There is a rhythm to the labour ward. The air pulses with fear, hope, and the sudden, piercing cry of new life. Once, that rhythm was the soundtrack to my days. I spent long hours training and working as a midwife in the NHS, sharing the sacred space where families are born. But life has a way of offering new paths when we least expect them.

My journey from healthcare professional to the world of fiction and poetry has been a fascinating progression. I have moved from catching babies to catching stories. Both vocations require patience, a steady hand, and a deep respect for the human experience.

The Call to Serve and the Call to Write

In 2013, I made the big decision to return to university at the age of forty-eight. Training to become a midwife after raising seven children was more than a career change: it was a calling. I felt a profound sense of vocation to support women during one of the most intense periods of their lives. That time spent as a midwife, and later as a health visitor and pregnancy yoga teacher, gave me the invaluable privilege of witnessing the raw strength of women.

I was present for moments of incredible joy and heart-wrenching sorrow. I saw mothers birthing in their own power, and participated in the struggles of an overstretched and sometimes failing hospital system. These experiences stayed with me after I left the NHS, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

During the isolation of the Covid pandemic, I began to write. Like many others, I found myself searching for a way to process the changing world. What started as a hobby to pass the time quickly evolved into a passion: I loved writing, and I began shaping stories to share with the world.

Fiction Rooted in Reality

My debut novel, The Last Midwife, is a feminist dystopian thriller, but its roots are firmly planted in the reality of my experiences as a healthcare professional. The story is set in a chilling vision of England where childbirth has become a state-controlled procedure, and midwives have been outlawed. This might sound extreme, but the themes of the book are entirely real: the importance of women’s choices, the sanctity of birth, and the fight for freedom.

I have created a page-turning thriller which I hope readers will enjoy, while also pausing to consider the importance of human life, women's freedom, and the crucial role of the midwife in securing both.

While fiction allows us to explore "what if," I also felt the need to document "what was." This is why I compiled I Used To Be A Midwife: Birth Stories and Poems. This collection of short stories and poems draws on my time in the profession and pays tribute to some of the families I served. It captures both the wonder and joy of midwifery, and some of the darker sides of hospital life which eventually led to me leaving. This little book is available free for all readers joining my  community at Karen Lawrence Author.

Finding Beauty, Truth, and Goodness

My writing is not just shaped by medical charts and delivery rooms. It is deeply informed by my academic background and spiritual life. With three degrees in English Literature, including a PhD on Religious Faith in the Victorian Novel, I have always been fascinated by how stories carry truth. I am constantly on a quest to uncover beauty, truth, and goodness in a world that often seems chaotic.

This search frequently takes me outdoors. I am a keen walker
and sea swimmer, and you can often find me dipping in the chilly waves of the British coast or pacing ancient paths. My memoir, Walking to Walsingham: My Pilgrimage to England's Nazareth, documents a physical and spiritual journey to the very heart of everything I believe in. Walsingham is a place of deep spiritual resonance for me; a reminder of the enduring power of faith.

When I am not writing, hiking, or caring for my family, you might find me at our family caravan in Suffolk. There is something about the open sky and the rhythm of the tides that feeds the creative process. It is in these quiet moments that the characters for my next stories begin to speak.

A Pledge for Representation

My family is crucial to my writing journey.  As a mother and grandmother, I am intimately concerned with the daily lives of families. Each of my seven children and two grandchildren is a precious gift and constant inspiration. Our youngest daughter has Down syndrome, and her presence in our lives has taught us more about love and humanity than any textbook ever could.

I have noticed a lack of authentic representation for people with disabilities in the fiction I love to read.  Because of this, I have pledged that every novel I write will include at least one character with Down syndrome. This is not about ticking a box. It is about reflecting the world as I know it: a world where people with disabilities are integral, valuable, and present members of the community. I am currently planning a sequel to The Last Midwife where the central character will be a woman with Down Syndrome.

Bringing It All Together

Transitioning from the ward to the page has been an adventure I never fully anticipated, yet it fits perfectly with my values. Whether it is through a dystopian thriller that challenges the status quo or a poem that captures the silence of a night shift, my goal remains the same. I want to uphold women, celebrate life, and tell stories that matter.

If you are intrigued by the intersection of healthcare, faith, and fiction, or if you simply love a good story grounded in lived experience, I invite you to join me. I have so much more to share. You can begin by reading the stories in my free collection, I Used To Be A Midwife. It is my gift to thank you for joining me on the journey.
Visit  Karen Lawrence Author to claim your copy and stay updated on my latest releases. I look forward to welcoming you into my world of words, waves, and wonder.