Twentieth Anniversary of the Publication of Blessings: Adventures of a Madcap Christian Scientist

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

Exactly 20 years ago today I published my first book on Amazon, Blessings: Adventures of a Madcap Christian Scientist. This first book still has a special place in my heart. So many loved ones supported and encouraged me as I put Blessings together: I think it was my friend, Marjorie, who first told me about print-on-demand publishing companies and encouraged me to look into getting my book in print; Mel, the wife of the man who had saved my dad and his teammates on K2 in 1953, was instrumental in keeping me going – every time I’d hit a glitch she would call me out of the blue – like magic! – to tell me how much she was looking forward to seeing my book in print; and other friends took the time to read my manuscript and give me helpful feedback. I completed the manuscript in time to give typed copies to my mom, and my aunts Junie and Elsie for Mother’s day in 2005. And on August 9, 2005, I published it with CreateSpace – an Amazon publishing company.

After I published it, friends encouraged me to submit it to the Writer’s Digest people to get feedback on it. Their feedback was encouraging:

“Blessings” subtitle, “Adventures of a Madcap Christian Scientist,” draws immediate attention to the book, and , as it turns out, proves a very apt choice. Ms. Terrell’s sense of humor is appealing on many different levels throughout, and is a most welcome addition often found lacking in similar books. The introduction does a good job of explaining who the author is and why she wrote her book; likewise, the linear notes on the back cover peak the reader’s interest. The book’s length is just about right for an inspirational title, short enough to read in one sitting if desired. From a technical standpoint, the author has clearly studied the craft of writing: her style is smooth and easy to read. Blessings is a book that should have wide appeal to readers of all – or no religious background.

On the downside: The cover of this book leaves much to be desired. In short, it is bland and unappealing – completely the opposite of the content.

***

(I hadn’t even known that the cover was going to be part of the feedback.)

A year or so later, I republished my book (with a new cover), and then, when there were a couple other books in the series, I changed the cover again so all the books in the series looked like they belonged together.

Blessings has brought so many new friends into my life and connected me with people all over the world. Blessings has been a blessing to me.

An AI-generated review on Amazon says: “Customers say
Customers find the book inspirational, particularly appreciating its prayerful approach to life. They describe it as heartwarming and an interesting memoir, with one customer noting how the author shares her life stories with joy. The writing style receives positive feedback for being beautifully written, and customers value the author’s honesty in sharing her experiences.

Inspirational message Heartwarming story Writing style Honesty”

***

Here are some actual human reviews:

RobertJ

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you Karen for Writing this Book

Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2009

Verified Purchase

To echo the reviews of others, I did laugh, I did cry, this book touched my soul. My wife and I read it out loud on a snowy New Hampshire day and there were numerous times when I had to pause as the lump formed in my throat. I’ve been a Christian Scientist for most of my adult life and this book tells my story and the story of many fellow travelers. I recommend this book highly for anyone who would like to see how prayer can make a difference in your life, in ways both large and small.

5.0 out of 5 stars Light-hearted book packs a powerful punch

Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2010

First, I confess that prior to reading this book, I had run into the author on Amazon’s discussion forums and was smitten by her genuinely effervescent and kind personality. When I heard she had written a book, I was excited to get my hands on it.

Terrell’s gentle, humorous journal introduced Christian Science to me, and I read this while going through a particularly dark period in life. Her words flow easily over everyday situations while imbuing an underlying spirituality, all without a trace of condescension or arrogance – just awe and appreciation for life. Her alternating reference, probably reflecting the view of Christian Science, to God as either She or He, was acutely refreshing, as I’ve struggled with (among other things) Abrahamic religions’ emphasis on maleness.

I connected with “Blessings” because the author effortlessly lets the reader into her world. She helped remind me of the vast diversity of spiritual experiences in our world when I was ready to give up on the idea.

