I’m Caren, a writer, trainer, and speaker living outside Seattle, WA with my husband, the artist and data scientist, Chris Sumption, and our beloved cat goblin jerks.
Born in New York, I attended the University of Colorado, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Clarion West (as the Carl Brandon Society’s Octavia Butler scholar) and the Launchpad Astronomy Workshop. I’m also a Hedgebrook alum (2010, 2016). I started writing fiction and teaching professionally in 2000, with the publication of my first novel, Homecoming.
For the past decade (+), I’ve worked in social services, with a particular interest and expertise in crisis, crisis management, and health equity. I’ve been both a front-line advocate/case manager and in leadership. I train, present, and consult on trauma-informed workplace culture; managing crisis; serving marginalized and closed communities; and real/radical self-care for front line advocates and peers.
I’m of Jewish and Romany heritage (proudly Didicai [Kalderash] and Hiloni [חִלּוֹנִי]). I live with Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and was diagnosed with Autism as an adult, for which I’m exceedingly grateful.
In my spare time, I’m an enthusiastic and clumsy knitter and general craft dilettante. I love serial commas, quadruple espressos, over-analyzing things, and Supernatural. My turn offs include ear infections, black mold, and raisins in oatmeal cookies.