Editor Biography - Kathy Kirkland
|
| Name: |
Kathy Kirkland |
| 1969-1972 |
Associate Editor, 21st Century Publishing,
New York City, New York
|
| 1972-1980 |
Executive Editor, Laufer Company,
Hollywood, California |
| 1980-1996 |
Senior Vice-President of Development,
Quince Productions,
Hollywood, California |
| 1996-2003 |
Executive Editor, Creative Age Publications,
Los Angeles, California |
| 1990-Present |
Owner, Independent Contractor, Editor,
Know-It-All,
Los Angeles, California and Ephraim, Wisconsin
|
| Editing Experience:
40 Years
|
“If your biscuits look pink, maybe you’re cruller blind.” That was my first
attempt at writing for the public, and Soupy Sales—the Pieman himself—used it
on TV as part of his Words of Wisdom, spurring me on to become a writer and editor.
At the time, I was 13 years old and co-president of the Soupy Sales Fan Club,
along with my twin sister, Diane. We regularly churned out newsletters for
club members, who numbered into the thousands with Soupy’s growing popularity.
While running the club throughout our teen years, we not only fumpfed our
way through writing and publishing, but we also became part of the world of show
biz, meeting Soupy at Hollywood telethons, backstage at his TV show, and
in dressing rooms at Broadway theatres (we moved from LA to New York at age
19). I learned how to interview celebrities, talk my way onto a studio
lot without credentials, and how to hit deadlines (very important in
freelance work!).
The move to New York meant getting a real job, and, while my sister ventured
into Billboard and the music world, I was hired by magazine publisher
21st Century, as an associate editor on several magazines: Weight
Watchers (no, the founder did not follow her own program), National
Lampoon (yes, P. J. O’Rourke and the other Harvard-bred editors were
crazy—but in a good way), and Cheetah, a psychedelic mag that
featured Peter Max covers and nude centerfolds of Burt Reynolds and Mama Cass.
My duties consisted of writing columns, proofreading, helping lay out the
magazine, coordinating photo
shoots, and, of course, premieres and parties. Four years later, a move back to
Los Angeles found me, at age 23, in the plum position of executive editor of
a national consumer magazine, Tiger Beat, with a circulation of nearly a
million. It was the teenybopper era of the Osmonds, the DeFranco Family (whom we
also managed…I was a roadie for a six-week bus tour), David and Shaun
Cassidy, Bay City Rollers, Michael Jackson, when he was black, and John
Travolta, who used to eat tuna sandwiches in my office. Tiger
Beat was a dream job: I was responsible for the concept for each issue,
interviewing, traveling, writing, and editing. I learned about the
process of editing, as well as the underbelly of the entertainment industry.
When Laufer’s magazine group transplanted to New Jersey (no thank you), I
was hired by actor/activist Edward Asner, who was in his final year on Lou
Grant and just starting to stump for Screen Actors Guild president. That
tumultuous 15-year adventure encompassed death threats and bomb threats,
collaborating on production ideas with every celebrity in town (at least
the Democrats), plus several credits on movies and TV series. My job
description at Quince Productions included researching/writing treatment ideas
to pitch to the network dunderheads (not that I’m bitter). In addition to
writing all of Ed’s speeches—union barnburners, stump speeches for candidates,
Jewish groups, charitable fund-raisers, Congressional testimony—I even wrote
a speech for Bette Davis when I was vice-president of the Hollywood
Women’s Press Club.
Ed finally took the veil, paring down political activities
and folding his production company. I turned back to publishing to become
executive editor of a national trade magazine, Nailpro…the nails on the
ends of your fingers and toes, and really quite fascinating when you get into the
debate between gels vs. acrylics. In 2001, after several years of coordinating
an editorial staff, assigning and writing articles, editing, and general duties,
I moved again: this time from Los Angeles to my childhood summer home in
Door County, Wisconsin, joining relatives who had also been drawn back to this
resort peninsula. I continued telecommuting for Nailpro and Nailpro
Europe until I trained a new editor, then ventured into PR and marketing for
local galleries, artists, and non-profits.
Recent freelance jobs have included first edits on several
books (best sellers such as Terri: The Truth about Terry Schiavo and a
biography about Cary Grant), editing Christian study guides for Youth With a
Mission…and my favorite
job, working for Proof-Reading.com. Editing their wide variety of articles,
theses, and doctoral dissertations is like watching cable TV in my head. During
the course of my career, I’ve gained knowledge on many topics, had some wild
experiences (some regrettable but always lessons of some kind), and I look
forward to editing and writing for many years to come.
