Kristin Rattini

Foristell, MO USA
Contact

Professional Experience

My 20 years of freelance writing experience, my consistency and creativity enable me to quickly turn from new contributor to trusted team member for my content marketing and consumer publication clients. Profiles, travel, personal finance and children's nonfiction are my niches. Content-marketing clients include Time Inc. Content Solutions(Ford, Volvo, Allstate), Pace (Walmart, USAA, United) and others. For National Geographic Kids, I've written hundreds of articles and three books. Other credits include People, Family Circle, Woman’s Day and American Way, where I’ve contributed for a decade.

Expertise

Book Author
13 Years
Writer
25 Years
Editor
25 Years

Specialty

Books & Literature
23 Years
Other, Specify
23 Years
Travel
23 Years

Industries


Magazine - Large Consumer/National magazines
23 Years
Magazine - Local/Regional magazines
23 Years
Other
18 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

25 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

National Geographic Kids Magazine (10+), Meredith Integrated Marketing (MXM) (10+), Time Inc. Content Solutions (10+), National Geographic Books (1-2), Imagination Publishing (6-10)

Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Ford (10+), Thrivent (6-10), Volvo (3-5), Washington University School of Medicine (10+), Allstate (10+)

Other Work History

Senior Editor, St. Louis Life Magazine; Managing Editor, Missouri Magazine; ASME Intern, National Geographic;

Foreign Language Skills

Mandarin

Equipment

I have laptop, will travel. I shoot many of my stories.

Awards

Nominated for National Journalism Writing Award

Associations

American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA); Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

