Please check out my current website at:
karendaletrask.weebly.com
I am a writer of
Paranormal Suspense Fiction
Basically, when I write my stories
I start with a seed of truth
something that actually happened
and add in a spirit or two.
Because I believe that someone, somewhere
is always looking out for us.
Formerly a published author, now a writer.
A writer of screenplays.
"Everything has a way of coming full circle.
It takes patience and especially perseverance to see a dream through.
To close that circle.
Because some dreams, like some circles can be bigger than others."
- Karen Dale Trask -
If wishes were horses, I'd be riding around my ranch.
Paranormal Suspense Fiction
Basically, when I write my stories
I start with a seed of truth
something that actually happened
and add in a spirit or two.
Because I believe that someone, somewhere
is always looking out for us.
Formerly a published author, now a writer.
A writer of screenplays.
"Everything has a way of coming full circle.
It takes patience and especially perseverance to see a dream through.
To close that circle.
Because some dreams, like some circles can be bigger than others."
- Karen Dale Trask -
If wishes were horses, I'd be riding around my ranch.
THE BACKSTORY...
I grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, where people knew me as Karen Dale Stefaniak. I have no idea why I was named Karen Dale, but I'm thinking that my mother had her reasons which she never shared with me, and I never thought to ask, until it was too late to ask.
I come from strong Polish stock on both sides. Well, okay, Polish, Russian and German, depending on who was occupying the territory my ancestors were living in at the time. I'm among the second generation of both sides of my family to live in the United States. I was brought up with the work ethic of the "Old Country".
From a very young age I knew I wanted to be creative, and by the age of ten I realized that I enjoyed viewing things from different perspectives and that a camera felt very good in my hands. I wasn't much of an artist, I couldn't draw or paint, even though I did try to create a comic strip when I was in elementary school. I also enjoyed writing and creating plays that I would record on my reel-to-reel tape recorder.
I went through what I believe to be one of the best school systems in the country at that period in time. In addition to the school system, I have always felt very fortunate to have been raised in Dearborn for numerous reasons. Ironically, I have never owned a Ford.
I grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, where people knew me as Karen Dale Stefaniak. I have no idea why I was named Karen Dale, but I'm thinking that my mother had her reasons which she never shared with me, and I never thought to ask, until it was too late to ask.
I come from strong Polish stock on both sides. Well, okay, Polish, Russian and German, depending on who was occupying the territory my ancestors were living in at the time. I'm among the second generation of both sides of my family to live in the United States. I was brought up with the work ethic of the "Old Country".
From a very young age I knew I wanted to be creative, and by the age of ten I realized that I enjoyed viewing things from different perspectives and that a camera felt very good in my hands. I wasn't much of an artist, I couldn't draw or paint, even though I did try to create a comic strip when I was in elementary school. I also enjoyed writing and creating plays that I would record on my reel-to-reel tape recorder.
I went through what I believe to be one of the best school systems in the country at that period in time. In addition to the school system, I have always felt very fortunate to have been raised in Dearborn for numerous reasons. Ironically, I have never owned a Ford.
I have also always been interested in segmenting space, and intially went to college to study Interior Design. When a major had to be declared, I switched my major. I felt more comfortable in the classrooms of another department, where as the Interior Design department felt too much like the life I had left back in Dearborn.
Always seeking a new adventure, I went into Advertising, which probably had my mother rolling in her grave, and no doubt would have had a few nuns I knew shaking their heads. After graduation, I knew that a long-term career at an Advertising firm wasn't meant to be. Because while the Advertising Department felt more comfortable in college, the world of Advertising didn't feel as comfortable in the real world.
Let's just say...the nuns won.
After obtaining my Bachelor's Degree, I managed to use what I learned in college in a variety of other fields. After a four-year stint teaching a variety of art classes, I was also able to find work in the marketing or art departments of several small companies and large corporations.
My mother always felt that I would make a very good Adminstrative or Executive Assistant, and I believe she would have been happy with my accomplishments in that area as well. My father thought I would make an excellent dental hygenist. Sorry, Dad, that wasn't ever on the list of things I wanted to do in my life.
Always seeking a new adventure, I went into Advertising, which probably had my mother rolling in her grave, and no doubt would have had a few nuns I knew shaking their heads. After graduation, I knew that a long-term career at an Advertising firm wasn't meant to be. Because while the Advertising Department felt more comfortable in college, the world of Advertising didn't feel as comfortable in the real world.
Let's just say...the nuns won.
