Kathy's Writing
The Whispered Teachings of Grandmother Trout follows Ali Stephenson, a successful magazine editor whose life appears perfect but is shadowed by childhood trauma. Sent to Texas to cover a fly fishing story, Ali’s journey becomes one of self-discovery and healing under the guidance of the wise Mama Kate. Set against the evocative backdrop of the Lower Laguna Madre, this novel explores feminine wisdom, emotional resilience, and the courage to choose one’s own path, resonating with both women and men, whether or not they are fly fishers.
Join Stanky the jeep and Cece the dog as they set off for a day of fun by the river with friends.
When Stanky makes a choice just to please Cece—even though it doesn’t feel right—things quickly spiral out of control. Through their adventure, the friends learn valuable lessons about responsibility, friendship, and self-confidence.
This engaging story for ages 3-8 shows that the best adventures happen when we make choices that honor ourselves and our values.
An international bestseller, Ignite Your Leadership: Proven Tools for Leaders to Energize Teams, Fuel Momentum, and Accelerate Results — now in its second edition — is written by eleven international leadership experts who have proven track records guiding individuals, teams, and organizations through transformative periods and onto greater success. The book covers a wide range of core topics regarding transformational leadership—developing one’s own self-awareness, leading from the heart, the power of intention, cultivating high employee and team engagement, creating a safe space that fosters creativity and innovation, the power of transparency, and much, much more. Foreword written by Jack Canfield.
My chapter, “It’s all in the Cast–A Fly Fisher’s Guide to Leadership” also appeared in the anthology, The Innovators: Revolutionary Ideas from Today’s Consulting Leaders. Here, I explain how the fundamentals of fly fishing can be applied as a transformational tool personally and professionally.
Coming Soon!
On the Mother Lagoon: Fly Fishing and the Spiritual Journey is my memoir about learning to fly fish and discovering that my approach on the water reflected what was happening in my life on land. It was first published in 2003, and I’m updating it for a re-release in Fall 2025.
“Revolving around her own quest to learn to fly fish on the Lower Laguna Madre of deep south Texas, Kathy Sparrow weaves ageless principles of women’s psychology and yoga with a fresh, distinctly feminine approach to fly fishing. Kathy takes the reader from her early life on the bank with her father and grandfathers to becoming a licensed Coast Guard captain, a fly fishing guide and lodge owner, and the holder of a women’s world record speckled trout. Throughout, she offers valuable technical advice gleaned from both male and female anglers. From the rods to use, the lines, and the flies, she covers a broad range of information, including tips on how to see fish, read the water, and how to become a stealthy wader so you can stalk fish with finesse.”
What Readers are Saying about
On the Mother Lagoon
“Not your typical ‘hook and bullet’ writer, Kathy takes her reader deep into a search for her spiritual self. If you are looking for a more how-to, where-to approach to the wonderful waters of the Laguna Madre, you’ll probably be happier with one of Phil Shook’s excellent guidebooks. If, however, you would like to witness the growth of a fisherman, in terms of both technical prowess and spiritual awareness of the world around them, grab this little number and dive right in.
“By the end of ‘the Spiritual Journey,’ you may find, as I did, that Kathy has vocalized much of what we feel when we wander in the wild places and talk to God.” ~ D.K. Allen
“Kathy’s work ‘on the Mother Lagoon’––articulated, expressed, and masterfully––shared her passion for growth, connections to nature, and personal challenge. She tells stories of lessons learned while catching the fish, getting licensed as a U.S. Coast Guard Captain, and overcoming fears and limiting beliefs. Kathy shares the essence of her spirit throughout this chapter in her life. As I surrendered myself to her words, I could see her human face as she opened the door time and time again to her own tears, laughter, and spiritual connections. I loved how she weaved her spiritual growth with her fly fishing knowledge, a journey she shares intimately with the reader.” ~ Merril Boruchin-Spielman