Showcase

MAGAZINES

Author ELIZABETH LITTLE explores how our common language has divided us from the culture and heritage of the past.
The nonprofit FRESH MOVES mobile produce market is a welcome oasis in Chicago's food-desert communities.
If this month's Major League Baseball All-Star Game has you in the mood to take yourself out to the ballgame, consider a trip to Cooperstown.
As actor Tony Danza describes in his new memoir, his year of teaching high school demanded as much empathy and improvisation as any role on stage or screen.
Mel Brooks once quipped, "It's good to be the king." He might have thought twice if he'd encountered the overwhelming challenges that Peggielene Bartels faced, which she recounts with the help of writer Eleanor Herman in King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story o
These three new books on food, sports and family make a winning trifecta of Father's Day gift ideas.
Why settle for a Champagne cruise on the Seine when you can sip the world's most famous sparkling wine in situ? A mere 45-minute TGV train ride from Paris' Gare de l'Est station takes you to Reims, France, the historic heart of the Champagne region.
With a quartet of films in theaters this season, veteran actor Brendan Gleeson shows American audiences why he's Ireland's best-kept secret.
From Ethiopian orphan to world-renowned chef--those are the two end points people connect to Marcus Samuelsson. This engaging memoir, however, takes readers on the incredible journey in between
British comedian Stephen Fry explores the country he almost called home in his new book, Stephen Fry in America
No need for a Where Are They Now? expose of these '80s icons; their new memoirs share tantalizing tales of their paths to stardom and the exhilarating second acts they've created for themselves.
Award-winning travel writer William Least Heat-Moon is best known for his 1982 best-seller Blue Highways: A Journey into America, which chronicled his 13,000-mile journey across America's back roads. This captivating new collection of his short-form travelogues spans the globe.
Longtime humor columnist Dave Barry is back. But this time, he's tickling kids' funny bones as a young-adult novelist.
Author David K. Randall shares the fascinating science behind what really happens in our dream world in Dreamland.
Mr & Mrs Bund brings French comfort food to Shanghai
In My Backyard Jungle, James Barilla discovers what happens when you set out the welcome mat for wildlife in all its fabulous (and infuriating) forms.
Cover profile of Elizabeth Banks. Don't let her winsome laugh deceive you. Elizabeth Banks is a star to be reckoned with, in front of--and behind--the camera.
Street Scene: St. Louis. Aim for the stars on a stroll along St. Louis' top dining and entertainment thoroughfare
Cover profile of Aaron Eckhart. In front of the lens, Aaron Eckhart is the picture of intensity. Behind it, though, he is the picture of happiness.
In My Guy Barbaro, jockey Edgar Prado gives the inside story of how the pursuit of Triple Crown glory with Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro came to a sudden, tragic end.
In Shanghai's hyperdriven bar scene, it's hard to find a place to just sit and talk without having to shout over the music or the general din that's the soundtrack of Shanghai nightlife. Fortunately, there is Cotton's.
The annual BELOIT COLLEGE MINDSET LIST reveals what the world looks like through an 18-year-old's eyes.
After a decade as executive chef at Beijing's renowned CourtYard Restaurant, Rey Lim has proven his skill at creating inventive cuisine. Ambassadors, jet-setting European royalty, and film icons like Jackie Chan all frequent this Beijing landmark for Lim's fine Western dining with Asian overtones.
Cover story. After years of wrestling with uncertainty, Glee star Jane Lynch found success after finding herself.
Veteran sports journalist Stanley Cohen takes readers to the ballgame with his moving family memoir, The Man in the Crowd.
In Along the Way, Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez share their stories of family and the family business.
Famed travel writer Paul Theroux examines the effect that the passing of 30 years has had on Eurasia -- and on himself.
Judd Apatow and a worthy cast of comedians explore their trade.
In his new book, The Sports Gene, David Epstein dives deep into the gene pool to study what sets world-class athletes apart.
One fed-up New York City waiter serves more than just the specials in his entertaining behind-the-scenes memoir.
Beloved comedian Billy Crystal celebrates his 65th birthday with this mahvelous memoir that alternates riffs on the indignities of aging with heartfelt reflections on his family, friendships and 40 years in show business.
For the past 38 years, hundreds of museums and national parks in more than a dozen countries across the globe--from Indonesia to Egypt--have turned to Terry Chase and his talented studio staff to bring the natural world, past and present, to vivid life.
Edmund Morris has devoted 30 years and three books to Theodore Roosevelt and his larger-than-life legend. This third entry in the trilogy captures last 10 years of the captivating, complex life of the man hailed in his time as "the most interesting American."
