Karen Villanueva is a publicist specializing in the promotion of authors. She offers both a la carte services and full publicity campaigns including development of press kits and setting up local book events to offering supplemental PR for nationally and internationally best-selling touring authors and setting up full author book tours with advance and support PR.

Moving from Toronto to New Mexico in 1992, she joined the nationally respected SouthWest Writers organization and held various volunteer positions for the SWW organization and conference including Board Member and Public Relations Chair. Also a longtime member of New Mexico Book Association (NMBA), Karen is currently Board member and publicist.

Back History: Karen's first career in Toronto was in the recording industry where she started as a record shop clerk, became store buyer, and then National Buyer, later called VP of Purchasing, for Canada's second largest record chain. Before leaving the retail area of the recording industry, she received a PolyGram Jacques Cartier Mint "In Appreciation of Your Help" award (for efforts with the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack).

In 1984, Karen was hired as National Publicity Director for Duke Street Records, Canada, before starting her own company. During her tenure with Duke Street, they won national awards for Best Promotion Team and Best Independent Record Company. Other awards include a BOSE Award of Excellence presented by her award-winning clients the Canadian jazz/world music band MANTECA. In 1987, she was presented with the Canadian Recording Industry Association Certified Gold Record for helping the band Chalk Circle reach Gold status for their record, "Mending Wall."

Interested in expanding her services to include other types of artists, Karen Williams Personal Publicity Services was launched in December of 1987. In a few short years, she gained a reputation as one of Toronto's top independent publicists.

Having promoted world-class actors; classical, jazz and rock musicians; comedians; figure-skating world champions; television show launches; film PR; and special corporate and city-sponsored events; Karen decided to change focus in Albuquerque to promote authors. Over the years she has worked briefly with Rambo's creator; worked lovingly for Norman Zollinger; has had the pleasure of escorting such name authors as James Lee Burke, Meg Cabot, Susan Vreeland, Sue Monk Kidd and Clive Cussler; and has provided supplemental PR to Stephen Cannell, Donna Eden, and Anne Louise Gittleman, among others. Media placements include: USA Today, CNN, Associated Press, Canada AM, Larry King Live, National Examiner, New York Times, and hundreds more.

Author Escorting and Hosting

• Julia Alvarez
• Derek Anderson
• Neil Baldwin
• Nick Bantock
• David Baron
• Nevada Barr
• T.A. Barron
• Charlene Ann Baumbich
• Anthony Bourdain
• T.C. Boyle
• Courtney Brown
• Rita Mae Brown
• Elizabeth Buchan
• James Lee Burke
• Meg Cabot
• Deepak Chopra
• Tony Cohan
• Charmaine Craig
• Elizabeth Crook
• Clive Cussler
• Jeffery Deaver
• Anthony Doerr
• Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés
• Helen Fielding
• Earlene Fowler
• Matthew Fox
• Diana Freund
• Albert Clayton Gaulden
• Niles Elliott Goldstein
• Amy & David Goodman
• Sandra Guzman
• Steven Harrison
• Andrew Harvey
• Dr. Jean Houston
• Naomi Judd
• Jason Kersten
• Sue Monk Kidd

• Jenny Lauren
• Wen Ho Lee
• Elizabeth Lesser
• Betsy Lewin
• John Daido Loori
• Jim Marrs
• Ron McLarty
• Michael Moore
• Thomas Moore
• Marlo Morgan
• Glenn Murray
• ZZ Packer
• Ridley Pearson
• Jodi Picoult
• Aron Ralston
• Rachel Naomi Remen
• James Rollins
• Paul Rusesabagina
• Pam Munoz Ryan
• Roberto Santibanez
• Jon Scieszka
• David Sedaris
• Ben Sherwood
• David Sibley
• Javier Sierra
• Adam Sisman
• Mark Spragg
• Chris Stewart
• Whitley Strieber
• Lisa Tucker
• P.J. Tracy
• Anya von Bremzen
• Neale Donald Walsch
• Jennifer Weiner
• Randy Wayne White
• Terry Tempest Williams
• Swain Wolfe

