Karen Benke

Poet, Creative Nonfiction Writer

Mill Valley, CA
California US
Email: 
karen@karenbenke.com
Website: 
karenbenke.com

Author's Bio

Founder of The Writers Nest (an after-school hub for creatives of all ages) and long-time California Poet in the Schools, Karen Benke is the author of four books of writing adventures for children, tweens, teens, adults, and educators. All published by Roost/Shambhala/Penguin Random House: Rip ALL The Pages!, Rip The Page!, Leap Write In!, and Write Back Soon! are used internationally to inspire emerging and reluctant writers to play on and off the page.

Contributors to Karen's books include Neil Gaiman, Wendy Mass, Lemony Snicket, Avi, Annie Barrows, Naomi Shihab Nye, Lucille Cliffton, Jane Hirschfield, Gary Snyder, Natalie Goldberg, and many others.

Translations include: Chinese, Korean, and Russian.

Publications & Prizes

Creative Nonfiction

Books:
Rip ALL the Pages! 52 Tear-Out Adventures for Creative Writers (Shambhala Publications, 2019)
,
Write Back Soon: Adventures in Letter Writing (Penguin Random House, 2015)
,
Leap Write In! Adventures to Stretch & Surprise Your One-Of-A-Kind Mind (Shambhala Publications, 2013)
,
Rip the Page! Adventures in Creative Writing (Shambhala, 2010)

Poetry

Anthologies:
Nothing Short Of: Select Tales from 100 Word Story (Outpost19, 2019)
,
WomenPrayers (Harper Collins, 2003)
Book:
Sister (Confluence Press, 2004)
Journals:
Clackamas Literary Review
,
Hawai'i Pacific Review
,
Ploughshares
,
Poetry Daily
,
Poetry East
,
Poetry Magazine
,
Rattle
,
Runes: A Review of Poetry
,
Santa Clara Review
,
The Bark
,
The Ledge
,
Tiferet: A Journal of Spiritual Literature

Watch

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Prefers to work with: 
Children, Teachers
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
San Jose, CA
California
Raised in: 
San Francisco Bay Area / Central Valley, CA
California
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Oct 05, 2019