About
Hi, I’m Karen and I write fiction and nonfiction inspired by the green world.
In fiction, my stories launch from “what if” questions. Some say they have a touch of magic. My aim is to entertain readers through well written, compelling literary mysteries and thrillers. I’m the author of Harvesting the Sky and The Forgetting Flower (Woodhall Press), Song of the Tree Hollow (Red Madrona Media), and The Dark Petals of Provence (Woodhall Press, 2022).
In nonfiction, I write about how plants can help us heal from the stresses of daily life. Science tells us the green world relaxes our minds and bodies and I aim to explore how we can live more happily through our innate connection with nature. My forthcoming book, Leaf Your Troubles Behind: How to Destress and Grow Happiness Through Plants (Prometheus, 2022), melds my personal experience as a long time professional gardener with the latest science and practical activities to help readers heal through plants.
Featured Work
The Dark Petals Of Provence

Fresh off a divorce, April Pearce arrives in Provence to photograph its hidden places for a travel magazine. But on her first night in a lavender field, she accidentally snaps a teenager running in the distance covered in blood. When she enquires about him in the local village, no one wants to talk. They don’t like April and she can’t figure out why. As she witnesses other disturbing events, her concern for the teen grows, but the more she investigates, the more she’s threatened and her work vandalized. Then she meets some wealthy celebrities who may or may not help her. As April struggles to stand up for what’s right, she in turn reveals the shameful secret the village has kept hidden for years.
The Dark Petals of Provence is a thrilling mainstream novel rich with atmosphere and dark questions. It brings the beauty and culture of rural France to life while enticing readers with the magic and allure of plants. In the tradition of Joanne Harris’s Chocolat, The Dark Petals will not only entertain readers with its compelling plot but move people with its memorable characters and emotionally profound theme.
Other Works
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Leaf Your Troubles Behind: How to Destress and Grow Happiness Through Plants
2022
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Harvesting the Sky
2021
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The Forgetting Flower
2019
Awards and Recognition
- Third Place, The Dark Petals of Provence, Pacific Northwest Writers Association Novel Contest, 2020