ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Karen
The Journey From Trial Lawyer to Author
I’ve had a passion for story-telling as far back as I can remember. In the sixth-grade, I penned my first book. My English teacher loved it and told me I had a gift for writing and storytelling worth developing. Throughout the years, I continued to write, but my focus shifted to technical and scientific works, rather than fiction, my true passion.
Eventually, trial law became the avenue through which I told my stories. As a trial lawyer for 22 years, my job was to develop a case that would ultimately lead to the greatest story ever told... the closing argument, which was my absolute favorite part of every case.
As life would go, a cancer diagnosis forced me to hang up my pinstripe suit in 2013, and the trial lawyer part of my career ended. For years after that, I lived my storytelling life through my then teenage daughter who was developing her own creative writing portfolio. I would get annoyingly involved in her work, giving her ideas, editing her work, and making her miserable. She finally said, “you need to write your own book.” Then, one day, that's exactly what I did!
I’ve been imagining stories since my childhood.
Throughout my journey to become an author, I learned the most compelling stories, those with genuinely relatable characters, are infused with sprinkles of real life. This came to be especially true of The Other Twin, a story that was influenced by the real lives of my teenage daughter, her friends, and people in their world.
The Other Twin holds the energy, constant chatter, and roller coaster ride of emotions of these young women as they filled every space in our home and in my heart. I loved being a trusted part of those tender years. Without knowing it, my daughter and her friends had infused my imaginary process so much that the first character I created was someone who easily could have been one of their friends.
My intention in writing this book and the work I continue to grow around it is to build upon the engaging cast of characters to equip young men and women, their friends, and their families to navigate the real-life coming-of-age pitfalls and triumphs in healthy ways.
Be Inspired and Write.
A Bit of Backstory
I’m a native Washingtonian and proud graduate of Cardozo Senior High School. I earned a B.A. in Biology and Africana Studies from Vassar College, an M.A. in Bioethics from Georgetown University, and a J.D. from George Washington University.
I’m a proud Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and currently serve on the Board of the Delta Housing Corporation of D.C. I’m passionate about serving my community and love mentoring young people navigating college, law school, and legal careers.
For more than 20 years, I worked as a trial lawyer handling complex civil, commercial, and medical malpractice cases. In 2013, I left private practice to become Senior Associate General Counsel for Health Sciences at Howard University where, in addition to managing healthcare claims, my practice portfolio includes medical staff matters, corporate governance, ethics, and alternative dispute resolution.
Most importantly, I’m a single mom to a wonderful daughter. She is all grown up now and is my greatest source of inspirement!
