please don't read this." Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom; The Wisdom of Menopause; Mother/Daughter Wisdom, The Secret Pleasures of Menopause and The Secret Pleasures of Menopause Playbook (www.drnorthrup.com)

"Katy Koontz is probably the best writer I have ever encountered in my professional career. Why, you ask? In every sentence of my book, The Intuitive Advisor (Hay House 2009) she maintained my voice and content. I wrote every word of the book, but Katy helped me clean up the English and polished up my writing in such a way that made me sound like the writer she is but I'm not. Hire her if you can get her but not when I need her." Mona Lisa Schulz, M.D., Ph.D., author of The Intuitive Advisor, The New Feminine Brain, and Awakening Intuition (www.DrMonaLisa.com)

"Working with Katy Koontz has proven to be one of my best decisions yet! Having previously worked on a number of books without her, I found the difference palpable. I have been delighted at Katy's ability to not only fully 'get me,' but her uncanny talent to hear behind my words what I wanted to say and to integrate my thoughts into a voice that is mine. Our writing together was deeply enhanced by her intuitive personality, intelligence, and professionalism, and I give her my highest recommendation." Diane Cirincione, Ph.D., author of Sounds of the Morning Sun and co-author with Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., of A Mini Course for Life; Finding Our Way Home; Change Your Mind, Change Your Life; Simple Thoughts That Can Change Your Life; and Love is the Answer (www.dianecirincione.com)

"Katy came highly recommended by the editors at Hay House. Not only was she a joy to work with, but I also felt totally confident that she would do a fantastic job both editing my words and keeping my voice. My voice is a combination of humor with seriousness, which can be hard for an editor to translate. But not for Katy. She kept the fun and refined my message even more, even after I had gone over my manuscript probably a thousand times! I don’t care how good of a writer you are, you still need a pro like Katy to look at your work. I’ll give two pens waaay up to recommending Katy as an editor!" Elaine Wilkes, Ph.D., author of upcoming Hay House book, Nature’s Secret Messages, (www.ElaineWilkes.com)

"I have worked closely with Katy Koontz for three years and have the highest regard for her professionalism, her thoroughness, and for the quality of her work. During this time, she has written a book proposal for me and frequently served as a literary advisor. Her influence was directly responsible for getting me a publisher. Katy's wealth of knowledge, gift for words, and readiness to share her time and talents has enormously impressed me, making it always a pleasure to work with her. I whole-heartedly recommend and endorse Katy without reservation." Peter Calhoun, author of Soul on Fire (www.petercalhoun.com)

"It has been the greatest of pleasures to have Katy Koontz assist me in every phase of writing and editing my first book. I had no idea what I was getting into when I decided to undertake this project, and, in all honesty, I might not have seen it through to completion had it not been for Katy's skillfulness, steadfastness, patience, encouragement and wise counsel along the way. I cannot imagine having had a better editor and companion on the journey. I give Katy the highest possible recommendation." Dale L. Goldstein, LCSW, author of Heartwork: How To Get What You Really, Really Want, a finalist in the psychology/self-help category of the 2008 Benjamin Franklin Awards competition, sponsored by PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association; a silver winner in the personal growth/psychology category of the 2008 Nautilus Book Awards; and a silver winner in the mind/body/spirit category of the 2007 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year awards. (www.AwakenTheHeart.org)

"Katy is not only an excellent editor, but also a great support system and fun companion to chat with. We found we had much in common, which I feel was very important for the kind of book I was writing. She goes beyond the call of duty, her work is done in a timely fashion, and she is very fair with the price. I absolutely plan to use her again!" Suzanne Caroll, Ph.D., author of Becoming ONE, People and Planet (www.multidimensions.com)

"Katy provided excellent editorial skills, but more importantly, she understood the content and what we were trying to communicate." Bob Fritchie, author of Surviving Chaos: Healing With Divine Love

Christiane Northrup, M.D. (author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom; The Wisdom of Menopause, Mother/Daughter Wisdom, The Secret Pleasures of Menopause and The Secret Pleasures of Menopause Playbook

Mona Lisa Schulz, M.D., Ph.D. (author of The Intuitive Advisor, The New Feminine Brain and Awakening Intuition)

Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., (author or co-author of Love is Letting Go of Fear; Good-Bye to Guilt; Love is the Answer; Change Your Mind, Change Your Life; Simple Thoughts That Can Change Your Life; Teach Only Love, Forgiveness: The Greatest Healer of All; Out of Darkness Into the Light; Shortcuts to God; A Mini Course for Life; and Finding Our Way Home)

Diane Cirincione, Ph.D. (author of Sounds of the Morning Sun and co-author with Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., of A Mini Course for Life; Finding Our Way Home; Change Your Mind, Change Your Life; Simple Thoughts That Can Change Your Life; and Love is the Answer)

Peter Calhoun (author of Soul on Fire: A Transformational Journey from Priest to Shaman)

Elaine Wilkes (author of Nature's Secret Messages: Hidden in Plain Sight)

Deanna Brann, Ph.D. (author of Reluctantly Related: Secrets to Getting Along with Your Mother-in-Law or Daughter-in-Law)

Dale Goldstein (author of Heartwork: How To Get What You Really, Really Want, a finalist in the psychology/self-help category of the 2008 Benjamin Franklin Awards competition, sponsored by PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association; a silver winner in the personal growth/psychology category of the 2008 Nautilus Book Awards; and a silver winner in the mind/body/spirit category of the 2007 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year awards)

Sid Mittra, Ph.D. (author of Yes, the Bee Can Fly)

Lee Anne McClymont (author of Friendly Fear Notebook)

Suzanne Caroll, Ph.D. (author of Becoming ONE, People and Planet)

Robert Fritchie (author of Surviving Chaos: Healing With Divine Love)

Family Fun in the Smokies: A Family-Friendly Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains (Great Smoky Mountains Association, 2012) is a fun and informative guide to enjoying the nation's most popular national park with your family. This guide includes everything a family would ever need to know about the park, from the pre-trip planning through the visit itself. This essential guide (filled to the brim with colorful maps, photos, games, fun facts, and fun activity suggestions) details scenic drives, junior ranger programs, day hiking, picnic sites, waterfall trails, biking, horseback riding, camping, wildlife watching, hayrides, museums, and much more. Available here).

The Banana Police (Willow Moon, 2012), is a children's picture book set in a jungle town where elephants happily co-exist with people--until the people become annoyed with some of the elephants' behaviors (like snoring and hogging the best seats at the movies). When the townspeople devise a clever scheme to get them to leave, the town gets buried in all the extra bananas the beasts usually eat, and the people learn just how vital those pesky pachyderms really are. The unspoken message is about the value of peaceful co-existence and cooperation between inherently different groups. See the book's website www.TheBananaPolice.com for more information.

Here are just a few examples of my magazine work that is currently available on the web (for more complete and more recent clips, please contact me):

* Health Magazine, April 2009, "Four Things You Didn't Know About Natural Medicine"

* Health Magazine, March 2009, "Diabetes: More Than Just Sugar"

* Denver Post, October 31, 2008, “Smoky Vistas, Clear History: the past is on view as the park toasts its 75th year”

* Health Magazine, July-August 2008, "Head-to-Toe Guide to Natural Health"

* Travel to Wellness, July 2008, "Spas for Teens"

* Southern Travel News, March 22, 2007, "Superlative Smoky Mountains"

* Natural Health, October 2004, "Spirit world: you can learn a lot about America's indigenous culture--and about yourself--by taking a trip behind the scenes in Indian territory"

* Natural Health, January 2004, "The Ancient Art of Chinese Face Reading: is the state of your health--and your inner self--written all over your face?"

* Natural Health, October 2003, "Energy Medicine Goes Mainstream"

* Alternative Medicine, May 2003, "Natural Beauty—The Hair Dye Dilemma"

* Vegetarian Times, February 2001, "Bypass Heart Disease: healthy lifestyle choices can stop genetic risk in its tracks"

* Vegetarian Times, August 2000, "Use It or Lose It: aging in the brain"

* Vegetarian Times, May 2000, "Every Breath You Take"

* HGTV Ideas, May/June 1999, "Feng Shui: In Search of Balance"

* Family Fun, April 1999, "Discover the Fun in Cincinnati"

* Travel & Leisure Family, April 1998, "Driving Germany's Castle Road with Kids"

* Reader's Digest, November 1997, "New Help for PMS"

* Fit Pregnancy, Fall 1997, "Making the Best of Bedrest"

* Reader's Digest, February 1997, "Is There Sex After Children?"

* (Los Angeles) Daily News, February 25, 1996, "Womanly Pursuits: Plunging into Adventure, Self-Discovery on Women-Only Tours"

* St. Petersburg Times, September 11, 1994, "South Seas Sail Converts Skeptic"

* The New York Times, April 23, 1989, "Marrying Overseas: 'I Do' in Greece"

The Banana Police (Willow Moon, 2012; www.TheBananaPolice.com)

Family Fun in the Smokies: A Family-Friendly Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains (Great Smoky Mountains Association, 2012)

The Intuitive Advisor (Hay House, 2009), by Mona Lisa Schulz, M.D., Ph.D.

The Secret Pleasures of Menopause Playbook (Hay House, 2009), by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

The Secret Pleasures of Menopause (Hay House, 2008), by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

The Insiders' Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains, fifth and sixth editions (Globe Pequot Press, 2007 and 2009)

The Wisdom of Menopause Journal: Your Guide to Creating Vibrant Health and Happiness in the Second Half of Your Life (Hay House, 2007), by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom (Bantam, updated in 2006 and 2012), by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

The Wisdom of Menopause (Bantam, updated in 2006 and 2010), by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Mother-Daughter Wisdom (Bantam, 2005), by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Fifty Ways to Find a Lover (Bob Adams Inc., 1989), by Sharyn Wolf, with Katy Koontz

My entrance to book publishing was co-authoring Fifty Ways to Find a Lover, (Bob Adams Inc., 1989) with lead author Sharyn Wolf, a book which sold more than 60,000 copies worldwide in two editions. I've also written The Banana Police (Willow Moon, 2012; available here). Family Fun in the Smokies: A Family-Friendly Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains (Great Smoky Mountains Association, 2012; available here). In addition, I've contributed to several other books, including two volumes of the award-winning Travelers' Tales series (Travelers' Tales: Greece, "The Wedding That Almost Wasn't" and Travelers' Tales: A Woman's World, "Take That!") and one of its Gutsy Women sister series (Gutsy Women: More Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road).

I sold my first freelance magazine story to a national publication in the late '70s when I was in college, signed on as a stringer for The New York Times a few years after, and have been writing articles and books ever since.

My work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Body & Soul (where I was a contributing editor), Natural Health, Alternative Medicine, Woman's Day, Redbook, Health, Self, Glamour, Shape, Parenting, Parents, Child, Family Fun, Travel & Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, Travel Holiday, Ski, Outside, Men's Journal, and many, many others.

I've worked as an editor, as well. Before going freelance, I was the features and travel editor at the now-defunct McCall's and the lifestyles editor at Success! I also did a stint as one of the freelance editors for The New York Times Magazine Part 2 and have done freelance editing for Vacations Publications (as well as magazine development for Whittle Communications).