After obtaining my Bachelor's Degree, I managed to use what I learned in college in a variety of other fields. After a four-year stint teaching a variety of art classes, I was also able to find work in the marketing or art departments of several small companies and large corporations.
My mother always felt that I would make a very good Adminstrative or Executive Assistant, and I believe she would have been happy with my accomplishments in that area as well. My father thought I would make an excellent dental hygenist. Sorry, Dad, that wasn't ever on the list of things I wanted to do in my life.
Before I fast-forward from the backstory to the present day, I will finish up this backstory by saying that when I was about 10 years old while sitting on a tiny square of concrete that was the front porch of the house I grew up in, I came up with several big dreams for myself. By-the-way, it was the porch of the very same house where I saw my first apparition! And yes, it was the first of many encounters with the paranormal over the years, which is why I write about the paranormal!
So back we go to the porch and my dreams, and my big dream "to-do" list... I wanted to be creative, travel the world, and own a lot of land. By my 50th year, all of my big dreams had come true. I had the privilege to travel to many countries and continents, and I was even able to circumnavigate the globe by the ripe old age of seventeen, thanks be to Dad. I am also an accomplished artist, designer, photographer and published author. And last, but not least, by biggest dream came true...my husband and I own the ranch land of my dreams.
You may have run into a quote by me while cruising the internet which sums up how it all happened...
"Everything has a way of coming full circle. It takes patience and especially perseverance to see a dream through...to close that circle. Because, some dreams, like some circles, can be much bigger than others."
In other words, I never gave up, and am very thankful to everyone who helped me to achieve my goals, to allow me to take the road less traveled. I know I most certainly did not do it all alone. I just believed that I could, and I would, someday, accomplish my goals, and apparently that was enough for "them" and for me.
As most indie authors will probably tell you, I don't make my living writing. I have always had a day job, in part because I want to use all my talents and skills to help others succeed in their dreams, just as others helped me by using their talents and skills. So I write when the spirit moves me, or my characters just won't leave me alone, because they want me to come up with another adventure we can all go on together. I usually come up with these ideas for our new adventures while I'm out walking on my land in New Mexico.
The photo at the very top of this page is the view from the front meadow of my ranch in New Mexico, which I've aptly named, The T-Square Ranch. The jeans, denim jacket and cowboy boots that I'm wearing in the picture directly above (taken on the porch of my childhood home approximately six years ago) is probably making a whole lot more sense now, right?
We're officially back to the present, so I would just like to say that...
I always enjoy hearing from my readers and you can contact me using the form below. I am available to speak to book clubs, or art and writing groups, also groups interested in the paranormal. I also enjoy doing motivational speaking, and apparently, it's yet another thing I'm pretty good at! I'll be the one decked out in denim and cowboy boots!
So back we go to the porch and my dreams, and my big dream "to-do" list... I wanted to be creative, travel the world, and own a lot of land. By my 50th year, all of my big dreams had come true. I had the privilege to travel to many countries and continents, and I was even able to circumnavigate the globe by the ripe old age of seventeen, thanks be to Dad. I am also an accomplished artist, designer, photographer and published author. And last, but not least, by biggest dream came true...my husband and I own the ranch land of my dreams.
You may have run into a quote by me while cruising the internet which sums up how it all happened...
"Everything has a way of coming full circle. It takes patience and especially perseverance to see a dream through...to close that circle. Because, some dreams, like some circles, can be much bigger than others."
In other words, I never gave up, and am very thankful to everyone who helped me to achieve my goals, to allow me to take the road less traveled. I know I most certainly did not do it all alone. I just believed that I could, and I would, someday, accomplish my goals, and apparently that was enough for "them" and for me.
As most indie authors will probably tell you, I don't make my living writing. I have always had a day job, in part because I want to use all my talents and skills to help others succeed in their dreams, just as others helped me by using their talents and skills. So I write when the spirit moves me, or my characters just won't leave me alone, because they want me to come up with another adventure we can all go on together. I usually come up with these ideas for our new adventures while I'm out walking on my land in New Mexico.
The photo at the very top of this page is the view from the front meadow of my ranch in New Mexico, which I've aptly named, The T-Square Ranch. The jeans, denim jacket and cowboy boots that I'm wearing in the picture directly above (taken on the porch of my childhood home approximately six years ago) is probably making a whole lot more sense now, right?
We're officially back to the present, so I would just like to say that...
I always enjoy hearing from my readers and you can contact me using the form below. I am available to speak to book clubs, or art and writing groups, also groups interested in the paranormal. I also enjoy doing motivational speaking, and apparently, it's yet another thing I'm pretty good at! I'll be the one decked out in denim and cowboy boots!