Welcome Author Karen Greenwald – Giveaway Alert

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It’s a joy to share my interview with Karen Greenwald today. Her debut picture book, A VOTE FOR SUSANNA, THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR, illustrated by Sian James released on Friday with a virtual celebration hosted by the National Women’s History Museum which also featured two other amazing books about brave women who made a difference. Attendees of the launch included grandchildren and great grandchildren of Susanna Salter which made for a special morning for everyone! Karen and I have become online friends and on the phone friends which has led to so many bonding moments where we’ve shared both laughter and tears. I cannot wait until travel is back to normal and we can meet in real life. I’m pretty sure she has a guest room waiting for me and I have mine ready any time she’s willing to brave the altitude. Karen is the cofounder of a writing contest #SunFunWrite and you can find out more about that below.

Karen is generously offering one lucky winner a picture book critique. Comment on the blogpost to enter the giveaway.

What were you like at the age of your target audience?

I had a lot of love for art, reading, World Magazine, family, and friends (not much has changed!). I was both a very social butterfly and a “bookworm.”

This picture of Karen is younger than her target audience but it’s too cute not to share!

What inspires you?

That is such a hard question to answer! Honestly, so many things inspire me from a quirky post on Twitter to an advertisement, an act of kindness, a dog doing something adorable (as you know), a moment that history ignored, a human-interest story on the news, a cause I’d like to support (like #SunWriteFun did for “Reader to Reader” and WNDB), friendship, historical political moments, museums, art history…how many blog posts can I fill here? Lol! 

Basically, I think inspiration abounds (this remind me of the movie August Rush where the little boy says he feels music everywhere!) The difference for me between feeling it and committing to writing it happens when I realize I’ve planned out most of the story in my mind. If I can visualize the complete project, I must write it. 

What’s something you hope readers take away from your book?

There are so many lessons in this true-life story. I’ll try to consolidate! First, a person’s gender should never be used to determine their capacity for success. Susanna was more than qualified for the role as mayor. She had college education (in fact, entered as a sophomore at 17!), “parliamentary training,” and often helped her husband/town clerk with his duties. She deserved to serve! Yet domestic and international newspapers spent a great deal of ink on her size, appearance, housekeeping talents, and weight. Second, pranking someone to cause them humiliation is a form of bullying. Third, equity was/is possible. Susanna won by a landslide. Oskaloosa, Kansas voted in an entire female government one cycle later (their “all female” government took the town out of financial distress) because of her victory!

What’s next for you?

Uncovering more stories that history pushed aside! 

To find out more about Karen, her books and more events featuring A VOTE FOR SUSANNA, THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR:

Website: www.karengreenwald.com Twitter and Instagram: @karenmgreenwald

Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21165234.Karen_M_Greenwald

Published by authorlaurablog

I'm a reading specialist and award winning educator from Chicago. While living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for nine years, I spent time hiking on the trails with my Goldendoodle Charlie and friends, writing, working in a literacy program at the Boulder Public Library, and mentoring writers and teachers. I love visiting schools. My books combine STEM and Kindness. "Aliana Reaches for the Moon" a picture book that draws inspiration from the moon and the curiosity of children, inviting children to be creative, explore, and experiment. "An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story" a picture book told in the form of a newscast which skillfully balances the serious subject of forest fires with compassion and humor to help children navigate this important topic through the real events of 2020. I moved to Northern New Jersey in 2025 and am working on new projects.

23 thoughts on “Welcome Author Karen Greenwald – Giveaway Alert”

    1. Elizabeth, thanks for reading. This is such a cool story and Karen did a fabulous job working with Susanna’s family and experts from her town in Kansas to get the story just right! Good luck in the giveaway.

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    2. Thanks so much, Elia! There is another event at the Musuem on November 10th, if you are interested. Her descendants really enjoyed the event, too!

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    1. Michal, thank you for reading. This is such a fascinating story but even better with the way Karen presented it in A VOTE FOR SUSANNA. I mentioned it to an indie bookseller this morning and she hadn’t heard of it but is now ordering it! Yay

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