Karen Flyer was vaulted immediately at birth into the type of traumatic childhood fictionalized in novels. After dealing with the unfit parenting and subsequent suicide of her alcoholic, manic-depressive father and the sexual abuse of her mother’s boyfriend’s teenage son, Karen went on to face her own demons in the form of anorexia, alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity and low self-esteem. Against the odds, Karen graduated as valedictorian of her high school and near the top of her class at Duke University. She went on to receive her M.B.A. and pursue a successful career in marketing. She has published numerous articles for trade magazines over the past few years. She lives in East Hills, New York, with her husband and their two children.