Fred Lloyd

5.0 out of 5 stars One of a kind

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2007

One reviewer recommends this book to those who may need a lift. I recommend this book for anyone including, devoted Christian Scientists. When I came across it I wondered if it would be appropriate as a Christmas gift to my wife who is a Christian Scientist. I think it is a wonderful sharing. Karen becomes your friend, someone you know and love and you know if she knew you, she would love you the way you want to be loved. I may be wrong, but I don’t believe anyone else could have written this book. It is a stand alone item that gives us a window of life that is rare indeed.

Lisa Kristy

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2013

Verified Purchase

Karen has touched my soul with her heartwarming and hilarious rendition of the road less traveled. Everyone I know has had to listen to me go on and on about how great a read this is! Whether you want to laugh, cry, or just smile about life again, read this!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars All the great reviews influenced me … and they were right!!!

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2011

Verified Purchase

OK, after reading the reviews, I thought this might make a nice Christmas present for a friend. When it arrived I decided to “peek” at a few pages, but couldn’t put it down. I finished reading it in one sitting. But how to review the book is a challenge. It leaves you with such a joyful uplifted feeling and one of appreciation and relevance. At first I found myself saying, “I want to know this woman” and after I finished the book I felt I did.

Karen brings very positive reinforcement into the reader’s experience and the easy flowing style just melts in your mouth like comfort food. I found dozens of instances where I saw a parallel in my own life, that were entertaining and inspirational in a down to earth sort of way.

I’m wearing a smile having read this and can’t think of a better way to pass an evening than this quick roller-coaster ride through another’s eyes of refreshing gratitude.

It touched my heart and soul. Highly recommended.

It’s Been Twenty Years Since I Published This Book

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

It’s been 20 years since I published Blessings: Adventures of a Madcap Christian Scientist. I remember giving bound copies of my manuscript to my mom and my aunts for Mother’s Day. It was a way for me to honor them – to honor the lives they lived and the good they brought into my life by exemplifying what it means to live with kindness and integrity.

But I also wrote Blessings because I wanted to share with my friends what being a “Christian Scientist” meant for me. When a friend who had known me for years asked me, “If I was hit by a car and was bleeding in the street, would you just pray over me and let me bleed to death?!” I realized that she was burdened with a huge misconception about me, and about my beliefs. It shocked and saddened me. I assured her that I would do everything I needed to do for her humanly – I’d use my First Aid and CPR training; I’d call 9-1-1. And I would also be praying.

I felt the need to demystify this way of life for my friends.

Fittingly, Blessings has brought many blessings into my life! Through my book I’ve met new friends from a wide array of religions and non-religions – atheists and agnostics, Methodists, LDS, Lutherans, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Pagans, Catholics, Unitarian Universalists. It was through *Blessings* that I was first invited to speak at the local UU fellowship (I’ll be making my fifth trip there as a speaker next November.) And through my book I’ve met other CSists who share a similar “take” on this way of life.

Here’s the Introduction to Blessings: Adventures of a Madcap Christian Scientist:

Years ago an old boyfriend said to me, “I can’t see that Christian Science has made you any better than anyone else.”

“I know!” I said, nodding my head in complete and happy agreement, “But can you imagine what I’d be like without it?!”

He raised his eyebrows and laughed. What could he say? He was looking at a self-centered, moralistic, stubborn idealist who saw everything in terms of black and white. But I could have been worse. I believe without Christian Science I would have been worse.

Let’s get one thing clear from the start: I am not the best example of a Christian Scientist. I’m not as disciplined as I could be. I have fears and worries and doubts. I’m a little neurotic. I am the Lucy Ricardo of Christian Scientists.

I should probably put in a disclaimer here, too—the views expressed in these pages are not necessarily the views shared by other Christian Scientists. Christian Scientists are really a pretty diverse group of people—there are Democrat Christian Scientists and Republican Christian Scientists, “Green,” and “Red,” and “Blue” Christian Scientists, and Christian Scientists with no political affiliations at all. Frankly, I like that about us. We keep each other on our toes.

