Published in the January/February 2015 issue of Books Make a Difference magazine.
In her accomplished career as an editor and the bestselling author of more than thirty books about the African American experience, Andrea Davis Pinkney has become as inspiring as many of the historic figures she writes about. She felt an undeniable pull to write about the Darfur genocide in her latest novel, The Red Pencil. Even through the ugly filter of war, Andrea’s longtime message shines through: Hope and joy are for everyone. [...]
Published in the January/February 2015 issue of Books Make a Difference magazine.
Fifty-four years after they went to jail for sitting at a whites-only lunch counter in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the eight surviving members of the Friendship Nine are returning to court to have their convictions vacated. Their new day in court came in no small measure from a children’s book, No Fear For Freedom: The Story of the Friendship 9, and the efforts of its author, Kimberly Johnson. “These men were treated as criminals, but they’re not,” she says. “What they did is really powerful and right.” [...]
Published in the May/June 2014 issue of Books Make a Difference magazine.
With more than 3 million copies of his books sold, Tim O’Brien, 67, is known for his thought-provoking stories that use the Vietnam War as a backdrop for exploring the bigger questions in life. Becoming a dad has changed Tim’s view of the world—and his writing. Although Vietnam still invades his stories, even those he tells his boys (Timmy, 10, and Tad, 8), Tim now sees life through soccer games, magic shows, and a tree house window. His current project is a book about being an older dad. [...]
Published in the May/June 2014 issue of Books Make a Difference magazine.
The right dinner guest can make an evening meal more entertaining and, sometimes, even provide life lessons for a family. Sarah Smiley decided to invite a different person to dinner each week for the year her Navy husband was deployed. But it was the night she and her three young sons were unexpectedly invited to dine with a couple at an assisted living center that made her realize how much a dinner invitation can change the way you see the world. […]
A magazine writer and editor for much of her career, Karen writes for and publishes Books Make a Difference online magazine.
She is often asked to write features or columns for various other publications and web sites as well. In this section, you’ll find links to samples of her work.
© 2018 - Karen M. Pavlicin-Fragnito