for the press

Media & Press Kit

Everything producers, hosts, and event planners need to feature Karen—bio, photos, books, interview topics, and questions, ready to download.

One-Sheet (PDF)Full Bio (PDF)

Official Bio

Karen Kay Smith is an author, speaker, and life coach who helps people navigate loneliness and uncertainty while living between questions and answers. After spending more than fifteen years caring for her late husband through progressive illness, Karen understands the emotional weight of caregiving, grief, and life's unexpected detours. Today, she speaks and writes about caregiving, emotional health, eating disorders, grief, loneliness, and the power of meaningful connection.

She is the author of Nearsighted: Choosing to See Eating Disorders Differently and the upcoming Hope Has a Seat in Every Waiting Room. Through her writing, speaking, coaching, and retreats, Karen offers practical tools that help people communicate their needs, stay connected to God, build supportive relationships, and move forward with hope.

Karen Offers

Keynotes, workshops, and retreats for women’s events and conferences
Podcast and media interviews
Life coaching for women
Creative and reflective tools for emotional and spiritual wellness

Press Photos

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Books by Karen

Upcoming Book

Hope Has a Seat in Every Waiting Room

A compassionate guide for navigating life’s waiting room seasons—featuring confident communication, connecting with God, and building community.

Available Now

Nearsighted: Choosing to See Eating Disorders Differently

A fresh perspective on eating disorders that brings understanding, compassion, and hope to individuals and families.

Interview Topics

The Emotional Survival Guide for Life’s Waiting Rooms

Whether you’re waiting on a diagnosis, grieving a loss, navigating uncertainty, or watching someone you love suffer, learn practical ways to stay emotionally healthy while life feels on hold.

The Hidden Cost of Caregiving: When Caregiving Becomes Your Identity

After 15 years caring for her husband with progressive MS, Karen shares what caregiving quietly costs—emotionally, physically, relationally, and spiritually—and how caregivers can ask for help, reclaim their identity, and care for themselves without guilt.

The Wrong Things We Say to People with Eating Disorders (And What to Say Instead)

Many of the things we say with the best intentions can unintentionally increase shame and isolation for someone struggling with an eating disorder.

The Missing Piece in the Loneliness Conversation

Loneliness isn’t always a lack of people—it can be the inability to receive the support, compassion, and connection being offered.

Creativity Isn’t About Talent—It’s About Healing

Simple creative practices can calm the nervous system, help people process emotions, and create space for hope and healing during life’s hardest seasons.

Sample Interview Questions

Hope Has a Seat in Every Waiting Room

What inspired you to write Hope Has a Seat in Every Waiting Room?
What do you mean by a “waiting room,” and why does everyone experience one?
What does hope actually look like when nothing changes?

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Nearsighted: Choosing to See Eating Disorders Differently

What is the biggest misconception people have about eating disorders?
Why isn’t an eating disorder simply a matter of choosing to eat?
What are common things people say that unintentionally hurt someone in recovery—and what should we say instead?

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