Books
Explore The Art of Surviving and the companion guide created to offer understanding, reflection, and hope.
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Karen Nelson • Author
The Art of Surviving
Helping people heal, grow, and move forward.
Books, resources, and honest conversations for anyone navigating trauma, PTSD, grief, or life’s hardest moments.
Speaking & Media
Invite Karen for podcasts, interviews, author conversations, book clubs, libraries, panels, and community events.
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Follow along for honest reflections, encouragement, book updates, and conversations about healing and moving forward.
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Meet Karen
Writing so others feel seen, understood, and less alone.
Karen Nelson is the author of The Art of Surviving, a book inspired by her own journey through trauma, loss, and healing. She wrote it with one hope in mind: to help others feel seen, understood, and less alone.
Outside of writing, Karen works in healthcare leadership, where supporting people through life’s challenges has always been at the heart of what she does. Whether through her career or her writing, she believes in compassion, connection, and meeting people where they are.
Karen believes healing looks different for everyone. Her hope is that her work encourages people to take the next step, whatever that looks like for them, and remember that while trauma may become part of their story, it does not have to define the rest of it.
Books
Words for the days you’re just trying to make it through.
Karen’s books offer honest reflection, understanding, and hope without pretending healing is simple or linear.
The Art of Surviving
Inspired by Karen’s own journey through trauma, loss, and healing, this book gives words to experiences that are often difficult to explain and reminds readers that they are not alone.
The Art of Surviving Companion Guide
A gentle guide for understanding PTSD, trauma, survival mode, hypervigilance, and healing—written for those living through it and those trying to understand someone they love.
Shop
The Still Here Collection
Wear the reminder. Explore each collection below to see the front, back, and available colors before choosing your favorite.
Hoodies
Soft, comfortable layers with The Art of Surviving branding on the left chest and the Still Here design on the back.
Crewneck Sweatshirts
A classic everyday crewneck with subtle front branding and the Still Here design across the back.
T-Shirts
Comfort Colors® tees in carefully selected light and dark shades, with front branding and the Still Here back design.
Hats
Simple embroidered dad hats in sand and black, featuring STILL HERE. on the front and a clean, unbranded back.
Still here. Still healing. Still becoming.
“Healing looks different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way to move forward.”
The Art of Surviving
Speaking & Media
Let’s start an honest conversation.
Karen is available for podcast interviews, speaking engagements, author conversations, book clubs, library programs, community events, and panel discussions.
Her conversations are grounded in lived experience, compassion, and the belief that people deserve to feel seen without being defined by what they have survived.
Available for:
Podcasts • Author interviews • Speaking engagements • Book clubs • Libraries • Community and nonprofit programs
Podcasts • Author interviews • Speaking engagements • Book clubs • Libraries • Community and nonprofit programs
Conversation topics may include
The story behind The Art of Surviving
What survival mode really feels like
Moving from surviving to healing
Why healing looks different for everyone
Understanding trauma and PTSD beyond the stereotypes
Learning to trust yourself again
Finding hope after trauma, loss, and life’s hardest moments
Supporting others through difficult seasons
Writing while working in healthcare leadership
Why your story isn’t over
Connect
Interested in working together?
For podcast interviews, speaking opportunities, author events, book clubs, or community conversations, Karen would be glad to hear from you.
theartofsurvivingofficial@gmail.com