SPEAKING
writing wild
The natural world of winnie-the-pooh
Listen to Kathryn launch the book Wild Spectacle by Janisse Ray.
SPEAKING ENDORSEMENTS
“Not only was Ms. Aalto thoroughly prepared and professional in her presentation, she was completely charming and engaging to our audience. As a rule, we have a very smart crowd. Ms. Aalto left the crowd delighted and satisfied with their evening out, something that does not always happen with an author presentation! We would gladly have her back for future programs…in fact it cannot be soon enough!” — Jacques Lamarre, Director of Communications, The Mark Twain House and Museum, Connecticut
“I directed Kathryn for a short ‘taster’ film for a pitch of the documentary version of her book ‘The Natural World of Winnie the Pooh’ for BBC Four. I couldn’t have asked for more from a presenter – she was extremely well prepared with excellent, engaging delivery and the ability to take direction and think on her feet. I very much hope we get to work together in the future.”— Jake Hayes, BBC Producer
“The Modesto Garden Club in California is the largest garden club in the United States. Kathryn was one of the best speakers we have ever had. We loved her. It will be difficult to top her.” — Cindy Ott, Events Coordinator, Modesto Garden Club
“Kathryn spoke to a large crowd, thoroughly engaging the audience in the details of Ashdown Forest, A.A. Milne’s life, and that of Christopher Robin. Kathryn’s presentation style was direct, warm, and intimate supported by a strong dose of nostalgia from the audience—a winning combination.”— Pam Thompson, Manager of Adult Education, Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University
“Kathryn is a lively, fluid and engaging speaker. She held our audience of 350 for over an hour with a remarkable rendition of the Hundred Acre Woods and many questions thereafter. I noted that a number of us felt as though we wanted to immediately get on a plane and go there, because she made it so personal and real. Kathryn sold dozens of her books, which is always a positive indication of people’s enthusiasm, and a number of people came up just to thank her for taking them back in their mind to a place they very much loved.” — Charlotte Burgess Vice President and Dean of Student Life, University of Redlands
EVENTS
CONTACT
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Kathryn will be speaking in the US in autumn 2022 and spring 2023.
For venues seeking speakers for Women’s History Month in March 2023, the topic of her 2020 book, Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks Who Shape How We See the Natural World, makes an ideal subject. Click the above book links to learn more about each talk.
To enquire about availability, please contact gardens@kathrynaalto.com.
2023
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March is Women’s History Month
March 14
Atlanta Botanic Garden, Atlanta, Georgia
March 20-21
Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
2022
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Oct 16-17
The Limberlost State Memorial, Geneva, Indiana
2021
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Feb 24
Piedmont, Orinda, and Marin Garden Clubs, California (Zoom)
2021
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Feb 24
Piedmont, Orinda, and Marin Garden Clubs, California (Zoom)
2020
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July 9
Bookshop Santa Cruz, California (7 PM PST, Virtual Author Event)
July 9
The Jefferson Exchange, Jefferson Public Radio in Southern Oregon and Northern California (9-10 AM PST, 5-6 PM BST)
July 9
The Groks Science Show, WHPK in Chicago, Illinois (7 PM CST, taped)
July 10
The Morning Show with Chuck Kramer, WEAG in Florida (8:15 AM EST, 1:15 PM BST)
July 10
Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster, WRKF in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (9:45 AM CST, 3:45 PM BST)
July 13
In the Author’s Voice & Morning Conversation, WSIU in Illinois (9-9:30 AM Central, 3 PM BST)
July 14
Smith & Riley Radio Show, WFLF in Orlando/Central Florida (9:30 AM EST,/2:30 PM BST)
July 15
WGVU Morning Show with Shelley Irwin.
July 23
Titcomb’s Books, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (5 PM EST, Virtual Author Event)
July 23
Downtown with Rich Kimball, WZON/ZONE Radio in Bangor, Maine (4:05 PM EST/9:05 PM BST)
Aug 8
Interviews & Interactions, KTKK in Salt Lake City, Utah (5-5:30 PM Mountain, 1:30 AM BST )
Aug 11
This Green Earth, NPR 4:05 PM BST.
Aug 13
Summer Authors Series with Tower Hill Botanic Garden and Berkshire Botanic Garden, Massachusetts (6:30 PM EST)
Aug 17
The Culture Buzz.
Aug 18
Virtual Bird Fair, Nature Writing Panel
Aug 25
Preferred Radio, New Jersey Regional Area (9:18 AM EST, 2:18 PM BST)
Aug 26/Sept 2
Writing Wild Nature Writing Workshop, Tower Hill Botanic Gardens and Berkshire Botanic Gardens (6-7:30 PM EST)
Aug 2
Private book group webinar.
