Press Kit

Karen Lawrence is a mother and grandmother, living in Billericay, Essex, UK. She has seven grown-up children and two grandchildren (so far!).

Karen started writing during the Covid pandemic and hasn’t stopped! She has just published her feminist dystopian thriller, The Last Midwife. She has also written a book about finding calm, a memoir about having a child with Down syndrome, and the story of her walking pilgrimage to Walsingham. She is currently working on two new novels, as well as a book of poetry.

When she isn’t writing, Karen loves walking, swimming in the sea, and relaxing at the family caravan in Suffolk. Karen has three degrees in English Literature, including a PhD on Religious Faith in the Victorian Novel.

Karen previously trained and worked as a midwife in the NHS. After leaving this role she became a health visitor, pregnancy yoga teacher and antenatal instructor. She remains passionate about empowering women to have life-enhancing birth experiences.

Karen is a Catholic Christian, on a lifelong quest to discover beauty, truth and goodness. She is fascinated by medieval art, stories of faith, and ancient pilgrimage routes. She hopes one day to complete the Camino de Santiago from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela.

Karen's youngest daughter has Down Syndrome, and Karen is a keen advocate for people with disabilities and their families and carers. She has pledged to include at least one character with Down syndrome in every one of her novels.