KAREN F. UHLMANN: INTERSECTIONS NOVEL
In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “A Toast to The Arts” Show, we’re joined by award-winning writer Karen F. Uhlmann who discusses her powerful debut novel, “Intersections,” out now through She Writes Press.
Karen Uhlmann watched a police officer stake out an intersection in her neighborhood four to five times a week. Ever since the devastating loss of a young child in a hit-and-run, the officer taped the vehicles driving by, hoping to find the suspect. From her observations of his grief, Uhlmann crafted the basis of her debut novel “Intersections” (She Writes Press, May 6, 2025), the story of an officer and a witness mourning together, but with one small secret: the killer is the witness’s daughter.
After working as a reporter in the Chicago area, award-winning writer Karen Uhlmann imagines the turmoil and choices of both the criminal’s mother and the police officer investigating the crime, diving into the psychology of grief, justice, and protection shared between two strangers bonded by tragedy.
When suspended police officer Ed Kelly witnesses a fatal hit-and-run, he begins to regularly stake out the intersection hoping to find the car responsible. Charlotte Oakes, a style guru, also witnesses the event that killed a young child, and begins to visit the site of the hit-and-run. While both grapple with the grief of an innocent life lost, Charlotte is hiding a secret from Ed – she believes her daughter is involved in the crime. And as Ed gets closer to the truth, Charlotte must choose between shielding her daughter or giving her up.
Karen received her MFA in fiction from Bennington in 2010 and has published short stories and book reviews in Southern Indiana Review, Story, Whitefish Review, and The Common among others. She won the 2016 Rick Bass/Montana Fiction Award, and the 2012 Northern Colorado Writers Award judged by Antonya Nelson. She was recently shortlisted for the 2024 Lascaux Fiction prize and longlisted for a collection of short stories by Santa Fe Writers Project. She lives in Los Angeles but spent most of her life in Chicago. Learn more about her at her at https://www.karenuhlmann.com/
