What if surviving the unimaginable became the beginning of discovering who you truly are?

For nearly three decades, Karen Humphries has lived inside a body shaped by chronic illness, disability, profound grief, life as an ostomate, and the daily reality of incurable stage 4 cancer. Her story is not one of easy answers, miraculous recoveries, or neatly tied endings. It is the story of a woman who had to rebuild herself again and again — in the waiting rooms, in the quiet hours of uncertainty, and in the moments when life felt too heavy to carry.

Chronic Wisdom: One woman’s story of survival, strength and self-discovery invites readers into the raw and intimate truth of that journey. With unfiltered honesty and surprising warmth, Karen shares the chapters of her life that most people never see: the fear, the loss, the exhaustion of living with an unpredictable body, and the heartbreak of dreams that never came to be. Yet woven through every struggle is something far more powerful — a steady thread of hope, clarity, and courage that reveals itself at the most unexpected times.



This memoir is not about “fighting” cancer or defeating illness. Instead, Karen shows what it means to live in flow with your circumstances, to stop resisting what is, and to find meaning in the space between who you were and who you are becoming. Along the way, she uncovers the Seven Wisdoms — the lessons that helped her reclaim her identity, rebuild her wellbeing, and rediscover her purpose when life kept pulling her off course.

These wisdoms grew from lived experience: the kind that breaks you open, strips away what no longer matters, and reveals what truly does. Karen learned them slowly — through tears, through laughter, through moments of stillness, and through the quiet realisations that come when everything else falls away.

Chronic Wisdom speaks to anyone who has ever faced a diagnosis, a detour, or a season where the path forward felt painfully unclear. It is a book for those who have survived more than they ever speak about, for those living with grief that doesn’t show, and for those learning to navigate a life they never planned.

Karen wrote this memoir so no one walking through illness, loss, or uncertainty ever feels alone again. