McKenna Lisa Cole

McKenna Lisa Cole is an award-winning author, writer, and journalist whose work focuses on resilience, truth, and navigating adversity in real time with unflinching honesty. She holds degrees from the University of Washington and The George Washington University and has a professional background in journalism, policy research, classical piano, and personal training, among other areas. Her book, Navigating Hell: A Real-Time Journey Through Grief, earned her the 2025 International Impact Author of the Year Award (Anthologies) and the International Impact Book Award (Grief). McKenna shares even the most intimate details of grief in real time, from the brazen ugliness to the unpredictable fluctuations to the unexpected victories. She brings a uniquely grounded, raw human perspective on loss and what it means to keep going … even when you don’t want to.