Lee Franklin

Editorial strategist for gifts

Finding the meaning in everyday moments

Even as a little girl, Lee Franklin created cards for friends and family. "I always thought being a greeting card writer would be the best job in the world," she says.

Now, she makes people laugh – and cry – as an editorial strategist for Hallmark. She worked on the team that came up with Shoebox Greetings in the 1980s. More recently, she helped create À la mode cards, which she describes as "sweet, emotional, girlie, and fun."

Lee's ideas come from real life. "Relationships are my inspiration. Experiencing the joy and pain of love and loss with family, friends and co-workers deepens my perspective on the human heart," she says. "My seminary studies and church work have inspired me with insights and life lessons."

Two of her hobbies – running and reading – inspire Lee with details that spice up her writing. "The little things, seemingly insignificant moments, interest me more than high drama," she says. "I'm always trying to evoke memories: how a day looked and smelled, what people wore, how the food tasted.

"I soak up ideas," Lee says. "Then I write like crazy when deadlines are looming. I need quiet, no distractions. Strong coffee's a must. If that fails, I go straight to the M&Ms."

Lee was born in Peoria, Ill., and has lived in Kansas City since 1981. She holds a B.A. from Eastern Illinois University and recently earned a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology.