Burke Q&A

Place: San Francisco

Topics of interest: romantic relationships, remedies for poverty in Third World countries, the dovetailing of domestic and international politics. 

Memorable quote: “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” –Oprah Winfrey 

Most recent education: University of San Francisco, Juris Doctor (J.D.), May 2002. 

The book/author that most impacted you as a child; as an adolescent; as a teenager; in your 20’s; recently? Child: the entire Choose Your Own Adventure series published by Bantam Books. Adolescent: the entire Baby-sitters Club series, by Ann M. Martin. Teenager: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith. In my 20’s: The Celestine Prophecy, by James Redfield. Recently: Eat, Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. 

Activities (other than writing): Running, singing in a gospel choir. 

Favorite films: The Story of Us, Moonlight Mile, One True Thing, and The Love Letter. 

The most rewarding thing you’ve ever done: Said “yes” to an opportunity to teach children in Nairobi, Kenya this May (2009). 

Political affiliation: Democratic party.

 
Bio: Katie Burke is a family law attorney and writer who lives in San Francisco. Prior to entering law school, she earned a Master's Degree in Counseling.

Katie wrote a letter that was published in Letters to a Bullied Girl: Messages of Healing and Hope (HarperCollins, 2008). She wrote a KQED Radio Perspectives piece and read it on air in April 2009.

Katie has published various articles, essays, and letters in the following publications: The Journal of Law and Social Challenges, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Fairfield Citizen-News, The SoMa Literary Review, Women's Voices, The Sitting Room, and The Street Spirit. She is a contributing writer to Culture-Voice and a past contributing writer to Girltalk. She is currently revising forthcoming book, about the empowering effects of finding love in community.