Travel and Adventure Writer, Musician
Greater New York City Area
- Current
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- Writer and Musician at Karen Berger (Self-employed)
- Past
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- Piano teacher at Berkshire Music School
- Contributing Editor at Gorp.com
- Senior Editor at Island Press
- Sponsoring Editor at Longman Publishing
- Education
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- Northwestern University
- Recommended
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1 person has recommended Karen - Connections
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connections
- Industry
- Writing and Editing
- Websites
Karen Berger’s Summary
I'm an independent writer specializing in travel and the outdoors. I'm the author of 12 books (www.hikerwriter.com/bio.htm), mostly on outdoor topics (more than 500,000 copies in print). I'm widely regarded as an authority on outdoor skills, gear, and recreation destinations, and have been published in dozens of national magazines. I've also written about general travel, including B and Bs, hotels, culture, music festivals, language, and ecotourism.
As an adventure travel expert, I've been interviewed in scores of periodicals, including the Wall Street Journal, Self, Sports Illustrated, and newspapers from San Francisco to Baltimore. To earn my outdoors expertise, I've trekked some 17,000 miles on 6 continents, often on multi-month cross-country expeditions such as America's Continental Divide and France's Pyrenees High Route. I've climbed Kilimanjaro (and other African peaks), dived with sharks in Bora Bora (and Zanzibar, Australia, and Hawaii), galloped on horseback along a South African beach, trekked in Nepal and New Zealand, and gone cross-country ski-camping in the Tetons in January.
Jumping to a totally different spectrum, I'm also a classical and jazz pianist. I currently teach in my home studio, as well as perform, gig, and record on the side.
My goals are to continue exploring new places (as a traveler) and new artistic ideas (as a musician), and to share them with others through my teaching, performances, lectures, magazine articles, and books.
Karen Berger’s Specialties:
Technical expertise about hiking, long-distance backpacking, adventure travel, and scuba diving. (gear, destinations, techniques, safety)
Public speaking: Presentations at the Smithsonian, Mensa, National Forest Service programs, and at conventions geared to the outdoors, trails, and recreation
Music: Jazz and classical piano, music theory and history
Photography: Published in magazines, books, calendars
Publishing: Give seminars and college classes about the publishing industry
Karen Berger’s Experience
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Writer and Musician
Karen Berger (Self-employed)
(Self-Employed; Myself Only; Writing and Editing industry)
1990 — Present (18 years)
I have been self employed since 1990, and currently work as both a writer and a musician.
My books have been published by W.W. Norton, Crown, DK,, and Alpha/Penguin, among others. My magazine work has appeared in many of the leading national magazines: National Geographic Traveler, Islands, Family Circle, Backpacker, and others.
As a musician and music teacher, I teach classical and jazz piano in my home-based studio in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. I also perform, record, and host performances for students and musician friends. I have written one book (and many magazine articles ) on music, and have played keyboard on some recordings. -
Piano teacher
Berkshire Music School
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Music industry)
2004 — 2007 (3 years)
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Contributing Editor
Gorp.com
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Writing and Editing industry)
1999 — 2002 (3 years)
As the "hiking expert" for this large outdoor website, I wrote articles about hiking and outdoor destinations worldwide, as well as a skills column, an "ask the expert" column, and articles about gear and techniques. I also acquired and edited work from other writers.
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Senior Editor
Island Press
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Publishing industry)
1987 — 1990 (3 years)
Acquired and developed books on environmental subjects, mainly working with publishing and communications personnel at the major non-profit environmental organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, Nature Conservancy, and others.
Developed and implemented multi-day seminars on publishing strategies for non-profit organizations. -
Sponsoring Editor
Longman Publishing
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Publishing industry)
1985 — 1987 (2 years)
Developed books on business topics for a trade, business, professional, and academic audience.
Karen Berger’s Education
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Northwestern University
Additional Information
Karen Berger’s Websites:
Karen Berger’s Interests:
travel, hiking, backpacking, music, piano, writing, outdoors
Karen Berger’s Groups:
Society of American Travel Writers, SATW, American Society of Journalists and Authors, ASJA, Authors Guild., Travel Classics
Karen Berger’s Honors:
I have received a distinguished Achivement Award from the Society of Educational Publishers, and have been a two-time finalist for my "Outdoor Smarts" column in Scouting magazine. I've also been a finalist in the Banff International Mountain Books Competition for my book, Advanced Backpacking.
Karen Berger’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- getting back in touch
