Karen Benke is a poet and the author of four popular and imaginative books that focus on creative writing for kids and kids-at-heart. Karen has coached and mentored writers of all ages. She specializes in using creative techniques to help writers tap into memories and experiences and risk putting their hearts on the page. Karen has been a teacher and collaborator in California Poet in the Schools for over 20 years. She brings her “magic ticket bag” to book fairs and community events to write poems-on-the spot with kids. The teacher’s guide that accompanies Karen’s 2015 book, Write Back Soon! Adventures in Letter Writing, meets Common Core Standards for 6th grades and up and is used around the country. Karen’s poems have been published in numerous anthologies and she is the recipient of multiple grants and awards.
Website: www.karenbenke.com