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Karen Lafreya Simpson
Karen Lafreya Simpson (born May 12, 1955)is an African American author, historian, and quilter.

Life and Work Simpson was born in Detroit, Michigan and has spent most of her life in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Simpson received her bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry, M.A. in Foreign Language and International Trade and M.S. in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University, and she has worked for the University of Michigan for over 35 years in Student Financial Services.

As a historic preservationist trained in heritage interpretation and administration, Karen has also designed exhibits for museums and historical institutions that deal with issues of cultural diversity and racial reconciliation, and presented and published papers on various aspects of African-American culinary and agricultural history.

Writing Simpson's debut novel, was published by Plenary Publishing in 2011. is loosely based on an event that happened during a Klan rally in her hometown in 1996 where an 18-year-oldKeshia Thomas protected the life of a suspected Klansman.

In 2013, Karen Simpson won the Go on Girls Book Club Award for Best New Author. She is currently working on a screen play adaptation of the novel.