I’m the author of a poetry collection, Sister, and four creative writing adventure books: Rip the Page!, Leap Write In!, Write Back Soon! and Rip ALL the Pages! 52 Tear Out Adventures for Creative Writers. I also collaborate with artists to create one-of-a-kind artwork. I moved to Italy in 2022 to open the Writer’s Nest in Florence’s Santo Spirito neighborhood…my latest collaboration with Elena Pinna is called Words on Wood/Parole su Legno. As a writing guide, picture book writer and traveling author, my aim is to create and be in service to those who want to explore and expand their imaginations. A recipient of a few grants, literary awards and fellowships/residencies from Hedgebrook, Numeroventi, The Moth, and Djerassi Resident Artists Program, I occasionally host creatives at the Writer’s Nest and write remotely with students via Zoom. Part of each winter and summer I’m based in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere around the globe to lead writing adventures for small groups. To find out more contact me.
Rip the Page! inspires creativity to flow, sparkle, whoosh, and claim a child’s imagination. Karen Benke uses playful, inviting, inspiring language to form ‘hooks’ to snag the interest and ‘reel in’ the imagination of children to write. Great for an individual writer on their own, and wonderful as a guideline for teachers or home-school parents to inspire young hearts.
—San Francisco Book Review
The wide-ranging essays in Write Back Soon! cover a lot of ground, everything from anecdotes to hands on prompts for inspiration. The gist of Karen’s books is that the best kind of writing helps us not just connect with others, but, in surprising ways, also to ourselves.
— Raluca Albu, Guernica, A Magazine of Art & Politics
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