Karen Palmer applied for her first passport at age 21; in the 12 years since, she has traveled to more than 25 countries, 17 of them in Africa. While living in West Africa, Palmer wrote for the "Washington Times, South China Morning Post, Toronto Star, Sydney Morning Herald, Newsday, "and "Newsweek. "She lives in Ottawa, where she works as the media officer with Oxfam Canada. This is her first book.