About Me

My creative nonfiction stories grew out of my experience teaching struggling learners in Quebec schools. I write about heartbeat moments of school and family life—universal truths about human connection narrated with emotional resonance.
I published my first essay in 2013 about a boy with Down syndrome. “Lessons from my Favorite Student” appeared, to his family’s delight, in a small community newspaper. I went on to write about education, personal relationships and my perspectives on aging. My work has appeared in numerous literary magazines across North America, including Toronto’s Globe and Mail. My school-based-story “Tough Talk” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Prick of the Spindle in 2015, and my personal essay “Lessons in Hugs” was nominated by Crack the Spine for Best of the Net 2018.

I have a passion for sipping frothy cups of London Fog tea and reading personal essays with throat-catching imagery. I’m committed to mentoring others while following my own writing journey, and I lead writing workshops on memoir at my local library. My craft articles have been published on the Brevity Blog, in the QWF Writes column and other places. I’m currently putting together a collection of stories about my years working in special education.

September pulses with possibilities. Summer’s my breathing space between beginnings and endings. The rhythm of a teacher’s life.

–   Karen