Several years ago, I attended a community event where we started with introductions, telling the group our name, where we were from, and what we do for work or fun that defines our identity. I was a stay-at-home mom to three kids at the time, all of them preschool age and under, so I prepared myself to say that I spend my life as a mother and wife. When it came my turn to share, I began with the basics, and then told the group I am a writer. It sort of popped out, surprising

When I was a little girl, I kept a notebook of words that I loved. Words that intrigued me or stood out as I devoured book after book, words that sounded elegant or snappy both in my head and as I practiced saying them out loud. Words that looked pretty on paper. I’d go to the rows of encyclopedias and dictionaries that my parents bought from a traveling salesman, and I’d look those words up, carefully writing the definitions with my treasured, bright-colored ink pens. That l

Storytelling shapes how we understand the world. It connects us, teaches us, and sparks imagination. Kara Frei, a lifelong storyteller, uses her passion for words and character to inspire others. Her journey from classroom teacher to writer shows how stories can influence lives in meaningful ways. A Foundation Built on Education and Passion Kara Frei’s love for storytelling began early and grew through her education. She graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University with a degree