As a young girl in western Upstate New York, I spent countless delicious hours exploring the lakes, rivers, and woodlands where I grew up—but my true creative adventures began when I discovered my passion for poetry.
 

In my early twenties, I studied English Literature and Philosophy at the University of Rochester, living the life of a full-time writer, and homesteading a fifty-acre farm on Canadice Lake in the Finger Lakes region.

 

This didn't put much bread on the table, but I soon discovered that this sensibility lent itself perfectly to the medium of film. In Los Angeles, after working as executive assistant to NBC CEO Grant Tinker and President Brandon Tartikoff, I co-founded an animation company that created “Kissyfur” and “Foofur,” two hit Saturday morning shows for NBC, and many concepts for toys, books, television, and film production.
 

I also discovered that I had a distinct flair and passion for marketing. From merchandising and promoting my own TV shows, I learned the principles of bringing complex concepts successfully to their target audience.

 

In my early thirties, I had the honor and wonder of birthing a beautiful, talented daughter, Marina Leigh Mendez Williams, and helping raise an extended family of marvelous and wildly creative sons and daughters, all of whom I adore to this day. During that time, I also developed Satori, a permaculture farm and healing center in Kentucky, where I continued my life-long commitment as a self-avowed “Agricultural Anarchist.”

 

Much of my inspiration comes from everyday life. In fact, one day I was listening to my 5 1⁄2-year-old daughter, Marina Mendez, talking about all the troubles we had in moving from Los Angeles to Kentucky. From that came the concept for the animated series of shorts Troubles the Cat. "Troubles" premiered on Cartoon Network in 47 countries as part of the Jim Henson series “Big Bag” and was produced by Children’s Television Workshop, of Sesame Street fame.

 

Troubles the Cat is currently being developed as a half-hour series with celebrated storyteller, animator, and filmmaker R.O. Blechman, character designer Santiago Cohen, and producer Brian O'Connell.

 

Troubles led to a natural expansion of my focus to nurture other authors, illustrators and creators of children’s books, television and film. In my role as a “Literary Midwife” and founder of Koo Koo & Company, I traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe, presenting children's media concepts to major publishers and distributors and launching many careers.

 

In 2008, I discovered a new direction in the form of helping others express and put their stories into print, and created Azalea Art Press, now an imprint of Karen Mireau Books. To date, I have published over 100 diverse titles—including novels, poetry, picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction, and numerous memoirs.

 

It's been my bliss ever since—but I have never abandoned my love for the natural world. I  continue to plant gardens of nurturing food, flowers, and medicinal plants wherever I go. Alongside my husband, photographer Raymond Rimmer, I live in the wine country of Sonoma, California, where I continue to write, garden, paint, publish, and shower my friends, family, and grandchildren with unending love and affection.

 

As always, there are fascinating stories waiting to be told. I hope we get the chance to work together to allow your personal literary journey to begin.

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To schedule a free, half-hour phone consultation, please contact me here.

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