About the Author

​Karen was a teacher until it was time not to just read and share picture books but write them too. For her it's always about stories, books and children reading.

She lives by the sea in Shellharbour, Australia, where she snorkels with stingrays, whale watches and becomes a story spy in local coffee shops.

The best thing about being a children’s author is that you can be a child again. 

Always curious, Karen travels whenever she can. She dreams of swimming with whale sharks one day and hopes to visit the real castle in Germany that inspired Cinderella's castle.

Her website is https://www.karenhendriks.com where you can buy her books.

Lesson Summary

Karen, a children's book author, expresses her joy in writing picture books, influenced by her love for stories and children. She stresses the importance of offering hope and positivity to children through literature and finds therapy in writing, drawing from personal experiences like loss.

Karen discusses her meticulous approach to reviewing and editing manuscripts, ensuring chapter lengths and details are precise, and values manuscript assessment and feedback from writing groups. She points out the challenges of self-publishing, traditional publishing, and marketing, sharing insights on dealing with reviews and navigating the industry.

Morgen explores Karen's journey further into writing children's books. The importance of careful word crafting, passion and perseverance in writing is emphasised, highlighting the significance of storytelling.

Karen shares her experiences with publishing her books, including collaborations with illustrators and recent works: 'Feathers' and 'Home'.

The discussion covers successes in local book markets, experiences pitching at industry events, and Karen's upcoming picture book release.

The impact of governmental decisions on authors, the role of libraries in supporting writers, and the availability of books in various formats like e-books are also touched upon during their conversation.