Karla Brady

Karla Brady

About

K. L. Brady is a D.C. native but spent a number of her formative years in the Bellaire, Ohio. She’s an alumnus of the University of the District of Columbia and University of Maryland University College, earning a B.A. in Economics and M.B.A., respectively. She works as an editor for a government contracting firm and is an active real estate agent with Exit Realty by day—and writes by night (often into the wee hours of the morning). She lives just outside of D.C. with her son, William.

Breaking Through the Spiral Ceiling: An American Woman Becomes a DNA Scientist

Breaking Through the Spiral Ceiling: An American Woman Becomes a DNA Scientist

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Description

Laura Hoopes takes you along as she tries to enter science in the 1960's in the post-Sputnik science education frenzy, only to find doors closed to women.  She persists, makes a career of molecular gerontology and insists on making space for marriage and children in her life.  This inspiring read says, "Yes, you can," to women who have dreams of their own.

Story Behind The Book

If you've turned 40 and had that "what do I want to be when I grow up?" panic attack, then you'll relate to why I wrote the book. If you haven't turned 40 yet, this is what you have to look forward to if you don't pursue your dreams. I guess I've been a writer all of my life, I just never really conceived that I could ever write a novel or make a living at it. An overdose of Oprah's Live Your Best Life series made think to myself, "Maybe I don't have what it takes to be an author. But I'd sure like to try before I give up." And so I tried. The story came to me in an epiphany as I was reading a self-help article about dieting. And I laughed to myself because I thought, "How many of these dang articles have I read?" They give you 12 steps, and the first I do in my mind is negotiate. "Well, I don't have to walk two miles a day, maybe just two blocks" or "I can eat vegetables three times a day, but I'm going to eat them with fried chicken." Yet, I still expect to lose 112 pounds. So, I thought I'd write a story about a woman who attracts more players and goes through more break-ups than the law should allow. She knows it's a pattern in her life that she needs to stop so when she happens upon this self-help article about emotional baggage and toxic men, it hits her like a lightning bolt. And she goes through these same "negotiating" motions with the article, except it's not a food diet, it's a man diet. And just like a dieter that drives past the McDonald's and stops for "one little Big Mac" and knows full well she should've gone home and eaten a carrot stick, so Charisse, the main character, stops for a big "something else." And that is how the Bum Magnet came to be.

Reviews

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong><font size="3"><a href="http://www.klbradywrites.com">www.authorklbrady.com</a><br /><br />What Readers Are Saying... </font></strong></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong><font size="3"><span></span></font></strong></span> </p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><font size="3">&quot;If you can't identify with Charisse, you have a friend who is exactly like her.<span>  </span>As a romance the journey is incredible, as a novel, it is laugh out loud funny . . . It is not a male-bashing book, but a realistic look at life through great writing.&quot; Clee Culver</font></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><font size="3">&quot;The book wasn't just smart and entertaining, but it also surpassed the genre of chick-lit.&quot; H. Geil </font></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><font size="3">“Very intelligently written and witty and &quot;tears rolling down my face&quot; at points funny. I give it five stars.&quot; SGR SISTA </font></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><font size="3">&quot;Everytime I thought I figured out what was about to happen, the author threw in a curveball which kept me up late at night trying to find where it would land.&quot; April T</font></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><font size="3"><strong>What Reviewers Are Saying... <br /><br />Midwest Book Review - Reviewer's Choice</strong> (Jan 2010) &quot;A highly recommended read that should not be missed.<br /><br /></font></span></p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><font size="3">&quot;K.L. Brady has penned a clever, witty, insightful, and down right hilarious novel with THE BUM MAGNET. From the first page until the very last, I was laughing out loud and wondering just how this new author came up with this stuff. Charisse Tyson is a realistic and likable character with flaws and experiences that most women can relate to . . .<span>  </span>This debut author is one to watch. I highly recommend THE BUM MAGNET!&quot;<span>  </span>Monique D. Mensah, RAWSISTAZ Reviewers</font></span></p> <p></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><font size="3">“Creatively well-crafted, The Bum Magnet is a highly enjoyable, entertaining read. In a signature style equally hilarious and insightful, author K.L. Brady takes readers on a vicarious journey through the depths of the heart and mind . . . Witty pointed and real, The Bum Magnet sucks you in from the beginning and keeps you rapt <span> </span>until the very end. A highly recommended read.&quot;<span>  </span>Linda Waterson, Apex Reviews </font></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><font size="3">“K.L. Brady’s journey of one woman’s dating woes and self discovery was entertaining and real. With a nice balance of <span> </span>drama and laughs, The Bum Magnet is both funny and uplifting…” <span> </span>OOSA Online Book Club</font></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><font size="3"><span> </span>&quot;The Bum Magnet is a woefully delicious tale of the worst and best, but mostly worst kind of men any single woman could come across... the only thing to predict in this story is its unpredictability. K.L. Brady has a unique writing style, incorporating humor, warmth and sass . . . &quot; Evie Alex, Long Live Chick Lit</font></span></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><font size="3">&quot;Ms. Brady's creativity had me laughing-out-loud and shaking my head. . . The message of this book is something everyone can benefit from. I recommend The Bum Magnet to readers looking to laugh while enjoying a well-crafted story.&quot; Jennifer Coissiere, APOOO BookClub.<br /><br /></font></span></p>