Valerie Battle Kienzle is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. A graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, she has spent the last 40-plus years in various writing-related positions —newspaper reporter, corporate public affairs manager, advertising account representative, school district communications writer, freelance writer, and author. She has authored six books for St. Louis publisher Reedy Press — Ste. Genevieve, Missouri: A Walk through History (2024), 100 Things To Do At The Lake of the Ozarks Before You Die (2023), Main Street St. Charles, MO: A Walk through History (2022), Ready to Wear: A History of the Footwear and Garment Industries in St. Louis (2021), What’s With St. Louis? (2016), and What’s With St. Louis?, 2nd Edition (2018); two books for Arcadia Publishing, St. Charles (2012) and Columbia (2014); and one book for The History Press, Lost St. Louis (2017). She authored Bicentennial History 1821-2021, First St. Charles United Methodist Church in 2020.

A self-described “history nerd,” Valerie is a member of The State Historical Society of Missouri; Missouri Historical Society; St. Charles (MO) County Historical Society; the St. Louis chapter of Fashion Group International, Inc.; The Wednesday Club of Saint Louis; Daughters of the American Revolution/John O’Fallon Chapter; Foundation for the Restoration of Ste. Genevieve; and Saint Louis Zoo Friends Association. She has been an instructor for Oasis-St. Louis is a second-term member of the Missouri Humanities Council’s “Show Me Missouri” Speakers’ Bureau. She has given in-person and online presentations about her various books to dozens of service, philanthropic, and non-profit organizations and groups.

Valerie lives in Weldon Spring, Missouri. A lifelong lover of history, she, her mother, and her brother own Beech Hill Farm, a National Register property in Williamson County, Tennessee. The family has owned the property since 1796.