I should also tell you that this book is not an authorized piece of Christian Science literature. If you want to actually study Christian Science you should probably read the textbook for this way of life, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.

My purpose for writing this epistle is really two-fold (I don’t think I’ve ever used the word “two-fold” in my life, and using it now is making me feel sort of professorial. I like the feeling.):

First-foldly, to introduce you to one Christian Scientist so that if you ever hear someone talking fearfully and ignorantly (feargnorantly?) about Christian Scientists you’ll be in a position to say, “I have a friend who’s a Christian Scientist, and, although it’s true she’s a bit of a nut, she’s also…” and you can go on and talk about how your friend has used her study of Christian Science to try to make the world a happier place.

Second-foldly, I feel the need to acknowledge God’s blessings in my life. I don’t want to be like those nine lepers in the Bible who couldn’t take the time to thank Jesus for healing them. I want to be like that one leper who “fell down on his face at his feet” before Jesus and gave him thanks (Luke 17). Through my study of Christian Science I’ve witnessed some incredible proofs of our Father-Mother God’s love for Her creation in my life. God has filled my life with infinite blessings and it’s time for me to acknowledge these blessings to others.

-Karen Molenaar Terrell

Here’s the AI-generated summary of the reviews:
“Customers find the book inspirational, particularly appreciating its prayerful approach to life. They describe it as heartwarming and an interesting memoir, with one customer noting how the author shares her life stories with joy. The writing style receives positive feedback for being beautifully written, and customers value the author’s honesty in sharing her experiences.”
(AI-generated from the text of customer reviews.)

A New Review (And Let’s Talk About Amazon’s Weird Rating System)

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

I just got another review for Cosmic Connections: Sharing the Joy. I so appreciate the folks who take the time to write reviews for my books. If you’re a writer, I think you’ll understand. I don’t write for money or fame. I write to connect – to help people know they’re not alone. Positive reviews help me feel that connection we have to one another.

Amazon has a weird rating system. I have six ratings now for Cosmic Connections – five of them are five-star ratings and three of those have reviews with them. I also have one one-star rating. The one-star rating doesn’t come with a review or an explanation or even a name. But somehow that one-star rating holds more weight than the five five-star ratings. That one one-star rating is worth 25% of my whole average. I’ve asked Amazon about this, but have gotten no response.

So if you read my book and liked it and wanted to write a review for it, I think it would be way cool to flood Amazon with positive reviews and see how they get around THAT.

Here’s the latest review – Mama Bear writes:
“This book is so positive, so uplifting and so authentic. The author shows us how a simple act of kindness, a smile and a little love can set the tone for a person’s day. I’m ordering the next 2 books in this series soon. I highly recommend these books!!”

The Madcap Christian Scientist Books

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

There are now four books in the Madcap Christian Scientist series (five if you count *The Madcap Christian Scientist’s Christmas Book*). Here’s the intro to the first book:

Years ago an old boyfriend said to me, “I can’t see that Christian Science has made you any better than anyone else.”

“I know!” I said, nodding my head in complete and happy agreement, “But can you imagine what I’d be like without it?!”

I should also tell you that this book is not an authorized piece of Christian Science literature. If you want to actually study Christian Science you should probably read the textbook for this way of life, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.

Books! Books! More Books!

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

Click this link to find my books on Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Karen%20Molenaar%20Terrell%22

(I have a whole host of talented friends who are published authors and I’m going to include links to their books below. Note that, contrary to the well-meaning posts about “buying local” that I’m seeing on social media, sometimes the only place you’ll be able to find books by local authors is on Amazon.)

Edit: Please feel free to add book links to your own books in the comments below.

***

Some of my books can, apparently, only be purchased through Amazon. I see that my Cosmic Celebrations books, Cosmic Connections and Cosmic Kinship, can’t be purchased through Barnes and Noble. My book of poetry, Since Then, can’t be purchased through Barnes and Noble, either. And my latest Madcap Christian Scientist book, Looking Forward, isn’t coming up there. Here’s the Amazon link where you can find those books: https://www.amazon.com/…/Karen…/author/B0044P90RQ

My friend, William Whittenbury, also has books on Barnes and Noble, as well as Amazon. William’s books chronicle the epic adventures in an alternative history. Here’s the link to his books on Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/William%20Whittenbury

My friend, Linda Lum, writes wonderful history-humor-cookbooks – the exactly kind of book we need right now: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Linda-Lum/author/B0BW17Z81N

My friend, Rob Slater, sells his young adult dystopian novels at Village Green in Bellingham, and other bookstores. His books can also be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/…/Robert-L…/author/B00EKZDBY8

My friend, Heidi Herder, has written a beautiful true-life story about a cat named Papi. Here’s the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Ted-Adventures…/dp/B0CK3ZXRCY/

My friend, Claudia Buck, introduced me to the writing of her friend, local author Peter Randolph Keim. His book, Lanes Five and Six, was really poignant and beautiful. Here’s the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Lanes-Five-Peter…/dp/B0CLWLNR96/

My friend, Ann Bodle-Nash, is part of the Skagit Valley Writer’s Guild, and together they published this book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHDSW7GQ

My former student, Ryia Delgado, published this five-star book, Family in Progress, as her English project: https://www.amazon.com/Family-Progress…/dp/B01FWN5L08/

My former student, Haley, published her powerful book of poems, Little Lives, as her English project: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Lives-Haley…/dp/1795445289/

My former student, Varick Andrews, published his thought-provoking book of poetry, Data Dump, as his English project: https://www.amazon.com/Data-Dump-Musings…/dp/1540879410/

My former student, Cindy Sanchez, wrote a book of fairy tales, which can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Mean-Green-Witch…/dp/1506139140/

The Barnes and Noble link to the books of John Roskelley, mountaineer and author extraordinaire, can be found here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22John%20Roskelley%22

Leif Whittaker’s book about his pop can be found at this Barnes and Noble link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/my-old-man…/1123408019

And my Dad’s award-winning book, The Challenge of Rainier, can be found at this Barnes and Noble link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/the…/1132691178

All of Dad’s books can also be found here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dee-Molenaar/author/B001JRWQIM

Here’s the Barnes and Noble link to my friend Connie Mears’s wonderful book (I laughed! I cried!), The Bumbling Mystic’s Obituary: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/the…/1129597510

And here’s where you can find Laura Lavigne’s soul-reaching books: https://www.amazon.com/…/Laura-Lavigne/author/B08NDGQXQB

My friend, Maria McLeod, is an award-winning poet. Here’s where you can find her books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maria-McLeod/author/B095XG1H7C

My cousin Dan’s coloring books (therapeutic!) can be found on Lulu: https://www.lulu.com/search…

The young adult novels (light-hearted regency fantasy) of my friend, Marissa Doyle, can be found here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Marissa%20Doyle%22

The beautiful and life-affirming book Remarkable Resilience: The Life and Legacy of Noemi Ban Beyond the Holocaust by my friend, Diane Sue, can be found here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/remarkable…/1141396091

My friend, Demaris Wehr, wrote a beautiul book that seems, to me, very timely: Making It Through: Bosnian Survivors Share Stories of Trauma, Transcendence, and Truth. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/making-it…/1138568749

Scott Bailey, the husband of my friend, Mary Metz, wrote a brilliant piece of historical fiction – scholarly, entertaining, thought-provoking – called The Astrologer. It can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Astrologer-Scott-G-F…/dp/0989970051

My friend (and co-mother-in-law), Deeann Callis Graham, is author of Head-On Stories of Alopecia – a beautiful and inspiring collection of narratives from people who suffer from alopecia. Her book can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Head-Stories…/dp/B01MY53YQZ

