Kelli Ra

Writing has always been part of my life. I love to persuade. I love to teach and inform. And I especially love to tell a good story. Lucky for me, my career as a writer has allowed me to do all three. Along the way I have had the good fortune to learn from great editors, contribute to award-winning content and to write about things that matter to me most. 

After earning my BA in Language Arts from Grinnell College I began writing feature articles for the recreation/fitness industry and expanded a short time later to magazines that featured all-things-lifestyle. (Say hello to some of my personal favorites: gardening, interior design trends, landscaping and cooking.) 

But it wasn’t until my husband and I experienced the humbling learning curve of raising three children (one with autism) that my writing began to feature special needs awareness and parenting. I was honored in 2012 to join a crew of talented writers and authors on the Not Alone Parenting blog which won best in category in the 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards.

My first two books, Divine Duct Tape and  Life on the Spectrum, are humorous introspective memoirs for anyone experiencing the special needs journey. My latest book, however, Welcome Home: Food is Story. Food is Family. Food is Love. is the accidental love child born out of the creative outlets I enjoy most: short story, exploring history and sharing my journey of cooking, homesteading, and photography. 

Although raised in the military and living many places around the world, I have lived for the past 30 years with my wonderful husband in the far western suburbs of Illinois. Together we look after our very demanding Goldendoodle, our two even more demanding cats, and 4 laying hens. When not at my keyboard, most days you will find me exploring new frontiers in the kitchen, battling slugs in my veggie garden, or binge watching episodes of The Mandalorian, Top Chef and DIY videos.