Catch the highlights of Hong Kong, without the ups and downs
Every time I return to China's capital city, I find there are two Beijings: one suspended in time, and another catapulting through it. You can find evidence of this dual personality throughout the Chinese capital, including in two different bars that capture these disparate times in a bottle.
Boulder, Colo.'s free-spirited Pearl Street is part foodie haven, part public-performance space - and a completely delightful destination.
Architecture for Humanity channels its design prowess and volunteer manpower into making the world a better (and more sustainable) place
If this year's Secret Santa has you stumped, we've got you covered. Read on to find a fit for everyone on your nice list.
The decadent city captured in The White Countess still exists -- if you know where to find it amid the futuristic skyscrapers
Michael Palin dusts off his passport for his latest travelogue, Brazil, as well as his new novel, The Truth.
Like its predecessor in Italy, Charleston's Spoleto Festival USA is one of the world's most celebrated art festivals
The perfect holiday gift can be as elusive as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Before you give up and order fruitcakes for everyone, check out these five great reads that can elevate your gift from ho-hum to Ho! Ho! Ho!
Shanghai is two places in one, really. By exploring both old Shanghai and new Shanghai, visitors can better appreciate how different generations of Chinese and foreign adventurers have shaped this remarkable place into the dynamic, complex and captivating world city it is today.
In Five Came Back, MARK HARRIS chronicles how five famous Hollywood directors brought the realities of World War II home for American moviegoers.
November may be full of traditional culinary indulgences, but you can still treat your tongue to a few surprises. Spice things up by serving some of the international gastronomic goodies found in these new cookbooks by three of the world's most celebrated chefs.
Acoustics expert Trevor Cox explores and explains the sonic wonders of the world in The Sound Book.
Like a sturgeon, British writer Nick Thorpe takes an upstream journey to tell the tale of life along the Danube River.
In The Can't Cook Book, JESSICA SEINFELD gives self-doubting cooks everywhere a rousing, "Oh, yes you can!"
Albert Podell logged 72 journeys and a million miles on his quest to travel Around the World in 50 Years.
Two pioneering female journalists travel like it's 1889 in Matthew Goodman's engaging new book, Eighty Days.
If your tug on the Thanksgiving wishbone will be for some variety and spice in your turkey-saturated life, check out these engaging new food-themed books that explore cherished culinary traditions - and turn them on their heads.
It might not have the familiar ring of Napa or Sonoma, but Woodinville is a prime stop on the West Coast Wine Circuit.
Three great reads to give Mom for Mother's Day
Broadway veteran Lea Michele takes center stage in the Fox dramedy Glee.
Hong Kong makes it easy for visitors to experience and appreciate its cultural heritage. Cover travel story. Featured in Media Bistro's "Pitches That Worked."
"My Favorite Street" - Yao Ming's Hengshan Lu. The NBA superstar and Shanghai native takes Delta readers along the favorite street of his hometown.
In You Were Never in Chicago, Neil Steinberg ponders the notion of connections in a city notorious for them.
Chefs Cat Cora and Curtis Stone pack their appetites — and passports — as hosts of Bravo’s Around the World in 80 Plates.
For years, many tasting rooms in California's Napa Valley offered, at most, a dry cracker to accompany their wines. Now, thanks to a local ordinance change, an increasing number of wineries are joining such pairing pioneers as Cakebread Cellars and Robert Sinskey Vineyards with enticing food-and-win
A Celebrated Weekend cover story - an interview with Yao Ming about his favorite places in his hometown of Shanghai, China.
When it comes to colors, Leatrice Eiseman makes the rules.
Long after the Thanksgiving meal has been devoured and the good dishes have been put away, you can keep the celebration of food, family and gratitude going with these three exceptional new cookbooks.
Just in time for Valentine's Day, ordinary Americans share their stories of love in All There Is, a book by StoryCorps.
Searching for just the right gift? This trio of new, noteworthy books will make the holidays bright for the music, movie and travel aficionados on your list.
"I always joked I had enough trouble with the family I already have; I didn't need to go looking for more," says actor and writer Andrew McCarthy. Then, an invitation to a McCarthy reunion in Ireland made him reconsider his reluctance about discovering his roots.
When you're a celebrated food writer and former foreign correspondent, odds are your pantry is a veritable bazaar of bizarre ingredients and exotic spices.
A mini-feature within the two Shanghai chapters I contributed to the Fodor's Beijing & Shanghai guidebook.