My friend, Matthew Jackson, wrote a beautiful book chronicling his adventures as he hitchhiked across Canada. I laughed and cried and felt all the feels. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Canada-Chronicles-Four-Year-Hitchhiking-Odyssey/dp/0973467126/

And here’s a link to my friend Cash Keahey’s insightful book about leadership personality types: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eight-leadertypes-in-the-white-house-cash-keahey/1127892093

You Are Not Alone

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

At two in the morning on the day of the election I woke up feeling like I was riding on a collective wave of joy – like I was part of a cosmic celebration. I hadn’t had that feeling before an election since… well, I don’t think I’ve ever had that feeling before an election, so I took this feeling as a good sign – as a sign that everything was going to go as I hoped it would.

And when things didn’t go as I hoped, I found myself in a crisis, wondering if everything I believe about the power of Love and Truth is a lie. Wondering if there really is a God.

What was kind of odd, though, was that – even as I was having these dark thoughts – I could feel Love with me, loving me. But I turned away from that sense of Love-with-me and tossed and turned for a while before I finally got to sleep.

Here’s what happened today:

– The youngest son called to see how I was doing and just hearing his voice through the line – and hearing his wife’s laughter in the background – lifted me up.

– I decided to go for a hike at Lake Padden. On the way I pulled over, and put my emergency lights on, to take a picture of a reflection on Lake Samish. Before I even got out of the car, another car did a u-turn and the driver – a twenty-something with piercings on her face, and a kind smile – pulled in behind me to check on me and make sure I was alright. I was so grateful for her kindness in stopping to check on me! I felt myself lifted up a bit more.

– As I sat at a picnic table at Lake Padden, a little dog named Lock trotted over to me for a pet on his back. He sat with me for several minutes as I petted him, every now and then looking up at me with a look of pure love on his face. It was like having my own emotional support dog there, comforting me with his sweetness.

– I passed a woman named April, with her dog, Aspen. Like Lock, Aspen approached me for a scratch behind the ears. And when April and I got to talking we realized we were both processing the same election shock. Pretty soon we were joined by Judy, who also was dealing with election trauma. We gave each other a group hug, and then Judy let us know that there was a young woman sitting up at the picnic table who was struggling. So April and I (and Aspen) went to join the woman at the picnic table. She was wearing a gay pride rainbow hat, and she was soon joined by two friends who let us know they were from the LGBTQ community. The woman in the rainbow hat and her friends were all feeling scared and abandoned by their country. April and I let them know that they aren’t alone – that we’re standing together with them.

– When I got home I clicked into Facebook and found my friend, Jay Bowen, had posted a post about a vigil being held at the Burlington Lutheran Church. So I zipped my jacket back on and headed for the church.

I hadn’t really cried, yet, but as soon as I entered the church I felt tears welling up in my eyes, and by the time I’d seated myself on a pew I was quietly sobbing and shaking – I hadn’t know that was in me until then. A woman in the pew ahead of me turned around and it was Becky! – a parent of one of my former eigthh graders. Becky went up to the first pew and grabbed a box of tissues for me and then came back and gave me a hug. Not long after I saw Becky, I recognized another friend, Kaci – who was seated in the second row. I approached Kaci and touched her arm, and when she turned around and saw me, her eyes opened wide and she reached out for a hug. We cried healing tears together for a couple of minutes, before I returned to my pew.

The speakers in the Lutheran church spoke of allowing people to mourn in their own way; spoke of the courage and endurance that have overcome tribulation in the past; spoke of the importance of community and family; spoke of the importance of appreciating every breath and moment; spoke of not letting ayone take our smiles and humor; and spoke of a loving God whose intent isn’t to bring us doom, but to bring healing to us and through us.

It was comforting to be with other people today who were dealing with the same things I’m dealing with.

