Kathryn Knight who uses the pen name, K. I. Knight, grew up as a seventh-generation Floridian in the small town of Winter Garden. After twenty plus years in real estate, she rekindled her passion for genealogy. Now, a Professional Genealogist, Historian, and international award-winning Author, Knight is also a Keynote Speaker, a Cemetery Preservationist, and a land development consultant. In the last 13 years, Knight has documented more than 20,000 hours retracing the steps of the first documented Africans who were brought to the English settlement of Virginia in 1619.
Knight's passion is unrivaled and strongly evident in her international award-winning Books, "Fate & Freedom," a five star - Gold medal historical series, and "Unveiled - The Twenty and Odd, Documenting the first Africans in England's America 1619-1625, and Beyond." In 2018 Knight's literary work began to gain acclaimed recognition with accolades from the Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society and the Sons & Daughters of the US Middle Passage from which Knight received the Phillis Wheatley Literary Award in June 2019 for her phenomenal research and writing. With the National Commemoration in August of 2019 of the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of the First Africans in Virginia, Knight's literary work took center stage with news outlets around the world, including the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and the National Parks Magazine, citing her research.
Knight is a national board member for several nonprofit organizations and belongs to numerous Historical, Genealogical, and Literary societies across the country. Knight lives in Central Florida with her husband, Tom, and their three cats.
You can find additional information at http::/www.firstfreedompublishing.com and http::/www.1619Genealogy.com, where Knight maintains a Genealogy blog.

“A compelling cast breathes life into a story that traces the roots of American slavery back to the 17th century.”
– Kirkus Reviews