Publishers/Author Escorting

• Atria Books
• Berkley
• Broadway Books
• Clear Light Publishing
• Crown Publishing
• Divine Mirror Press
• Dutton
• Ecco
• Farrar, Straus & Giroux
• Gently Worded Books
• HarperCollins
• Knopf Publishing Group
• Little, Brown & Company
• McGraw Hill
• Laura Moriarty
• New Harbinger
• New Horizon
• Oxford University Press

• Pantheon Books
• Penguin/Putnam
• Public Affairs
• Random House
• Pam Munoz Ryan
• Jon Scieszka
• Javier Sierra
• Simon & Schuster
• St. Martin's Press
• Three Rivers Press
• Tor/Forge
• University of Nebraska Press
• University of New Mexico Press
• Vintage Books
• Washington Square Press
• Wellspring Books
• Westcliffe Publishers
• William Morrow

Publicity

• Ivon B. Blum
• Sue Boggio & Mare Pearl
• William J. Buchanan
• Stephen J. Cannell
• Dorothy Cave
• Ron Chapman
• James Chlovechok, M. D.
• Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
• Eduardo Duran
• Dr. Charles H. Elliott & Dr. Laura L. Smith
• Donna Eden & David Feinstein
• Dr. Gail Feldman
• Philip Ferranti
• Caroline S. Garrett
• Ambassador Eduardo Garrigues
• Ann Louise Gittleman
• Neil Goodwin
• Lana Harrigan
• Mark Horner
• Kent F. Jacobs
• Dewey Johnson

• K. Karl Leavitt
• Jenifer LeClair
• Jonathan Miller
• Lisa Miscione
• David Morrell
• Joan Myers
• John J. Nance
• Paula Paul
• Stephen Paul
• Hal Simmons
• SouthWest Writers
• William Stone
• UNM Press
• Christopher Valen
• June Walker
• Robert J. Weber
• Westcliffe Publishers
• Norman Zollinger
• . . and many more!

Canada Publicity

Musicians

• Sean Abbott Band
• Ofra Harnoy
• Alex DeGrassi

• Lenny Solomon
• Stan Samole
• Manteca

Events

• Beaches Jazz Festival
• Q107 New Year's Eve
  Rock 'N' Roll Formal — Metro Toronto — Convention Centre 1990

• Reggae Sun Splash — Toronto 1990
• Mel Lastman Square — Summer and Winter — Events Series

Actors

• Jennifer Dale
• Megan Follows
• Kirk McMahon
• Gabrielle Rose
• Greg Spottiswood

• Gordon Clapp
• Sherry Miller
• Jim Millington
• Mump and Smoot (comedy)
• Illustrated Men (comedy)

Movies

• Termini Station:
  Megan Follows, Collen Dewhurst

• Bodyguard, Caring for Young Children, Documentary

Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl
Sunlight and Shadow

Stephen J. Cannell
International Man of Mystery

Stephen J. Cannell is the prolific crime novel author and the Emmy award-winning writer/producer of such hit TV series as The A-Team,  The Rockford Files and 21 Jump Street .
www.cannell.com

Philip Ferranti M.Ed.
Love and Freedom
Pathways to Personal Transformation
Are you living an authentic, free and happy life? Author of Hiking! The Ultimate Natural Prescription for Health and Vitality.

Ann Louise Gittleman
Ann Louise Gittleman

Mark Horner
www.markhorner.com

Kent F. Jacobs

K. Karl Leavitt —
The Salesman's Magician
www.thesalesmansmagician.com
K. Karl Leavitt - The Salesman's Magician: Leavitt's delightful parable, The Salesman's Magician, will help others discover what he learned through years of observation, practice, and up-through-the-ranks experiences. Leavitt's effective and ethical selling philosophy is one salespeople in every industry will want to put to use immediately.

Lisa Miscione
www.lisamiscione.com

Joan Myers
www.joanmyers.com

John J. Nance
www.johnjnance.com

Paula Paul
www.paulapaul.net

William Stone
New Mexico Then & Now
from WestCliffe Publishers

Drs. Laura L. Smith
& Charles H. Elliott
www.psychauthors.com

Drs. Laura L. Smith
& Charles H. Elliott
www.psychauthors.com