Personal
Portfolio

Browse through my portfolio to view writing samples such as
special interest articles, research articles, news and feature stories,
interviews, biographies, public relations writing, technical writing,
fiction, and literary non-fiction.


You'll also find some of these works on the Client Portfolio page.

For a complete list of publications, see Karen's CV

back to About Karen Page

Non-Fiction Books - published and in progress

Escaping Scientology: An Insider's True Story - in progress

Experiencing Creativity: Breaking Free from Spiritual Abuse and the Emergence of the Secret Creative Self - in progress

Baker Dictionary of Cults - forthcoming, 2011. Five entries. Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI.

Seven Secrets to Timeless Beauty (2005). Co-authored with Norma Day. Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR.

Personal Interest articles

Creativity, Arts, Writing and Teaching Writing

"From the fire to a blessing field: Transitioning from an unhealthy relationship to a life of creativity"

"My philosophy of teaching writing"

"Ways of Writing I and II: A Literacy Synthesis for College Composition"

"What Else Do We Need to Know About Writing?"

 

Cultic Studies

Boeri, M. and Pressley, K. "Creativity and Cults from Sociological and Communication Perspectives: The Processes Involved in the Birth of a Secret Creative Self." Cultic Studies Review, (forthcoming August 2010). Vol 9, No. 1. pp. 1 - 39.

Book summary - John Lardas' The Bop Apocalypse - The Religious Visions of Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Burroughs (with notes on Burroughs as an ex-Scientologist)

"Christian Science: A Religious Matrix"

"Illness and Medical Treatment from Scientology and Christian Science Perspectives: A Colntrast and Comparison of Views"

Janja Lalich,Ph.D., author, cult expert, and associate professor of sociology, University of California at Chico
"Cadre Fighter Becomes Repairer of the Soul" - Interview will be published in Karen's forthcoming book, Experiencing Creativity: Breaking Free from Spiritual Abuse and the Emergence of the Creative Self.

"Out of Scientology's Labyrinth." (2008). Areopagus Journal. Birmingham, AL.: Apologetics Resource Center.
Originally published at North American Mission Board Interfaith & Apologetics website, www.4truth.net

"Scientology from a Christian Perspective"

"Silencing the Voices: The Church of Scientology's Justifications in Keeping Its Critics Quiet."

Terms, theories, models of Cultic Studies - compilation

 

Literature & Cultural Commentary

"An Apocalypic Paradigm: Religious Improvization of the Beats vs. Religious Fundamentalism"

"Diane di Prima: A Voice at the heart of the 1950s Beat Revolution"

"Hettie Jones: On Becoming Something, Anything Whatever That Means"

"Lawrence Ferlinghetti: Tool of War Turned Warrior for Freedom"

"The Quintessential Jazz-Surrealist-Dadaist Poet Bob Kaufman: His Beat Aesthetics and Poetic Art of Dissent"

"Tim Wise speaking at KSU" blog post

 

Women's Development & Cultural Issues

"Bag Lady of North Georgia" short feature

"Finding purpose in the power of choice" opinion editorial

"From the fire to a blessing field: Transitioning from an unhealthy relationship to a life of creativity" research article

"Astrid Pregel speaks on Feminomics at KSU" and feature story for Siegel Institute

Rhonda Ridley, The White House Project, interview - "Add Women, Change Everything."

The Phenomenal Women's Conference 2008 program

"Russia's Economic Demise: The Wages of Wasting Women"

"The White House Project partners with the Siegel Institute to advance women" feature story

Women's History Month Celebration, 2009, Cobb County, GA. - Speaker biographies: Lynda Coker, Victoria Chastain, Alisha Thomas Morgan, Dorothy Robinson, and Betty Siegel - Sponsored by the YWCA and League of Women Voters.

"Women surviving in tough times - Atlanta Mayor's roundtable" - feature story

Interviews - academic, business, leadership

Robert Lipson, M.D., CEO, WellStar Health Care Systems - "A ' Portrait of the World' comes to KSU"

KSU President Dan Papp and Authentic Leadership

Deborah Roebuck, Ph.D., Executive Director, Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character, Kennesaw State University

Betty Siegel, Ph.D., President Emeritus, Kennesaw State University; Distinguished Chair, Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character
"President Emeritus Addresses Global Ethics and Leadership" - KSU Access Online Press Room, Jan. 4, 2008

Rick Sutton, Ph.D., Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character, Kennesaw State University - "Intercultural Communicator Contributes to Best Practices in International Education from Kennesaw State University's Siegel Institute" - www.kennesawstateuniversity/siegelinstitute November, 2009

Eric Ray Teague, Costume Designer, interview - "Award-winning KSU Costume Designer First in Georgia History" - The Sentinel, KSU

James Wanserski, Forensic Accountant - "Real Life Fraud-Buster Speaks at KSU" - The Voice Newsletter, Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character, KSU, 2006.

Dr. Birgit Wassmuth, Chair, Communication Dept., Kennesaw State University"Communication Department Moves to New Heights"

Amy Whitley, Vice President of Organizational Development, UPS - "UPS Achieves High Marks as 'Good Corporate Citizen.' Organizational Development VP Amy Whitley Shares Strategies for Success at January Event" - The Voice Newsletter, Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character, KSU, 2007.

Dr. Dorothy Zinsmeister, Interim Executive Director, Siegel Insitute for Leadership, Ethics & Character, Kennesaw State University

Home Construction & Design - interviews & feature articles

About Laura Creek, architectural designer Tom Markovic

J.L. Brooks, CEO, Brooks Construction: "JL Brooks Construction: A Treasure in the Heart of Cobb and Paulding County Communities" - Building Edge Magazine,

Beverly Henry, CEO, Beverly Henry Homes. "Beverly Henry visioneers her way to excellence in home building."- Building Edge Magazine

Larry Kambas, President, BuildersJobDone.com - "Connecting the Dots for the Building Industry" - Building Edge Magazine

Ben Lively, Jr., President, Cliftwood Homes - "Opportunity Knocks for Quality Homes, Quality People: Cliftwood Homes" - Building Edge Magazine,

Ben & Bonnie Nelson, Owners, Ben Nelson Contracting - "A Gourmet Blend of Building Services: Ben Nelson Contracting" - Building Edge Magazine, Dec. 2005

Ryland Homes Corporation - "Ryland Homes: America's Homebuilder Spotlights Atlanta on Nationwide Horizon" - Building Edge Magazine

Fiction

Short stories
"Birthday Dinner"

Novel ghostwriting

(names changed to protect client's work) Developed a 55-page treatment into a 650-word historical fiction novel
"Chapter 9 - Charles Wellington"

Technical Writing, Public Relations Writing, and Desktop Publishing

Please see the client's portfolio section of this website for my samples

 

 

Contact Karen Pressley
678-640-0535
gkpressley@att.net