And now, sitting here, I realize the message the Cosmos has been sending me all day: “You are not alone. The world is full of people (and pups) who care. You are loved.” And maybe that’s all the reason I need to celebrate with the Cosmos. Maybe the wave of joy I felt early in the morning on election day had nothing to do with the election, and everything to do with divine Love. Love is not dependent on human circumstances, and we can never be separated from it.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell

New Reviews

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

There’s a new review on Amazon for my book Cosmic Connections: Sharing the Joy!
SB writes:
“I often feel like I’m right there with the author in her small town travels and happenings. The writing is fluid, poignant, and personal, yet universal – easy to translate to any place. It got me thinking about life, love, and the smallness of this big world.”

I so appreciate when someone takes the time to write a review for one of my books. It means so much to me when I read a review like this because it helps me feel I’ve connected to someone else in a positive way.

This morning I finished reading Joanna Nell’s new book, Mrs. Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year. I love Joanna Nell’s books. Here’s the review I wrote for the one I finished this morning:

I so enjoy Joanna Nell’s stories. Joanna Nell gives dignity and respect to her aging characters. Her characters are full of life and humor, wanting to make use of every moment left to them. Her books inspire me. She makes growing old fun.

My father lived to be 101 and, even as he was losing his memory, he wanted to get out and go on drives and have adventures with me. As I read Joanna Nell’s books, I can see him as the hero in one of her stories. That makes me smile.

Once Again Time for Shamelessly Plugging My Books in a Rhyme

Posted on November 26, 2023 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

T’was four weeks afore Christmas and it was once again time
for shamelessly plugging my goods in a rhyme.
There were books about Dad, and madcap books for you,
books of celebration, and books of poetry, too.

I wrote two books about the drives and adventures I had with my centenarian father, Dee Molenaar, a well-known mountaineer and artist. Are You Taking Me Home Now? Adventures with Dad, and The Second Hundred Years: Further Adventures with Dad can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and through any of your favorite bookstores. The books have five stars on Amazon.
In her Amazon review, Heidi writes:
“This is a delightful book and Karen is a gifted writer. She lets us listen in to the conversations she and her 100 year old Dad have on their car trips, which had me laughing and crying. Interspersed are memories of earlier times. Having a relationship with an older person whose body and brain don’t work as well as it used to requires patience, humor and love. As someone else here said, ‘Karen shows us how to do it right.’ I enjoyed reading this very much. I highly recommend this book and will be giving it out for gifts.”

There’s a related book to this series, called Finding the Rainbows: Lessons from Dad and Mom.

My Cosmic Celebration series includes two books: Cosmic Connections: Sharing the Joy and Cosmic Kinship: Celebrating Community. These books can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and through your favorite bookstore. They currently have five stars on Amazon.
C Meares writes:
“Cosmic Connections follows the excursions of an extraverted author and photographer who befriends nearly every person who crosses her path. This uplifting read highlights life’s small moments of connection — with strangers, old friends she meets by chance, the hapless, friendly dogs and former students. The author uses brief anecdotes—one or two pages—to show how much goodness permeates life. One entry describes meeting a stranger, only to find out she is the daughter of the minister who married her and her husband (in another part of the state) 30 years before. Her warm writing style and enthusiasm for life is infectious.”

In 2005, I published my first book, Blessings: Adventures of a Madcap Christian Scientist. It currently has 4.5 stars and 45 ratings on Amazon.
VoIP – Dragon User writes:
“OK, after reading the reviews, I thought this might make a nice Christmas present for a friend. When it arrived I decided to ‘peek’ at a few pages, but couldn’t put it down. I finished reading it in one sitting. But how to review the book is a challenge. It leaves you with such a joyful uplifted feeling and one of appreciation and relevance. At first I found myself saying, ‘I want to know this woman’ and after I finished the book I felt I did.