Sep 10
Modesto Garden Club, California (postponed to 2021)
Sep 10
Boulder Book Store, 7 PM Mountain Time. Register here.
Sep 15
“The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh,” King County Library, Renton Cluster, Washington (10 AM PST)
Sep 15
Woodside Atherton Garden Club, California (postponed to 2021)
Sep 17
Whatcom Horticultural Society, Bellingham, Washington (postponed to 2021)
Sep 19
“Conversations with Eden” at Bellevue Botanical Garden with Heronswood Garden, Washington (9 AM PST). Register here for webinar.
Sep 20
Fairwood Library, Renton, Washington
Sep 21
Port Angeles Garden Club, Washington (postponed to 2021)
Sep 21
North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles Branch (postponed to 2021)
Sep 24
ESRI Auditorium, University of Redlands, California (postponed to 2021)
Sep 25
Resurgence Magazine, Monthly Book Group: “The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh.” (2 PM BST)
Sep 26
Lexington Community Education, Massachusetts, webinar.
Oct 10
The Friendly Little Writing School with James Rebanks (1-day virtual class)
Nov 9
Plymouth Public Library, Massachusetts, 11 AM EST.
Dec 4
Little Garden Club of Rye, Garden Club of America, webinar. (1 PM EST)
Dec 10
Dart Valley U3A, Flavel Arts Centre, Dartmouth, Devon, webinar.
2019
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April 5
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Rockford, Illinois
April 9
Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University, North Carolina
April 11
North Country Garden Club with Old Westbury Gardens, New York (AM)
April 11
Fort Orange Garden Club, Albany, New York (PM)
Sep 12
Cornell University Botanic Garden, New York
2018
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March 12
Farmington Garden Club and Farmington Library, Connecticut
March 13
New London Garden Club, New Hampshire
March 14 AM
Weeders and Diggers Garden Club, Montreal, Canada
March 14 PM
Beaconsfield Garden Club, Montreal, Canada
March 15
The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island
March 17
Hamilton College, New York
March 18
Lexington Community Education, Lexington, Massachusetts
March 19
Baldwin Library Speakers Series, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
March 20
Houston Museum of Natural Science. Design lecture: “Designing Natural Gardens for Children Inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood.”
March 21
The Garden Club of Houston, Texas
May 01
Children’s Literature Series, Faculty of Education, Cambridge University
June 28-July 01
Rural Writing Institute, Cumbria, UK
Sep 11
Bedford Garden Club, Massachusetts
Sep 13
New London Garden Club, New Hampshire
Sep 17
Ridgefield Library, Connecticut
Sep 19
Beaconsfield Garden Club, Montreal, Canada
Sep 23
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
Sep 24
Harvard Garden Club, Massachusetts
2017
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Sep 20
Garden Club of Mountain Lakes, Rockaway River Country Club, New Jersey
Sep 21
Bethlehem Garden Club, Pennsylvania
Sep 26
Burlington Garden Club, Vermont
Sep 28
Yale Peabody Museum, Ostrom Program Series, Connecticut
Oct 07
Williamsburg Book Festival, Virginia
Oct 10
Garden Club of Macon, Georgia
Oct 11
Findlay University, Findlay, Ohio
Oct 12
Mazza Museum, Findlay, Ohio
Oct 13
Lexington Council of Garden Clubs & the University of Kentucky Extension Master Gardeners Association, Fayette County Extension Office. Lecture & design: “Designing Natural Gardens for Children—Inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood.”
Oct 16
University of Tennessee Arboretum Society
Oct 17
University of Tennessee Arboretum Lecture Series
Oct 18
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
June 16-18
Winchester Writers’ Festival, Winchester, UK. Teaching “The Art of Narrative Nonfiction” and “Writing a Winning Proposal”
June 22
Cincinnati Museum Center, Insights Lecture Series, Lloyd Library & Museum, Ohio
June 23
Carmel Clay Public Library, Carmel Clay, Indiana
June 24
Kingwood Center Gardens, Mansfield, Ohio
June 25-30
Environmental Literature
Institute, Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire (Attending)
August 12-18
Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. Teaching “Research for Writers.”
