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Kathryn Apel is a born-and-bred farm girl who’s scared of cows. She lives among the gum trees, kangaroos and cattle on a Queensland grazing property. Kat paints pictures with words, because much as she’d love to, Kat can’t draw. She loves pumping poetry because she can flex her muscles across other genres, to bend (and break) writing rules. A trained teacher and literacy consultant, Kat shares her passion for words at schools and festivals.

Kathryn specialises in poetry workshops for kids and adults – and staff professional development sessions across grades and curriculum area. 

Click the tabs to find out more about The Kat’s Whiskers and her words. Read about Kat’s Books, with links to reviews & activities, or to Buy Books. Download Kids’ Stuff activities for home & classroom use.

Kathryn was the recipient of a 2018 May Gibbs Creative Time Fellowship in Adelaide, and an RADF Grant, to attend the 2019 3-day CYA Conference and associated activities.

Information and images on this website are copyright Kathryn Apel. Not to be reposted or published without prior written permission.

Poetry Pep Up – A Free Online Writing Opportunity

I’m rather thrilled to be working with the Central Queensland Regional Arts Service Network (CQRASN) to run a free, online five-day Poetry Pep Up, from 1-5 June. The challenge is suitable for newbies or old-hands. Fun fact: We get to kick off with a live group chat. AND we get to wrap things up with … Continue reading →

I Don’t Want a Pet SNAKE!

A ssssshort and sssssharp post today to ssssshare a reading of my poem, ‘I Don’t Want a Pet SNAKE’, published by The School Magazine, Blast Off 4, 2020, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen and read by Geoffrey McSkimming. Use it to teach persuasive texts… and caution in what you wish for. And read it just for … Continue reading →

Home-Learning Activities

Over recent weeks I’ve been sharing links/ideas in a number of different places, to engage kids of assorted ages and abilities, during these surreal times. The links and ideas shared have been chosen because they appeal to my mother/author/educator persona. These ideas aren’t targeted at any specific age or curriculum area. Nor have I aligned them … Continue reading →

Progressive Poem – Day 13

Hoping you have all had a restful Easter – even if it wasn’t where, how or with whom you’d originally planned. As with much of the world, we stay-cayed. We could have camped by one of creeks on our property, but opted to stay at the house, and ride back and forth to the creek … Continue reading →

More Poetry Pics

Hi all. I’m popping in to share the some more #PoeTryHope and #WaterPoemProject with you. Not such a busy week of poetry this week – but lots of other busy productivity instead. I started #PoeTryHope because I needed to remind myself to focus on joy – not fear. I can’t tell you how glad I was … Continue reading →

Poetry Pep-Ups

Oh my. What a busy week of poetry it has been! Though I’ve thought many nights that I don’t have the focus or the creativity for #PoeTryHope – somehow every night, some little moment of joy (or silliness) works its way into words. I’m posting them on Instagram – but here is a quick screengrab … Continue reading →