Kara B. Wilson
Bio
Kara B. Wilson writes to empower readers and create moments of joy, compassion, and wonder. She's an Ann Whitford Paul Award Honoree and an active member of SCBWI and The Writing Barn. As a humor-and-heart writer, some of her stories feature outlandish shenanigans, while others illuminate creative thinkers finding hope in the dark. All of them offer strong read-aloud energy and conversational sparks.
A former educator, Kara earned an M.Ed and a B.A. in Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She's worn a variety of hats: English teacher, theater director, nonprofit program manager, consultant, and digital marketing strategist. She loves reading, traveling, and exploring the Pacific Northwest's misty trails and beaches with her husband and two chatty kids.
Fun Facts
Kara grew up with lots of girl power.
Kara started out as the baby of the family with three older sisters. When she was 5, her parents divorced. Both of her parents remarried, and she was lucky enough to end up with six sisters: three older and three younger.
Her hometown has more cows than people.
Kara grew up in beautiful Scott Valley, CA, where the ratio of cows to people is 5 to 1.
Kara became a writer in 2nd grade.
The assignment was to write a 1/2 page story. Kara wrote multiple pages and multiple drafts. When she got it back, her teacher had written 4 powerful words on it: "You are a writer." Kara had wanted to become a writer someday, but her teacher's words were all she needed to become one right then. She didn't need to be a grown-up. She just needed to write, and she's been doing so ever since.
Kara has worked with elementary, middle school, and high school students.
Kara taught English, drama, and writing classes for English learners, working with 6th-12th graders. She worked with elementary students through GATE and the YMCA, and she was a program manager for a nonprofit focused on empowering teens.
Kara moved 7 times in 8 years.
Although two of these moves were within the same city, others were bigger, like South Dakota to Oregon and California to Washington. As a military spouse, Kara has learned so much from other military families who've gone through huge changes and challenges.
2 things Kara couldn't live without: her passport and her library card
Both her travels abroad and the books she has read have expanded Kara's world. She has been humbled by the generosity of refugees, and marveled at her students' insights in the U.S. and abroad. She is often excited by all that there is to learn from the world and each other. Thanks to her wonderful local library, she can keep learning every day.
Recognition
Ann Whitford Paul Award
Honorable Mention
In 2020, DEAR NEW KID was awarded one of two Honorable Mentions for the Ann Whitford Paul Award. Judges said it had "a strong child’s voice, gentle humor, and honest expressions of emotion."