SALT LAKE CITY, UT September 01, 2017
When Karen Peterson Mosley read the autobiography of Marie Madelaine Cardon Guild as a teenager, she began a love affair with historical writing that would change her life.
“It was a fascinating story of challenge and triumph by a courageous pioneer,” Mosley said. “She became my hero.”
Since that reading, Mosley has devoured many other works of historical fact and fiction. She has even done plenty of writing on her own, whether it was in her journal, speeches or magazine articles. But the teenaged-reading of Guild’s autobiography always stayed with her, and she sought a way to pay homage to her long-time hero.
One pioneer story Karen Mosley encountered in her readings was “These is my Words” by Nancy Turner. Mosley was inspired by this fictionalized diary and thrilled to find that the author was in her area. Inviting Turner to speak at her book club, Mosley listened to her publication story and writing process with excitement. This was what she needed to do.
“I began to study the history surrounding Marie Madelaine Cardon Guild’s adventures,” Mosley recalls,“researching dozens of journals, histories, life stories, ship and pioneering logs, historical documents and articles. I determined to share Marie Madelaine Cardon Guild’s family’s story of faith, danger, adventure, romance, hardship, joy and miracles in an entertaining and enjoyable style.” She began writing her novel, a historical fiction based on the life of this amazing woman.
When the time came to publish, Mosley found WiDo and E.L. Marker™ online. It was WiDo’s long experience with LDS authors and historically-themed publications that appealed to the author. Submissions editor, Joseph Jones, was very enthusiastic when he read Mosley’s manuscript.
“She’s a fine writer,” Jones said. “This story is inspirational and spiritual without overdoing it. It’s a well-researched, fascinating account that’s all the more engaging knowing it’s based on real people.”
The WiDo family of Publishers is thrilled to welcome Karen Peterson Mosley to its force of talented authors.
Born and raised in Arizona, Mosley loves sunshine, warm weather, and beautiful sunsets. She received a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Brigham Young University in 1977, graduating cum laude. She’s been a teacher, both at home and abroad, and loves to travel. She and her husband worked together raising five children and managing a dental practice. She now keeps herself busy with her musical theater interests, visiting her eighteen grandchildren and experiencing new adventures. Her hobbies include singing, piano, sewing, cooking, hiking, snorkeling, aerobic dancing, boogie boarding and reading. She currently lives in Lehi, Utah with her husband.
Mosley’s published article “My Career—Motherhood”, can be found at: https://www.lds.org/ensign/1994/10/random-sampler/my-career-motherhood?lang=eng
Her blog detailing her experiences living in China, can be found at: http://nonnypoppyadventures.blogspot.com
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