Karen Roberts Turner Books in Order

Karen Roberts Turner grew up in Washington, D.C., where she started making up stories early. In sixth-grade English, she wrote what she describes as her first book, and a teacher encouraged her to keep working at storytelling. That early nudge stayed with her, even when other interests claimed more of her attention.

Science was one of those interests. Turner studied biology and Africana Studies at Vassar College, then went on to earn a master's degree in bioethics from Georgetown University and a law degree from George Washington University. Those subjects may sound like a long way from fiction, but they point to her ongoing interest in people, ethics, and the choices that shape a life.

Law became her main professional path for decades. As a Washington, D.C.-based attorney, she handled complex civil, commercial, and medical-malpractice matters, building a career that included litigation, mediation, and trial work. In 2013, she moved from private practice to Howard University as Senior Associate General Counsel for Health Sciences.

Writing waited, but it did not disappear.

With encouragement from her daughter, Turner returned to creative work in 2016, beginning a novel during a major snowstorm in Washington. Her debut, The Other Twin, arrived in 2021. It follows Ebony and Essence Morgan, identical sisters whose close childhood bond begins to pull apart as they face college, independence, romance, family expectations, and heartbreak.

The story is rooted in the hard work of becoming your own person when everyone has already decided who you are supposed to be. Turner uses the sisters' relationship to explore identity, forgiveness, and the strain of comparison. She also gives space to the rhythms of young adulthood, from campus friendships and new freedom to the uneasy lessons that come with growing up.

Her work in higher education and health care has remained part of her life alongside writing. At Howard, her responsibilities have expanded beyond litigation into areas such as regulation, governance, risk, and ethics, and she has taught ethics-related courses. That mix of law, health, and education brings a practical, people-focused perspective to her public work.

She is also closely involved in her Washington community, including mentoring young women navigating law school and early legal careers.

Turner has spoken publicly about living with a glioblastoma diagnosis and supporting efforts around brain-tumor awareness and advocacy. Her author events and discussions often use The Other Twin as a way into conversations between generations, especially around the pressures young adults face. For Turner, storytelling is not separate from the rest of her life. It is another way to make room for reflection, connection, and growth.