She was the shy girl in high school, the one that loved to have a book in her hands to read, now, today...she writes them. Karen attended St James until graduating in eighth grade, learning her faith and love of reading at the hands of the Sisters of Mercy. Living only a few blocks away from the Barron Library, she spent most of her summer days and weekends lost in the stories and biographies of famous people. As a self described tomboy, only the draw of a well- told story could keep Karen in her room and it was not unusual for her to read four books a week.
The transition to public school and the wild sixties led her away from her first loves of church, reading, and writing as she grew through her teenage years in the challenge of her values. She lost herself in the Beatles, new age beliefs and environmental issues. The only part of her faith that remained was the belief that we were made to help others. That belief eventually led Karen to graduate as an RN in 1974.
Karen met her husband Michael and married in 1975, becoming Karen Kelly Boyce.
However, in 1990, Karen became very ill and was unable to walk and was treated for MS wrongly for a year. Her condition worsened until it was diagnosed with end stage Lyme Disease. She was unable to work as a nurse anymore.
As a result though, her love of reading was rekindled and the love of writing was born again. With two published books under her wing, Karen and Michael set about breeding Nigerian Dwarf Goats on their farm in Jackson, NJ. And then, her life took what she calls a bend in the road - breast cancer. Karen spends much of her time now helping tend to the farm, writing and speaking to the public about her nationally acclaimed writing and commitment to her Catholic faith.
Karen is now cancer free and has written a book about her
breast cancer experience. A Bend in the Road... “This book was much harder to write than my fiction,” she states, “but I wrote it in hopes it will help someone else going through the experience. I include things that helped me -nutrition, prayer, meditation, and some ways to promote humor.”
Karen fondly recalls her friendships with Nancy Hopta and Janice Wicke, often working with Janice on the school newspaper.
In speaking with Karen, it was very clear that material possessions are of little importance to her, rather her priorities are in helping others...first, her chosen field of nursing and now her writing. Her hope is that her writing is inspirational to others, especially those that battle cancer and other life threatening diseases.
Karen believes that God has an assignment for each of us and it’s up to us to figure out what exactly it is...I believe it’s obvious in Karen’s sake that God’s intent was for her to share with all of us her kind and compassionate spirit. She may have been shy in school...today however, her accomplishments along with her spiritual integrity speak loud and clear.
