My name really is Kim Bongiorno. I am a freelance writer, author, blogger, public speaker, and consultant.
I am always ready for the next opportunity, whether it be publication in another book, freelance writing work, sponsored posts, social media/blogging consultation, or speaking engagements. Please see my experience below and contact me any time at [email protected] or connect with me via your favorite social media outlet.
BOOKS
I have been published in twelve books, have completed another, am writing a new one now, have more novel ideas waiting in the wings for me to get to, and am always interested in pitching stories for fiction and non-fiction anthologies.
Will Work for Apples, April 2019
You Do You, September 2018
But Did You Die?, June 2017
I Just Want to Be Perfect, May 2016
The Bigger Book of Parenting Tweets, April 2015
I STILL Just Want to Pee Alone, March 2015
Scary Mommy’s Guide to Surviving the Holidays, November 2014
I Just Want to Be Alone, March 2014
“You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth”, August 2013
I JUST WANT TO PEE ALONE, February 2013 – A New York Times Best Seller
Part of My World: Short Stories, January 2013
Fifty Shades of Funny: Hook-Ups, Break-Ups and Crack-Ups, November 2012
If you would like to join my mailing list that’s only for news about my upcoming books in all genres (humor, non-fiction, middle grade fiction, young adult, etc.), click here.
I am also an avid reader, with my own book discussion group on Facebook. You can see what I’m reading any time on Goodreads. Authors regularly send me copies of their books to share with my newsletter subscribers (many of whom are also big readers), so I promote them to my 75K+ social media fans and give about 5 away each month. Here’s how to send me yours, if you’re interested.
BLOG
Let Me Start By Saying started in 2008 as a place for me to write about finding the humor in a life that kept throwing lemons at my head while I worked toward my end goal of being a full-time freelance writer and novelist. It has received accolades from Babble, HuffPostParents, NickMom, and BlogHer, as well as earned me the titles 2013 BlogHer Voice of the Year (Inspiration) and Circle of Moms Top 25 Funny Mom of 2011 and 2012. You can see some of my most popular posts here.
SOCIAL MEDIA
My favorites are Instagram and Twitter, but I still can’t quite quit that Facebook yet. I have experience as a Social Media Manager for a popular women’s humor website and consult with both freelance writers and authors looking to learn how to use social media to promote their work.
My Twitter presence regularly lands me on Funniest Parents/Best of lists, including Buzzfeed, Huffington Post Parents, Babble, Scary Mommy, YMC, NickMom, Elizabeth Street and others.
I have made various Funniest Parents/Best of lists for my Facebook page, including Today Parents, Huffington Post Parents and others.
FREELANCE WRITING
Known best for humorous takes on parenting and women’s issues, I’ve made a successful career out of freelance writing for various websites, magazines, and newspapers. Whether I’m tackling the hot topic of the day, coming up with a visual concept for a parenting humor graphic, revealing my more sensitive side in a personal essay, working with a brand on a sponsored article, crafting relatable tweets/memes, or playing with fiction, I love both pitching my own ideas and jumping on assignments.
My work has appeared on/in the following publications:
Real Simple, The Washington Post, Parents Magazine, Momtastic, Scary Mommy, What’s Up Moms, Care.com, Babble, SheKnows, ForHer, FamilyEducation, NickMom, LifetimeMoms, The Huffington Post, In The Powder Room, The Mid, Mamalode, Today Parents, iVillage, Today’s Mama, Nickelodeon ParentsConnect, QueenLatifah.com, PopSugar, EverydayFamily, The Good Men Project, Mommy Shorts, Rants from Mommyland, Bonbon Break, BlogHer, All4Women, The Mouthy Housewives, FitFusion, gDiapers, Centsless Deals, NinjaMom, and others.
I also wrote and designed 150+ short online ebooks on topics such as humor, health, parenting, children’s stories, and more for the start-up company Britely.com.
SPONSORED WRITING
I have experience writing sponsored content both on my blog and for larger websites, such as Parenting, Momtastic, LifetimeMoms, and NickMom. I balance the needs of the brand and tone of the platform to craft content in my unique voice that appeals to the desired audience and keeps them engaged. Some of the brands I have written sponsored material for include Walmart, Old Navy, The Gap, Levis, Clorox, Popsicle, Huggies, Hasbro, Mattel, Glad, Hulu, Go-Gurt, Arm + Hammer, Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line, Hilton, Serta, Principal Financial, United Healthcare, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, Sunoco, LuLaRoe, Jimmy Dean, Culturelle, Natural Balance, various feature films and made-for-television movies.
