The WordShop

A Storytelling Approach

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Experience

Professional Experience

Present

The WordShop, Owner — Writer, PR & Marketing Specialist, Editor: Profiles/Interview, Travel Writing, Content Creation, Strategy and Branding.

Current Clients:

Bob Neff Tours, Inc. — Marketing Director, Writer, Travel Blog Curator, Graphic Design, Website Development Design & Content, Sales Management Support, Event Program Coordinator.

Franklin Wheelhouse — Profiles, Marketing, Website

Website Work — Martha’s Vineyard Songwriting Festival, Neon Publishing, Neon Music Management — WordPress Website Development & Design

SongTownUSA — Email Marketing, Graphic Design, Editing, Branding

Past

Writing/English Instructor—Western Kentucky University; private mentoring and tutoring

(Clients) Williamson Business — Business Marketing columns; C. Medford — Copywriting; Refindings — Marketing Specialist, Social Media, Website; Savvy Saver Card — Market Development Strategies, Branding, Content, Website Development; Olde York Homes — Website Design & Development; (Project) The Ethio-American Doctors Group — Promotional Print Materials, Graphic Design, Professional Writing; Logos Academy — Language Arts Instructor; Axxiom Healthcare — Medical Research Interviewer; YWCA of York — Public Relations Director.

Professional Development

SCORE Business Marketing and Mentorship Program; AWP — Volunteer, Attendee; Business Mentor — Consultant in Mobile Health (U.S. & Global); Travel South USA, Travel Journalist; Little Rock, AR Media Tour, Travel Writer; New Orleans, LA Media Tour of Jefferson Parish, French Quarter, Marketing & Travel Writer; Plattsburg, NY, Cider & Wine Festival, Visiting Travel Writer; Sumner County, TN, Visiting Travel Writer; Regional Media Focus Group — Marketing; ABA National Convention, Lancaster as DO — Sales & Marketing National Market Research Focus Group Participant

Writer

Publications & Presentations

Fiction & Travel Writing — Menda City Review, Bucket List Publications, BNT Touring Magazine, BNT Travel Blog

Profiles — Client Websites, Franklin Wheelhouse, The Contributor

Lecture — “Defining and Celebrating the Northern Voice,” “Becoming A Story Architect”

The Thin Places: A Short Story Collection, MFA Creative Thesis

“The Art of Compressed Narrative: Short Stories and Songs,” MFA Critical Thesis

Undergrad Lectures — “Writing Body Language Into Scene: A Lesson in Showing,” “Building A WordPress Website”

Workshop — “Unblocking the Writer Within”

Online Publications, Guest Blogs

Travel Trade Catalogs — Cover, Feature Articles Design & Content

Speaker/Poverty Advocate — Women’s Groups, Prison

Volunteerism

Storyteller’s Workshop for Teens – Franklin, TN

Creative Mornings, Nashville, TN

Penn State York Alumni Board/Association, Volunteer, PR Emphasis

Poetry Out Loud Judge, Logos Academy

World Vision, Contractual Volunteer Advocate

Motivational Speaker, Women’s Group, Prison

United Way Volunteer Advocate

Logos Academy Fundraiser: Upper School Team Leader

Supporting Member

NPR, Nashville Public Television, The Belcourt Theater, World Vision Child Sponsorship, The Mocha Club, The Porch.

Follow Me at The Thin Places

  • Bison-stuffed Poblano Chilis. 🌶 This recipe is adapted from a friend who grew up in the Southwest. It’s spectacular in taste and worth a little bit of assembly and firing the Green Egg. 4 poblano chilis...1lb ground bison...organic taco seasoning or your own combo...1/2 cup black beans...shredded almond or Monterey Jack cheese...Salsa...guacamole and sour cream...you can make any gluten free and dairy substitutions. Slice chili’s long ways in half. Remove seeds. Fire up the grill or @greenegg grill (best!) Steam or microwave chilis until pliable. Brown bison with 1/2 chopped onion. Remove from heat and allow to cool a little. Add seasonings, cheese, beans, and a few spoonfuls of salsa. Omit beans if you want to keep it low-carb. This will not be “soupy.” Spray heavy duty foil with olive oil. Put foil on a cookie tray to transport to and from grill. Lay down chili halves on foil so that they just touch. Fill with bison mixture. Transfer chilis and foil to grill, you want hot coals not flames. Grill about 5 minutes or until Smokey and hot and gooey. Top with guacamole, sour cream, OR a reduction of cream and salsa, whatever your preference. 2-3 halves is the usual serving. Delish Southwest dish!
  • How (and Why) to Write a “Love List” as Self-Care on Valentine’s Day. Put your oxygen mask on first, friends. I share mine so I hope you share yours! You can find the wiring exercise here: www.medium.com/@karenlesliewriter
  • Happy Valentine’s Day to my tender hearted, funny, brilliant, and ridiculously talented husband Clay Mills. Beautiful Mess is still one of my favorite songs! May you always put salt in your coffee where we’re concerned. ♥️😘🤗 #abeautifulmess @claymills2
  • Oh, Pho [fuh] I love theeeeeee...
  • The Perfect Dukan Diet Galette. I make this a few times a week at home or on the road. It’s gluten free, low fat, and low carb. This galette satisfies a bread or pancake urge—and I’ve turned most of my travel and writing buddies onto it. I sprinkle it with blueberries and cinnamon, then top it with monk fruit syrup @lakantosweetener You could sprinkle it with 85% chocolate if you want. Not that that’s yummy or anything. Just in case I have access to a kitchen, this recipe goes on the road with me, too! I just pack a ziplock of gluten free oat bran, grab eggs and a tub of Greek yogurt to stay on track. It fits on most eating plans as you can make it gluten-free, dairy free, and sugar-free. My digestion gets all wonky when I travel and this is a lifesaver... :) Every time I revamp my website, I take this with me because it’s one of the most popular. Go figs...here’s the recipe link. Please share if you like it! https://bit.ly/2GdVk75 or you can go to www.karenlesliewriter.com/category/recipes/ and find it easily. Let me know if you like it!
  • Here’s a winning horse’s perspective. How super cool is the Kentucky Derby Museum? Room after room of newsreels, scrapbooks, life size statues, and interactive displays. I can’t wait to go back and read every word and watch every video. It’s one long exciting story filled with stories. maybe the nearest thing is it’s a living history that continues. And if you want to be apart of that story somehow you still can! These are the most inspiring museum exhibits.
  • Alyssa Fox of Broadway’s Frozen. Wowza. Wowowowowow. Man, I miss NYC.
  • I’m breaking one of my selfie rules buuuuutttttt, I’m in love with my fascinator. Miss Janee helped me make this beaut at The Kentucky Derby Museum tonight! It’s like wearing a skirt...you just walk different in it. I think I had better posture, a mysterious 1940s smile, a je ne sais quoi. Ha! Anyway, I met jockey Pat Day and am now introduced to the Backside Learning Center that teaches and enriches the lives of many riders and their families behind the derby scenes. I’m planning to revisit the museum. It’s an immersive experience. Louisville got it goin on, folks. What a friendly, rich city! So, I’m just putting my Louisville and Spalding friends on notice: Karen has a Fascinator and she and her hubby will travel for a Derby party. (Wink. Wink.) Thanks for a lovely evening ABA.
  • I’m a fan of Linkin’ Bridge. Great harmonies and story!