In his inspiring new book, 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World (Simon & Schuster, $26), Howard G. Buffett partners with his son to share moving stories that change "statistics into experiences" and prompt readers to make the most of their 40 chances.
Cover story. High-tech science brings new answers to King Tut's mysterious death.
Cover story - interview with Ashton Kutcher. Ashton Kutcher's mischievous ways have made his production company, Katalyst Films, a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.
Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier offers lessons from his storied life to his great-granddaughter -- and to the rest of us
WITH THE 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES LOOMING ON THE HORIZON, THE ANCIENT CHINESE CITY OF BEIJING RACES TO REINVENT ITSELF AS A MODERN METROPOLIS
For Mother's Day, check out these three new books that deftly capture the laughter, trials and tears that make motherhood joy and job that it truly is
For fine porcelain and glassware, these seven cities are clear favorites
Which three-digit number is the most important in your life? Some women might answer their weight; doctors argue it's your cholesterol level. But, when it comes to how financial institutions gauge your health, as well as how much clout you've got, no figure is more important than your credit score.
Actor Corey Stoll fulfills his fanboy fantasy in the highly anticipated film Ant-Man
Dan Jurafsky's new book, The Language of Food, reveals how everything we eat is truly an acquired taste.
Deep inside an ancient pyramid in Peru, a mummy lay hidden in a gold-filled tomb. The underground chamber remained a secret for nearly 1,600 years. The mummy wasn't a king or a male warrior; it was a young Moche woman-- and she was covered in mysterious tattoos!
See art masterpieces in living color at Laguna Beach
By using the same successful business strategies as Fortune 500 companies, Girl Scouts of the USA makes a sweet profit with its annual cookie sale.
The surefire Broadway hit puts a pop-music twist on a Founding Father's tale
In a new memoir, Charles Strouse, the composer of Annie and Bye Bye Birdie, offers a behind-the-curtain look at life on the Great White Way.
Cancer may have taken away Roger Ebert's ability to speak, but as his new memoir proves, his voice remains irrepressible.
Ghost in the Wires takes a fascinating look at the high-stakes art of computer hacking through the eyes of a man who perfected it.
George and Ira Gershwin's musical legacy is in Michael Feinstein's expert hands in his new book, The Gershwins and Me.
American Way cover story. Whether he's at work, as the newest cast member of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, or at play, cruising on his BMW road bike, Laurence Fishburne is riding high.
After six decades of making us laugh, comedy legend Carl Reiner keeps the smiles coming with two new books.
In Islands Apart, writer Ken McAlpine retreats offshore for a Thoreauvian (and thorough) examination of man and nature.
The Daily Show's Samantha Bee takes a humorous look--and an occasional potshot--at her life in her new memoir.
No place in the world right now is thriving like Shanghai. Some Westerners attribute the city's success to China's economic reforms, others to its history as an international port city. But the Chinese know that some of the credit should go to Shanghai's qi. Here are 25 places that exemplify it.
Legendary television scribe Stephen J. Cannell has found success with his latest series. But this one isn't on the small screen.
PRIVATE LABELS are taking retail by storm, and they don't plan to stop anytime soon.
Bob Hurley recounts lessons learned from four decades of coaching basketball that go far beyond the sport in his new memoir, Chasing Perfect.
The plot points seem ripped from today's headlines: money, murder, aspiration and redemption. Instead, author Edward Ball's true tale shines light on the ambitions of the Gilded Age.
Cover story. Steve Zahn is A) A Harvard-trained dramatist; B) a gifted comedic actor; C) a devoted father and farmer; D) All of the above.
Celebrate Mother's Day with these engaging new books that capture all the joy, tears and laughter motherhood can bring.
New Year's resolutions are often like champagne: bright and bubbly at first but completely flat before long. As you make your own resolutions for next year, consider these four books, which are worth toasting for their practical solutions to common resolutions.
Three engaging new books explore different sides of baseball.
At Chicago's Big Monster Toys, work and play are one and the same.
Street Food: you want to be daring and eat like a local, but you're fearful of what digestive distress might soon follow. Hinnerk von Bargen, an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America, offers peace of mind (and stomach) by putting the spatula in your own hands in Street Foods, out now.
Sunscreen? Check. Beach towel? Check. A good summer read to while away the hours on the beach? We've got you covered with three exceptional new books, out this month, that serve up hefty doses of laughs, wanderlust and entertainment.
This memorable memoir of vision loss sports a pair of dark glasses on the front cover, but it really needs a clown nose added in, too, to capture its playful spirit.

