Who I Am

Louise Knott Ahern has been a storyteller since childhood, when she would entertain her family with fantastical tales they eventually labeled as “Weezie stories.” As an adult, her natural desire to tell stories evolved into a career that has earned Louise numerous awards for reporting, writing and editing.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Louise worked as a newspaper reporter – a career that took her from the pristine halls of the White House to the gritty streets of Detroit to the growing desert communities of Southern California. She has interviewed everyone from national dignitaries to hometown heroes, and covered a wide range of events and issues, from deaf education to murder trials.

Louise took a brief break from newspapers to work as senior editor and writer of the alumni magazine and other publications at the University of Redlands (Redlands, CA), a position that strengthened her skills not only as an editor and storyteller, but also as a public relations coach.

Now a freelance writer, Louise continues to find and tell the stories that explore our world, our culture and ourselves; and she helps others do the same. She has reported for Gannett News Service, the Lansing State Journal, The Detroit News and The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA), Michigan Moms, and the Romance Writers Report.

Louise’s work has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Gannett Corp., the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, Romance Writers of America and the University and College Design Association. She’s a member of the Education Writers Association, Investigative Reporters and Editors, The Association for Women in Communications, Romance Writers of America, as well as the Orange County and Greater Detroit chapters of RWA.

You can keep up with Louise at her blog, Weezie Stories. You can also find her offering advice to authors at AuthorMBA, recently named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer’s Digest magazine.