About
Karen Finneyfrock is the author of two young adult novels: The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door and Starbird Murphy and the World Outside, both published by Viking Children’s Books and both selected for the Junior Library Guild Awards. She is one of the editors of the poetry anthology Courage: Daring Poems for Gutsy Girls and the author of Ceremony for the Choking Ghost, both released by Write Bloody Publishing.
A recipient of residencies at Hedgebrook, Bloedel Reserve, Mineral School, and Helen R. Whiteley Center, Karen has also received grants from The City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, and Artist Trust.
Karen has competed on four National Poetry Slam Teams, acted as Host/Curator of the Seattle Poetry Slam for four years, toured nationally and internationally as a performance poet, and represented the US Department of State as a Cultural Ambassador.
In addition to writing, I love swimming and estate sales and building community. I think writers need other writers and a place to belong. I’d love to connect with you. Please reach out!
A former Writer-in-Residence at Hugo House in Seattle, Karen teaches their course in Yearlong Class in Young Adult & Middle Grade Fiction. She has also taught the Certificate Program in Young Adult Fiction at University of Washington and as a guest lecturer for the Oregon State University MFA program.
As a Teaching Artist, Karen has worked extensively with youth, teaching for Seattle Arts and Lectures’ Writers-in-the-Schools Program, Hugo House youth program, Young Women Empowered and Youth Speaks.