Karen Leslie writes travel pieces, creative content, prose, lyrics, and fiction. Her writing appears in trade magazines, independent newspapers, blogs, and on various writing platforms. She received her Bachelor of Humanities in Multi-Media Journalism, with an emphasis in Marketing, Public Relations, and Literature from Penn State University, where she acted as Lion Ambassador while earning a 3.45 GPA. In 2014, Karen graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Writing (Fiction) from the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing.
As a Teaching Mentor, Karen currently is sending out When the Trees Go Silent to agents, a “book club,” psychological suspense novel, and actively submitting prose and short stories. She gives readings, leads workshops, and mentors writers. After years of adjunct teaching, Karen is now an Assistant Professor of Creative and Professional Writing. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania and lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, a professional songwriter.
In 2023, Karen Leslie and Memorist/Mentor Carolyn Flynn launched Stories and Songs: A Writing Retreat in Italy. You can follow Karen @karenlesliewriter, @thethinplaces, and @storiesandsongsretreat and @readthenwriteworkshop on Instagram or on Substack. And, for the record, she’s an Oxford comma kinda girl.
(Closed 2026). DBA The WordShop— Marketing Specialist/Writer/Editor. Karen takes “A Storytelling Approach” at her boutique marketing business to build bridges between businesses and their target markets. Industries/Clients: Travel & Tourism, Health & Wellness, Entertainment, Authors, Architectural Salvage, and Business Development.
Publishing: Menda City Review (2017 Winter Issue), Bucket List Publications, The Contributor (Nashville Street Paper), INSP (International Network of Street Papers), BNT Touring Magazine, BNT Travelogue, Williamson Business (online), various trade magazines, business social media platforms, and blogs. See Publications for non-exhaustive list.
Do you ever experience writer’s block?
No…I have plenty of long periods when I don’t write on paper. I’m always “writing” in my mind, so it feels like an endless ticker tape…At times, I am immobilized by the noisiness of life. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I don’t believe in writer’s block, at least, as far as I’m concerned. If I’m not writing, it’s usually a sign of having too much stimulus in my life, or too little life is being lived.
From an interview on on Spalding MFA Alumni blog: “A Day in the Life…”
Finding stories everywhere…
[Click any photo for slideshow]
