Chris Cook

6B Pencils

Arts & Literature

“I love the variety and virtuosity that Karen Mobley displays in 6B Pencils. There’s a parade of animals, including a hilarious look at gastropods that will challenge your fondness for escargot; unflinching explorations of grief and despondency; and remembrances of her Wyoming roots and her adopted hometown of Spokane (as a longtime Spokane resident, I especially enjoyed her riffed timelines of the history and culture of the city). I could tell you more, but you need to read it for yourself.”

Trial By Ordeal

Arts & Literature

“Karen Mobley creates poetry written with the full-on sensory palette of an artist. In dealing with loss and grief, there is comfort in the beautifully detailed intimacies of childhood memories; there are lessons taught by nature: the flora, the fauna, even the rocks; and there is the grace, compassion, and wisdom of the gospel in ultimately learning to turn the other cheek. Trial By Ordeal is a good and loving daughter’s journey, one that informs us as we navigate ours.”