“Karen brings very positive reinforcement into the reader’s experience and the easy flowing style just melts in your mouth like comfort food. I found dozens of instances where I saw a parallel in my own life, that were entertaining and inspirational in a down to earth sort of way.

“I’m wearing a smile having read this and can’t think of a better way to pass an evening than this quick roller-coaster ride through another’s eyes of refreshing gratitude.

“It touched my heart and soul. Highly recommended.”

I now have four books in the Madcap Christian Scientist series – the last one, Looking Forward: More Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist was published last spring.

There’s also a fifth book related to the series called The Madcap Christian Scientist’s Christmas book.
In his review for The Madcap Christian Scientist’s Christmas Book, Jeff Chase writes:
“It’s my second Christmas with this book, and I think I’m enjoying it more this year, perhaps because it’s already feeling like a tradition. Karen’s stories, poems, and musings are full of warmth, humor, and love. There’s much to relate to here. I find myself recalling my own Christmas stories from years past. This book is a gem, made for relaxing. Enjoy!”

These Madcap Christian Scientist books can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and your favorite bookstore.

I have three books of poetry: A Poem Lives on My Windowsill, The Brush of Angel Wings, and Since Then. These books can all be purchased on Amazon, and through your favorite bookstore.
In her Amazon review of The Brush of Angel Wings, Nikki writes:
“The author of “The Brush of Angel Wings” never fails to disappoint me. The poetry in her latest book causes a wide range of emotions in the reader, from joy to sadness, happiness to grief, humor to acceptance. Every poem is unique, yet the author’s distinct style can be found in each one. I enjoyed seeing glimpses of the author’s life through her poetry. I can’t wait for her next book to be released.”

I also published a book about 2020. 2020 seemed to me to deserve a book all of its own. That book is titled Scrapbook of a Year and a Day: January 19, 2020 to January 20, 2021.
In her Goodreads review, Maryjmetz writes:

“Karen Molenaar Terrell’s Scrapbook of a Year and a Day is, essentially, a compilation of Facebook posts written between January 19, 2020 and January 20, 2021. If I were to collect my FB posts, it would be very, very dull indeed, but Karen eliminated the silly cat videos, if she ever posted any, and has instead put together a moving and coherent account of the tumultuous year we all lived through and her personal experience of the year following the death of her father, Dee Molenaar. What I particularly love about Karen–and this book–is her perspective on things and her constant striving to live up to her ideals.

“I’m really not a dog-earrer–I find it a vile habit–and yet I folded down the corners on several pages.”

***

Thank you for letting me shamelessly plug here. It brings me such joy to connect with others through my writing.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell

When Moz Was Here

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

I just republished Since Then, a book of poetry I originally published in 2021, to give it a new trim size and make it available outside of Amazon. It should be available to purchase at Barnes and Noble and other bookstores soon.

Here’s a sample:

When Moz Was Here

A comforting ritual – baking
the annual Thanksgiving pies
connects me to Thanksgivings
past – decades of home and love,
laughter, food, memories of those
who’ve newly-arrived, and those
departed. This year will be
the first Thanksgiving without
Moz. And as I pour blackberries
into the pie, I realize these berries
were ones I picked the summer
after she passed, and I wonder
if I might have a left-over bag
of blackberries I picked during
the summer before – when Moz
was still moving among us.
I go to the freezer in the garage
and root amongst the frozen bags,
digging, searching – and there!
I find a bag of berries marked
2016! And now a part of the world
that still held Moz in it is in
this year’s Thanksgiving pie.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell

New Book: Cosmic Kinship

Posted on November 12, 2023 by Karen Molenaar Terrell

I have a new book on the market. It’s the second book in my Cosmic Celebrations series and I had such fun putting this one together – so many good memories of meeting new friends and reconnecting with old friends. Cosmic Kinship: Celebrating Community can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and most bookstores. If you click on the “Look Inside” link or “Read sample” on this link, you can read a free sample.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: