about

As a speaker, poet and photographer, Karla’s work spans many subjects and forms. She is a Betsy Colquitt Award Winner, Eric Hoffer Award Winner, Western Heritage Award Winner, Montaigne Medal Finalist, a two-time Indie Book Award Winner, a North TX Book Festival Award winner, a nominee for the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and a Pushcart Prize nominee. Widely published in literary journals, she is also the author of more than 15 books of poetry, including the award-winning Redefining Beauty (now in its 3rd printing), Wooden Lions (Western Heritage Award winner), Constant State of Leaping, Turbulence and Fluids and the award-winning coffee table book The National Parks: A Century of Grace (now in its 2nd printing).

Her latest work will be published in March 2025 and is available for pre-orders – Santa Fe Trails: Chasing the Big West. It includes songs and poetry by Karla and Alan Birkelbach with a music CD of songs recorded by Michael Martin Murphey.