06/12/2026
Meet one of our Writing Teachers, Kathy Helmers!
Learn more:
https://apprenticeinstitute.org/formation-writers-guild/
Apply now:
https://apprenticeinstitute.org/formation-writers-cohort-application/
Kathy Helmers is a literary agent and publishing consultant with nearly fifty years’ experience. After her B.A. (English) at The King’s College in Briarcliff Manor, NY, she spent two years in Manhattan as a general-market magazine editor, then shifted into Christian book publishing in Colorado Springs with NavPress (editor, associate publisher) while completing an M.A. (English) from the University of Denver. She also did stints as a freelance editor and collaborative writer and as co-founder of a small press producing new editions of classic works by Ray Anderson, Donald Bloesch, Klaus Bockmuehl, James Loder, Eugene Peterson, Thomas Torrance, and other pastor-theologians and scholars. Her experience and interest in manuscript development and writers’ career trajectories led her into 30+ years of literary representation with established agencies (Alive Communications; Creative Trust Literary Group) and independently (Helmers Literary Services). Clients have included M. Craig Barnes, Tod Bolsinger, Ian Morgan Cron, Andy Crouch, Michael Cusick, Melanie Dale, Peter Enns, Kelly Flanagan, Leighton Ford, Makoto Fujimura, Richard Foster, Tracy Groot, Cynthia Heald, Todd Hunter, Mark Labberton, Brennan Manning, Brian McLaren, Donald Miller, J. Philip Newell, Luci Shaw, James Bryan Smith, Jim Wallis, Walter Wangerin, Jr., W. Lee Warren, Philip Yancey, and many others. Her avocational interest in animals and healing led to an M.A. in counseling/pastoral therapy (Belmont) with an internship and subsequent training in equine-assisted therapy and learning (horse barns are a terrific diversion from desk work).
