The Storyteller
The Storyteller
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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I’m not sure when I became an impostor

“It’s surprisingly easy to pretend to be someone you’re not. Writers do it all the time; that’s how they write a story—pluck a character from the air and try her on for size.”
 

With the mystery of Maureen Johnson and Brittany Cavallaro and the historical intrigue of Romanov, this enthralling story follows a teenage girl’s quest to uncover the truth behind her secretive great aunt Anna, who just might be the long lost Russian princess Anastasia.

It’s not every day you discover you might be related to Anastasia…or that the tragic princess actually survived her assassination attempt and has been living as the woman you know as Aunt Anna.

For Jess Morgan, who is growing tired of living her life to please everyone else, discovering her late aunt’s diaries shows her she’s not the only one struggling to hide who she really is. But was her aunt truly a Romanov princess? Or is this some elaborate hoax?

With the help of a supremely dorky, but undeniably cute, local college student named Evan, Jess digs into the century-old mystery.

But soon Jess realizes there’s another, bigger truth waiting to be revealed: Jess Morgan. Because if she’s learned anything from Aunt Anna, it’s that only you can write your own story.

Part mystery, romance, and historical fiction, this genre-bending YA will pull readers into one girl’s journey of discovering the impossible tale of a long-lost aunt—and through her, the importance of being true to yourself.

 
“Five Freaking Stars... This book is about truth — finding it, knowing it, living it. It makes you think and feel — just what I like in a good story! ”
— Goodreaders reader
 
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About Kathryn Williams

 
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Kathryn Williams is the author of four young adult novels, a handful of bestselling Disney junior novelizations, and a humorous guide to living with roommates. 

Originally from the South, she now lives with her family in Portland, Maine, where she finds inspiration in the woods, by the water, in antique stores full of old stuff, and at The Telling Room, a nonprofit creative writing center where she helps kids and teens write and publish their own stories.


 
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More Books

 
“[A] tasty read.”
— Publishers Weekly

Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff that Made Me Famous

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Nicolaides was practically raised in the kitchen of her family's Italian-Greek restaurant, Taverna Ristorante. When her best friend, Alex, tries to persuade her to audition for a new reality show, Teen Test Kitchen, Sophie is reluctant. But the prize includes a full scholarship to one of America's finest culinary schools and a summer in Napa, California, not to mention fame. Once on set, Sophie immediately finds herself in the thick of the drama—including a secret burn book, cutthroat celebrity judges, and a very cute French chef. Sophie must figure out a way to survive all the heat and still stay true to herself.

 
“Williams sets a storm of emotions brewing and building, successfully creating an underlying suspense that bursts with the final chapters. Williams’ talents make THE LOST SUMMER a book to catch a hold of and enjoy.”
— TeenReads.com
 

The Lost Summer

Helena Waite has always loved going back to Southpoint. It’s the camp where she met her best friend, Katie Bell, from whom she’s been inseparable ever since. But this year everything is different: Helena is seventeen and a camp counselor. Soon she’s sneaking off after curfew with the other counselors… including Ransome, her secret crush from across the lake. She finds herself doing things she normally wouldn’t, from pranking the boys’ camp to skinny-dipping. The only problem is that Katie Bell is only sixteen and stuck back at the cabins with the other campers. As things heat up with Ransome, Helena realizes she seems to be losing her best friend, little by little. And then something happens that turns Helena’s world upside down forever.



 
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Visits & Workshops

click here for a full menu of in-person and virtual offerings.

“Thank you for inspiring our inner ‘writer-yness’ (and word creation), for believing in us, and for helping us climb over writer’s block and become the best writers we can be.”
— Students from a 7th-grade writing workshop
 

Author Visits

Casual question-and-answer sessions where students hear about my path to becoming an author and all about the process of writing, revising, and publishing a book. In-person or virtual.

Publish

Your young writers in print! Partner with me and Pink Eraser Press for an extended writing workshop culminating in a professionally packaged chapbook of student work. (Available outside of Maine. In Maine, please see The Telling Room.)

 

Workshops

One-off or extended writing workshops in which students explore and generate fiction or personal narrative through a FUN, time-tested, standards-aligned curriculum.

customize

Want me for a full day? A keynote speech? A customized interdisciplinary workshop? Let’s do it! I’m eager to meet students where they are and to work with schools and libraries to find a program that fits their needs. Start the conversation.

 
 

