“A person should always feel that he or she matters in life….”
That belief is a strong passion of mine. A personal one. Growing up in a boisterous Italian family (and as the youngest of five siblings), I wanted to be heard and to know that I mattered. However, trying to overpower older and well-intentioned family members can be a difficult task. Add domestic hardships to the mix, and well, a child can feel disregarded and isolated. So, at seven-years-old, and fueled by the riveting storytelling of my beautiful mother, I decided then that I would become a writer. I could then guarantee an outlet for my voice while creating imaginary worlds as an escape for myself and others.
However, my literary hurdles became extremely difficult to clear as I faced challenges from living in a steel-mill town where industry jobs were urged to pursue.
With a helpless feeling but a heartfelt prayer one difficult night, my desire to be “heard” was answered a short time later with my first award-winning story, Rocking Chair. Soon after, a parody, Goliath's Pizza, followed with another literary award for outstanding fiction by the National Writer’s Association and representation for film. For over fifteen years, my work has appeared all over the globe through different publishers such as Barbour, Integrity, Kings’ Syndicated Newspaper Column, Woman’s World magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul series and more.
My newest release, Tempting Faith, is the product of my longer fiction desires, written between teaching creative writing, inspirational speaking, and my duties as President of the Tri State Writers Society and Academy of Lifelong Learning instructor.
In 2017, I had been nominated for the AMG Author of the Year Heritage Award, an honor I won, and then won again in 2018. Months later, I received a surprising letter from Ohio’s House of Representatives detailing a heartfelt account of my volunteer work, and also, congratulating me for receiving the Author of the Year Award. It named me one of Ohio’s Finest Citizens, an honor I embrace respectfully.
“Turning ordinary words into extraordinary worlds.”
- Karina Garrison
I am, indeed, blessed, especially as I reflect on nostalgic days beside my mother on a weathered porch swing.
In closing this “About Me” section, a universal fact is that life isn’t always kind. Yet, isn’t it the silver linings and gratitude for each drawn breath that protects the core of one’s heart?
I believe that learning well from life’s lessons can inspire others, and that’s my literary goal—to bring hope and healing to others in an honest and identifiable way.
So I continue on…pushing forward.
It’s with words, my number 3 muse, and coffee by my side that I write as passionately as I live. Full throttle. No mediocrity.
Mark Twain once said, "You can't see clearly when your imagination is out of focus."
I am determined to always see clearly.