Member Spotlight: Karen A. Frenkel

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Writing is one of the most precise ways we can communicate with others. Sharing clear expressions of ideas, thoughts, and emotions is one of the great privileges of being human. When hearts and minds meet, we have the potential to heal the world.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Thankfully, I’ve never suffered terribly from writer’s block, but when I perceive that my writing is getting convoluted or choked, I walk away and do something completely different. I go for a walk, or play my flute, or paint. Or wash dishes! Anything to get another part of my brain working and give the other a rest for a while.

What is your favorite time to write? I write best in the morning, but I write throughout the day.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? “Unpack your heart, be bold, enjoy the process,” –Blanche Wiesen Cook

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? From a technical standpoint, for decades it has been great to write on a computer and to be able to instantly spellcheck and see changes. On the other hand, I have concerns about AI and a political climate that threatens freedom of the press.

‎ Karen A. Frenkel’s Family Treasures Lost & Found is out now with Post Hill Press.