Florida Daughter Kitty Slattery’s writing career spans five decades and countless inspirational stories.

When Kitty Slattery looks back on her career as an inspirational writer and the hundreds of articles and many books that she has authored since 1977, a few projects stand out as particularly memorable to her.

One is the essay she wrote in the aftermath of 9/11. At the time of the attack, she was on a New York City train making her way to the Guideposts office, as she did every other weekday morning. A typical morning quickly turned into anything but as she scrambled to get in touch with family members, including her husband, Tom, who also worked in the city, and her daughter, Katy, who was then a student at New York University.

In the essay, titled “Important Things,” she provides a harrowing, minute-by-minute account of discovering her family was safe and tells how, once they were all home, she hung the American Flag over their front door. 

Another of her favorites describes the history of that Flag, which was not just any American Flag, but the one that covered the casket carrying her father, who was a World War II veteran.

“When I was a child, his patriotism, which was so old-fashioned and unapologetic, actually embarrassed me,” Mrs. Slattery said. “It took growing up to realize what a gift it was.”

So, what is her favorite piece she has ever written?

“That’s easy,” she said. “It’s the one on Fred Rogers.”

Mrs. Slattery is referring to the 1980 Guideposts article “by” Rogers but written by her that details the relationship between Rogers and his grandfather, who at the time was suffering from dementia and could no longer recognize his beloved grandson. This article revealed that Rogers’ grandfather was the inspiration for the phrase “I like you just the way you are,” which closed every episode of the award-winning “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” children’s television program.

“I didn’t realize it was a scoop at the time,” Mrs. Slattery said. “But Fred told me a wonderful story about how his mother and aunts didn’t want him climbing outside because he would scrape his knees and get dirty. When he came in from playing, his grandfather would tell him he loved him just the way he was, scrapes and all. That day I learned that he was the real deal. He was such an encourager, not just to children, but to everyone he met.”

Mrs. Slattery retired from Guideposts in 2021, after a 45-year career.

Although she is officially retired, she can’t help but pitch a good story idea when she sees one. Lately, she has been drawing inspiration from her wooded backyard in Bedford, New Hampshire, which attracts all sorts of furry and feathery visitors—bears, beavers, bluebirds, you name it. She and her husband moved there in 2017, where they live close by to their children, Katy and Brinck, and grandson, Sebastian.

“I grew up roaming the forests in Medfield, Massachusetts, and now I get to experience the same thing with my precious grandson,” she said. “It’s been wonderful.”

Mrs. Slattery also has a home in Vero Beach, Florida, where she’s a member of Treasure Coast Chapter. A longtime member of the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames, she discovered a love for all things DAR in New Canaan, Connecticut, where she previously lived for many years.

“There are so many things I love about DAR, but above all I appreciate the fellowship,” she said. “DAR has brought me so many wonderful friendships. And when you’re new to town and might not know many people, DAR is a way to become instantly engaged with your new community.”