The delight is obvious on Kathie Hightower’s face when she explains her move to Manzanita with husband Greg is the only one in 20 moves they have made in the past 28 years, that was their choice. After constant moves because of Greg’s military career, Hightower is happy to be settled in Manzanita doing what she loves, writing and connecting with people interested in all things literary.

Hightower grew up in Berlin and Rhein Main, Germany, where her father was in the civil service. A move to Virginia brought them back to the U.S. After college, Hightower entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant where she met her husband. Being stationed in two different places didn’t seem a good way to start married life, so Hightower chose to leave the service.

That started her search for fulfillment as a military wife. With frequent moves, it was difficult to find jobs or start careers. Eventually, Hightower turned that dilemma into a book for spouses of military members, entitled “Help, I’m a Military Spouse, I Get a Life, Too” co-authored with Holly Scherer.

Her other books include “Joyful Living and Simple Joys,” guidebooks about simple things we can do to make our lives work, as well as “Jump Into Life,” a guided journal for engaging fully into your own unique life. She currently has two books in process, and has written articles and columns in Military Money magazine, Senior Scene Tacoma and Coast Weekend.

In addition, Hightower is an international motivational speaker, both for military spouses and in the corporate world, where she provides people “the resources and contacts they need to achieve their goals.”

Hightower enjoys helping people find what it is that makes them happy. She has created “possibility groups” wherever she is where members support each other’s growth and happiness. Since the move to Manzanita, Hightower wants to focus on her writing, create a writer’s community, and stay home more.

Hightower has started a book club in Manzanita which met one of her goals to connect with other literary people. She met Vera Wildauer on the street one day, and between them, with help from Gail Balden, Elia Seely, and Lisa Evans, they created the next big event in the evolving life at the Hoffman Center, the Manzanita Writer’s Series. The inspiration for the series came from the very successful Nye Beach Writer’s Series in Newport. The third Saturday of each month, starting at 7 p.m., the series will feature a published author reading from their work at the first of the evening, followed by a questions and answer session and then an open mic time for local writers to read their endeavors. Hightower said a performance such as this often gives authors the incentive they need to meet a deadline. The Hoffman Center will be transformed with assistance from Doris Bash, the Manzanita Merchant’s Association and local authors including Vera Wildauer and Gail Balden. Books will be available to purchase at the readings, and writer’s performing in the open mic part of the evening may sell their own books there. Hightower and her cohorts want to expand the energy of the writer’s event to promote literacy programs for all ages, provide publishing and inspirational advise for writers, and find ways to make use of the incredible writing resouces in our area.

You’ve heard of creative fire? Hightower’s got it!