VIDEO
Over the years I have appeared in various films scripted by others, written and filmed my own scripts, and sold original short video scripts. Whether making shorts for my blog or sponsored vlogs for brands, I’m comfortable both behind and in front of the camera. You can see some examples here on YouTube and here.
MEDIA APPEARANCES
I have made appearances on The Dr. Oz Show, HLN’s Raising America with Kyra Phillips, and HuffPostLIVE.
I have also been interviewed on Beyond Your Blog, the CKNW Morning News with Philip Till, and the D.J. Paris Podcast.
You can see clips, hear podcasts, and see various videos I am in here.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
I love speaking to writing/blogging conference attendees about writing techniques, social media promotion, online professionalism, building an engaged audience, and other topics that help them get better at what they are passionate about. Teaching these things on a smaller scale or discussing anything writing and blogging related to others (including school-aged kids) also interests me.
You can see a timeline of conferences I have taught at and panels/events I have spoken at here: Events
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Every Sunday (okay, most Sundays) I send out a newsletter with links to everything I wrote across the web, as well as the best things I read across the web and in print that week. Sign up here. View previous newsletters here.
OH. YOU WANTED TO GET TO KNOW ME BETTER? HOW FUN!
Hi again!
Let’s immediately become friends on this crazy world wide web.
If you like internetty things, you can catch up with me by clicking any of the links below. I show different pieces of myself on each one:
Or get to know me by:
- Checking out my more popular posts on my blog
- Hiring me to write for you or speak at your event
- Joining my little book lovers club
- Coming to one of my appearances/events
- Reading my books
- Subscribing to my newsletter of awesomeness
This is me:
I began online journaling and message-boarding (totally a word we’re going to pretend is real) back in 2003, and launched my public blog Let Me Start By Saying in 2008. Communicating, reading, learning, creating and sharing are some of my favorite things, and I find the internet to be pretty fantastic for all that stuff–this is why I got hooked on it so quickly. Generally speaking, I only put photos of myself on the internet that make my family want to take away all iPhone privileges. Their tolerance of my shenanigans is one of the many reasons I adore them.
I’m 43 years old and live in the ‘burbs of New Jersey with my husband, 11-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son.
I am very tired.
I am a full-time professional writer who loves desserts. My goal in life was to have exactly this job, once my darling (loud) offspring were both in school. I was willing to work my butt off to get here. It feels damn good so far. Next up: regularly write novels that allow people to escape into the many worlds that live in my brain. I’ll let you know how that goes!
Guess what time it is! LIST TIME.
Some Random Things About Me
1. I like lists. People like my lists. Not my OCD grocery shopping ones. The funny ones.
2. I am the 6th (and last) kid of a combined 3 marriages. Let’s just say that even close friends need a flow chart when I discuss my family.
3. I knew my husband was The One the day we met. He thought I was very tall.
4. I love books. I love talking about books. I love collecting old books and sniffing them.
5. I can wiggle my eyes.
6. I had two kids in less than two years, yet ten years before trying to get pregnant my doctor told me I’d have a very hard time getting pregnant, ever. Two kids is a miracle I treasure every day.
7. I’m pretty sure my DVR is my best friend. I cry when she’s not feeling well and doesn’t record things properly.
8. I preface everything, thus the title of my blog. I’m not sure my friends like the quirk or think I need to stop it immediately.
9. I’m allergic to chocolate. It’s actually a metabolic intolerance, but essentially it just means I have to avoid it like the plague. Seriously, life without chocolate? Very, very hard.
10. I have always wanted to be a writer, and have been working hard to get my voice Out There for a long time. You should read my stuff, then tell other people to do the same. We would be BFFs if you did this regularly. If you’re looking to hire a writer? I’m your gal. And you look really lovely today.
11. My friend bullied me into blogging more regularly and seriously in 2008, saying it would help my writing if I wrote about writing and all the stuff Life throws at me (like lemons…and poop) that gets in the way along this journey to the career I always wanted. It was probably the best advice I ever got.
So here I am. Still on a journey, still dealing with things that get in my way, but always thankful that I get to do it.
CONTACT ME
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