Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Kaiser.
Hi Karen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I began writing poetry reflections in the fall of 2022 and sending them to a close friend, who encouraged me to begin posting them on my personal Facebook page. I received such a positive response after I posted each poem, and people began to ask me to make them public so they could share them with their friends, so I created a public Facebook page for my poetry. Many of my readers expressed an interest in purchasing a hard copy of my poetry, so I decided to compile my individual poems and make them into a book.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For the most part, it was been a smooth road to publication. The biggest challenge was just finding time to write. As a busy mom of two young children, it was hard to find uninterrupted moments to work on poems. I started many of my poems on the notes folder on my iPhone while I was waiting in the carpool line or while my kids were at swim lessons, then finished them at home on my laptop once the kids were asleep.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a poet who writes about themes of acceptance, grace, inclusion, belonging, faith, grief, and any other topics that happen to stir my heart. Coming from a counseling background, I am attuned to the complexities of our emotions and am able to capture the depth of the human experience and turn it into easy-to-read poems that invite the reader to engage with his or her heart, soul, and mind in a meaningful way.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My greatest advice is to surround yourself with people who support you and cheer for you. I have a handful of “first readers” who I send my poems to before I post them on social media. Sometimes they offer feedback, but most of the time they just encourage me and tell me that I am doing meaningful work.
Pricing:
- 13.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amazon.com/Homecoming-Poetic-Reflections-Grace-upon/dp/B0BW23B1X1/
- Instagram: @karenkaiserpoetry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenkaiserpoetry
Image Credits
Jessica Vick
