K a r e n    H a l v o r s e n    S c h r e c k
1020 East Willow Avenue
Wheaton, Illinois  60187
630 682-3182
khschreck[at]gmail[dot]com

 

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Download a PDF version of Karen's Résumé

 

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in English and Creative Writing, 1996
The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing, 1987
The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York

Bachelor of Arts in English; graduated with honors, 1984
Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois

 

Writing and Editorial Experience

Freelance Writer and Editor • 1990-Present

Clients: Arc Worldwide, Craft and Folk Art Museum of Los Angeles, Wheaton Alumni Magazine, C. Grant & Company, Significant Living Magazine, Wheaton College, Salon Estem, Anthology, Leo Burnett, WTTW/Channel 11, Westmont College, Mark Shale, GSP Marketing, Ambrosi & Associates, Oilily, Luminaire, Workbench, Fannie May Candy, Marshall Field’s.

Projects:  web content, feature articles, advertorials, book proposals,

brochures, catalog copy, direct mail, radio and video scripts. 

 

Senior Copywriter, Ambrosi & Associates • 1997-1998

Supervised Junior Copywriters. Collaborated with clients and art directors. Wrote and edited copy
for catalogs, newsletters, direct mail, and special projects. Designed original advertising campaigns.

 

Copywriter, Creative Field's, Inc. • 1989-1990

Wrote and edited fashion copy for newspaper, magazine, direct mail, and special projects.
Designed original advertising campaigns. Collaborated with merchandise buyers and art directors.

 

Publications

While He Was Away. Novel. Sourcebooks, May, 2012.

“Broken Ground.” Short Story. Abide, online magazine. September 2011.

“The Distinguished Service to Society Award DVD,” Wheaton College Alumni Association, script and
production, May 2011.

Active blog:  http://www.karenschreck.com/

“In Graceful Light—The Life and Work of Dr. Mary Hopper,” Wheaton Alumni Magazine, Fall 2010.

“From Strong Roots,”  Significant Living Magazine, March/April, 2010.

“This.”  Wheaton Alumni Magazine, Fall, 2008.

Dream Journal (paperback edition).  Hyperion, Spring, 2008.

“Why I Read Like My Life Depends On It.” Wheaton Alumni Magazine, Winter, 2008.

“The Quality of Mercy—The Life and Work of Dr. E. Beatrice Batson.”  Wheaton Alumni Magazine,
Winter, 2008.

Dream Journal.  Hyperion, 2006.

Lucy’s Family Tree (paperback edition).  Tilbury House, 2001.

“Trouble the Water—The Paintings of Tim Lowly.” Westmont College Publications, 2002.

Lucy’s Family Tree. Tilbury House, 2001.
"Model Home." American Fiction, X. New Rivers Press, Fall, 1999.

"The Slaughterhouse."  Pushcart Prize XXI.  Wainscott: Pushcart Press, November, 1996.
"Ways of the World."  Other Voices 23: 130-143.
"Piñata."  Quarter After Eight 2: 127-134.

"The Slaughterhouse."  Literal Latté 1: 4-7.

"Hereafter."  Private Arts 8: 1-8.
"Tim Lowly--Portrait of a Painter." Image: A Journal of Arts and Religion.

 

Recognitions

Panelist, “The Importance of Writers’ Groups,” Festival of Faith and Writing,
Calvin College, April, 2010.

Featured Speaker, “Genre as Genesis,” Illinois Reading Council Conference, March, 2010.

Artist-in-Residence, Ragdale Foundation, Winter, 2010.

Grant awarded, Van Kampen Boyer Molinari Charitable Foundation, Fall, 2009.

Evangelical Press Association First Prize Award for Memoir Magazine Writing, 2009.

Evangelical Press Association First Prize Award for Devotional Magazine Writing, 2009.

Featured Speaker:  Illinois Reading Council Conference; March, 2008.

“The Power of Story:  An Interview with Karen Halvorsen Schreck.”  Teacher Librarian—The Journal for School Library Professionals.

Dream Journal:  A Book Sense Top Ten Pick List; Winter, 2007.

First Prize, American Fiction—Best Unpublished Short Stories by Emerging Writers, Fall, 1999.

Winner, Illinois Arts Council Fellowship in Prose, 1997.

Winner, Pushcart Prize for Fiction, 1996.

Finalist, Nimrod/Hardman Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction, 1995.

First Prize, Literal Latté Short Fiction Contest, 1995.

 

Teaching Experience

Visiting Assistant Professor of English, Wheaton College • 2010-2011
Courses taught:  Composition and Research, Creative Writing

 

Assistant Professor of English, Trinity International University • 2008-2009

Courses taught:  Studies in Drama; Business Writing;
Critical Thinking and Writing; Race, Class, and Culture in U.S. Women’s Literature    

                

Assistant Professor of English, Wheaton College • 2007-2008

Course taught:  Creative Writing

 

Visiting Assistant Professor of English, Northern Illinois University• 2007           

Course taught:  Children’s Novels

 

Adjunct Instructor of Education, DePaul University• 2006-2007
Course taught:  Children’s Literature

 

Visiting Assistant Professor of English, Wheaton College • 1995-2000

Courses taught:  Creative Writing; The Personal Essay
Fiction Writing; Basic Composition; Advanced Composition; World Literature