2016
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Aug 06-12
Swanwick Writers’ School, Derbyshire, UK
Sep 07
Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA
Sep 07
Rakestraw Books, Danville, CA
Sep 08
Modesto Garden Club, Modesto, CA
Sep 09
Laguna Beach Garden Club, Laguna Beach, CA
Sep 10
Ramona Garden Club and Ramona Library, CA
Sep 10
Mission Hills Garden Club, San Diego, CA
Sep 11
Vromen’s Bookstore, Pasadena, CA
Sep 12
University of Redlands, Esri Auditorium, Redlands, CA
Sep 14
Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK
Sep 15
Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK
Sep 16
The Gardens at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Sep 18
State Arboretum of Virginia, Blandy, VA
Oct 01
Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, UK
Oct 13
St. John’s Outdoor University, Collegeville, MN
Oct 14
Twin Cities Book Festival, Minneapolis, MN
Oct 15
Twin Cities Book Festival, Minneapolis, MN
Oct 16
Pratt Library & Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD
Oct 17
Georgia Center for the Book, Atlanta, GA
Oct 18
Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, GA
Oct 19
State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens, GA
Oct 20
The Taft School, Watertown, CT
Oct 21
Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH
Oct 27
Mary C. O’Keefe Arts and Cultural Center, Oceanside, MS
Oct 28
Louisiana Book Festival, Baton Rouge, LA
Oct 29
Louisiana Book Festival, Baton Rouge, LA
Oct 30
LSU Hilltop Arboretum and Baton Rouge Herb Society, Baton Rouge, LA
Nov 01
Garden District Bookshop, New Orleans, LA
Feb 17
Fort Worth Garden Club, Fort Worth, TX
Other Venues
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The New York Public Library, New York, NY
United States Botanic Garden, Washington, D.C.
Hillwood Estate and Gardens, Washington, DC
National Press Club Book Fair, Politics & Prose Bookstore, Washington, D.C.
New Dominion Bookshop, Charlottesville, VA
Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum, MA
Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge, MA
Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Bolyston, MA
Harvard Bookstore, Boston, MA
Titcomb’s Bookstore, Sandwich, MA
Water Street Bookstore, Exeter, NH
WORD, Jersey City, NJ
Hunterdon Library/The Book Garden, Frenchtown, NJ
Spotty Dog Books and Ale, Hudson, NY
Bookworm/Bernardsville Public Library, NY
Doylestown Bookshop, Doylestown, PA
The Union League, Philadelphia, PA
The Acorn Club, Philadelphia, PA
Westport Library, Westport, CT
Mark Twain House, Hartford, CT
Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC
Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
McIntyre’s, Pittsboro, NC
Virginia Festival of the Book, Charlottesville, VA
The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
The Newberry Library Chicago, IL
Bartholomew County Library, Columbus, IN
Hudson Library & Historical Society, Hudson, OH
The Town Club, Pasadena, CA
Laguna Beach Garden Club, CA
Village Books, Bellingham, WA
Monroe Public Library, Monroe, WA
Third Place Books, Seattle, WA
Inland Empire Gardening Club, Spokane, WA
Everett Community College, Everett, WA
Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Seattle, WA
Toby’s Garden Festival, Powerderham Castle, UK
Penzance Literary Festival, UK
The Gilbert White House, Selbourne, UK
Swanwick Writers’ Summer School, UK
Ashdown Forest Centre, UK
The Garden Museum’s Literary Festival, Hatfield House, UK
Devon Wildlife Trust Wildlife Ambassadors Conference, Exeter UK
Exeter College, Exeter, UK
The Exeter School, Exeter, UK
The Maynard School, Exeter, UK
speaking endorsements
“Kathryn Aalto’s event at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina drew a packed house and ranks as one of our Top 5 in 34 years. Her talk about The Natural World of Winnie the Pooh was very informative and at times laugh out loud funny. Her slides kept the audience interested. She discussed the real Hundred Acre Wood, A.A. Milne, Christopher Robin, and E. H. Shepard’s illustrations. The audience had fun and lots of folks thanked us for having her here. And we sold lots of books!” — Helen Stewart, Floor Manager, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, North Carolina
“I’ve conducted many on-air interviews throughout the last 20 years. You don’t always know what you’re going to get until you’re actually into the interview. Within 10 seconds of my first question with Kathryn, I knew my audience was in for a real treat. Kathryn was engaging, informative, very much at ease, and immediately sucked me into Winnie-the-Pooh’s world. I now have this penchant to play Poohsticks, and I’ve updated my bucket list to include a visit to Ashdown Forest.” — Bryan Earl, Host of the Zesty Garden, Utah Public Radio
“Kathryn Aalto’s knowledge of her work and study is outstanding. She takes this information and shares this enjoyable journey to different types of audiences. I have witnessed her programs for people and children of all ages and have been very impressed on how she changes and makes the information appropriate for the audience she has before her. I highly recommend Kathryn.” — Benjamin Sapp, Director, The Mazza Museum of International Art from Picture Books
“We were honored to welcome Kathryn Aalto to the Hudson Library & Historical Society for a truly memorable evening. Kathryn knows how to engage an audience with the right amount of warmth, insight and humor. Her well-researched multimedia presentation, full of beautiful photographs and even the sounds of nature, captured the delight of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories and the beauty of Ashdown Forest. I know many of us left inspired to revisit the stories as well as embark on our own explorations of nature.” — Polly Reynolds, Hudson Library & Historical Society, Ohio