Writing Prompts

@thestorycabinet

What special power does this bracelet give its wearer? What happens if the ring is separated from the bracelet? Vintage pearl, diamond, and garnet bracelet found at W.M. Schwind Antiques in Yarmouth, Maine. #thestorytellerya #yafiction #historical
What special power does this bracelet give its wearer? What happens if the ring is separated from the bracelet? Vintage pearl, diamond, and garnet bracelet found at W.M. Schwind Antiques in Yarmouth, Maine. #thestorytellerya #yafiction #historicalya #writingprompts #oldstuffiscool #antiquefinds #thestorycabinet
Who carried this embroidered clutch? What party did she take it to, and what precious things were inside? What would have happened if she lost it…? Embroidered silk clutch with pearls (era?) found at Foreside Antiques in Falmouth, Maine. #h
Who carried this embroidered clutch? What party did she take it to, and what precious things were inside? What would have happened if she lost it…? Embroidered silk clutch with pearls (era?) found at Foreside Antiques in Falmouth, Maine. #historicalya #writingprompts #thestorytellerya #thestortcabinet #oldstuffiscool #antiquefinds #vintage
Who was the child playing with this toy train? Did her mother make tea in a black iron kettle as she choo-chooed the toy across the floor? Who did the girl grow up to be? Found at W.M. Schwind, Jr. Antiques & Fine Art, Yarmouth, Maine #histori
Who was the child playing with this toy train? Did her mother make tea in a black iron kettle as she choo-chooed the toy across the floor? Who did the girl grow up to be? Found at W.M. Schwind, Jr. Antiques & Fine Art, Yarmouth, Maine #historicalya #writingprompts #historicalfiction #thestorytellerya #antiquefinds #oldstuffiscool #kathrynwilliamsbooks
Was she seeing what she thought she was seeing? She lifted the opera glasses once more to her eyes. Mother of pearl. A gift from… Found at W.M. Schwind Jr. Antiques & Fine Art, Yarmouth, Maine #writingprompts #thestorycabinet #thestoryt
Was she seeing what she thought she was seeing? She lifted the opera glasses once more to her eyes. Mother of pearl. A gift from… Found at W.M. Schwind Jr. Antiques & Fine Art, Yarmouth, Maine #writingprompts #thestorycabinet #thestorytellerya #antiquefinds #oldstuffiscool
Monday was washing day; Tuesday was ironing day. This cast “sad” iron (derived from “solid”) was heated in a fire or on coals to press sheets and clothes… Who used this iron, and what garment did they use it to press? W
Monday was washing day; Tuesday was ironing day. This cast “sad” iron (derived from “solid”) was heated in a fire or on coals to press sheets and clothes… Who used this iron, and what garment did they use it to press? Who owned that garment? Was, perhaps, the ironer or the clothing-wearer sad? Why? Personal collection, used as a door stop. #writingprompts #thestorytellerya #thestorycabinet #antiquefinds #oldstuffiscool #writing
It was the silvery tinkling of a bell that woke her after midnight… Who once rang this bell, and why? Found in my grandmother’s silver collection. #thestorycabinet #thestorytellerya #writingprompts #writewithme #oldstuffiscool #antiq
It was the silvery tinkling of a bell that woke her after midnight… Who once rang this bell, and why? Found in my grandmother’s silver collection. #thestorycabinet #thestorytellerya #writingprompts #writewithme #oldstuffiscool #antiquefinds
“Wyeth & Bro. / Philad’a.” What did these bottles once hold? Someone wanted what was in them. Why? Found in a forgotten antique store in Maine. #thestorycabinet #writingprompts #oldstuffiscool #writewithme #antiquefinds #thes
“Wyeth & Bro. / Philad’a.” What did these bottles once hold? Someone wanted what was in them. Why? Found in a forgotten antique store in Maine. #thestorycabinet #writingprompts #oldstuffiscool #writewithme #antiquefinds #thestorytellerya
What did these “cheese crispies” taste like? How did they get from Holland to rural Virginia? Found at the Brownsburg Museum in Rockbridge, Virginia
What did these “cheese crispies” taste like? How did they get from Holland to rural Virginia? Found at the Brownsburg Museum in Rockbridge, Virginia
“Hello?” she said. “Hello? Are you there?” Found at the Brownsburg Museum in Rockbridge, Virginia.
“Hello?” she said. “Hello? Are you there?” Found at the Brownsburg Museum in Rockbridge, Virginia.
What did Everett Baughman do to earn those four dollars? And who is Fred? Found at the Brownsburg Museum in Rockbridge County, Virginia
What did Everett Baughman do to earn those four dollars? And who is Fred? Found at the Brownsburg Museum in Rockbridge County, Virginia
What special power does this bracelet give its wearer? What happens if the ring is separated from the bracelet? Vintage pearl, diamond, and garnet bracelet found at W.M. Schwind Antiques in Yarmouth, Maine. #thestorytellerya #yafiction #historical Who carried this embroidered clutch? What party did she take it to, and what precious things were inside? What would have happened if she lost it…? Embroidered silk clutch with pearls (era?) found at Foreside Antiques in Falmouth, Maine. #h Who was the child playing with this toy train? Did her mother make tea in a black iron kettle as she choo-chooed the toy across the floor? Who did the girl grow up to be? Found at W.M. Schwind, Jr. Antiques & Fine Art, Yarmouth, Maine #histori Was she seeing what she thought she was seeing? She lifted the opera glasses once more to her eyes. Mother of pearl. A gift from… Found at W.M. Schwind Jr. Antiques & Fine Art, Yarmouth, Maine #writingprompts #thestorycabinet #thestoryt Monday was washing day; Tuesday was ironing day. This cast “sad” iron (derived from “solid”) was heated in a fire or on coals to press sheets and clothes… Who used this iron, and what garment did they use it to press? W It was the silvery tinkling of a bell that woke her after midnight… Who once rang this bell, and why? Found in my grandmother’s silver collection. #thestorycabinet #thestorytellerya #writingprompts #writewithme #oldstuffiscool #antiq “Wyeth & Bro. / Philad’a.” What did these bottles once hold? Someone wanted what was in them. Why? Found in a forgotten antique store in Maine. #thestorycabinet #writingprompts #oldstuffiscool #writewithme #antiquefinds #thes What did these “cheese crispies” taste like? How did they get from Holland to rural Virginia? Found at the Brownsburg Museum in Rockbridge, Virginia “Hello?” she said. “Hello? Are you there?” Found at the Brownsburg Museum in Rockbridge, Virginia. What did Everett Baughman do to earn those four dollars? And who is Fred? Found at the Brownsburg Museum in Rockbridge County, Virginia
 
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CONTACT Me