CONTENT MARKETING

When you're on a budget, "free" has a nice ring to it. It's even nicer when those freebies are tools that can help you stick to your budget. Mobile and online banking services do just that. Free tools such as mobile alerts and automated payments can help you meet your financial goals.
Saying goodbye to work with a Mustang road trip
Photographer Ed Zirkle pondered life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness on his six-month cross-country road trip.
Gail Johnson reduces her environmental impact with her Ford C-MAX Hybrid SE.
When Robert Irvin drives his C-MAX, it brings back happy memories of childhood.
For the Gordon family, no truck but an F-150 will do for both their children and their kids.
The rugged SUV tackles harsh terrain to bring medical assistance to at-risk pregnant mothers in rural India.
After a long and successful career in baseball, Royce Clayton has settled down to focus on his family life.
While you can't always predict spikes in demand, you certainly can prepare for them. By setting up a proactive strategy for suppliers, staff and credit, you'll be ready and able to take full advantage of those opportunities to grow your sales and customer base.
Crisscrossing the country in a Focus
Fred Osmon never needs an excuse to hit the highway. So when his daughter, Jill Holmes, suggested a last-minute father-daughter road trip in November 2014, the 75-year-old retired auto executive from Estates Park, Colo. fired up his 2013 King Ranch F-150 and set a course for a 1,500-mile roadtrip.
Al Messenger’s money-saving ideas got the wheels spinning during his three decades as a Ford employee
Try these strategies to adapt operations and better control your expenses.
How one man’s Explorer inspired him to write a song that ended up in an ad campaign—and resonated with so many Ford owners.
Patty Pomerleau sets a course for adventure in her beloved Ford Explorer.
If you're just starting out on your own or starting over financially, a secured credit card can give you the convenience of credit and debit cards, while helping you build a solid financial history.
Crisscrossing the country in a Focus
A New Mexico transplant's unlucky moving trip is turned around by a Ford dealership.
Blazing a Mustang Trail to the Ford Boss Track Attack
A Colorado couple rides high in their new Platinum 2015 F-150.
Photographer and Ford owner Laurie Tennent captures the joy of Pink Fund families and events.
A Kentucky couple has plenty of room for travel companions in their spacious Ford Flex.
If you're just starting out on your own or starting over financially, a secured credit card can give you the convenience of credit and debit cards, while helping you build a solid financial history. In addition to improving your creditworthiness, secured cards can help you establish good financial h
Ford vehicles are a crucial component of Cain Vineyard & Winery's elegant wines.
Six new members of Ford's Warriors in Pink® program tell their stories of what inspires them everyday.
A father and son commemorate two milestones with a major makeover of the family's 1965 Mustang.
This summer's picnic basket should reflect the diverse tastes and great produce on offer this time of year. So leave the cheese and crackers at home, and step your picnic game up with these seven great summer staples.

BOOKS

I wrote this level 1 easy reader book on weather for National Geographic Kids books.
I wrote this Level 1 Easy Reader on how a plant grows for National Geographic Kids Books.
I contributed two chapters--Shanghai and Eastern China--to this 4th edition of the Fodor's China guidebook.
I contributed the Shanghai half of this 1st edition Fodor's guidebook to Shanghai and Beijing. As a five-year resident of Shanghai, I provided the boots-on-the-ground expertise of a local when it came to restaurants, shops, bars, etc.
I contributed the children's section to Time Out's Shanghai guidebook.
I was the sole writer on this 96-page "bookazine" that was a partnership between Rovio (creators of Angry Birds) and National Geographic Kids Magazine.
Pivotal figures have transcended history and changed the fate of the world. The Most Influential Figures of Ancient History is a brilliant expose of those indomitable rulers, warriors, philosophers, and criminals at the crossroads of history. Their ancient accounts let you experience when Hannibal crossed the Alps, Socrates was put on trial, Confucius became a sage, and Hammurabi set the first legal code in stone, and more. Some highlights include: Investigative biographies Timelines of turning points in history Brilliant photographs, artifacts, and artwork
In this level 2 reader, young readers explore the amazing underwater world of coral reefs. Beautiful photos and carefully leveled text make this book perfect for reading aloud and for independent reading.

PHOTOS

"Photo of the Week" - WritersMarketplace.com
"Photo of the Week" WritersMarketplace.com

General

The Young Scientist Program shares the wonder — and career prospects — of science
Money may talk, but the alphabet soup of confusing consumer-finance acronyms can make it hard to understand what it’s saying. Can you keep your IRA straight from your IRS? Do you know your FAFSA from your FSA? Summer school is in session.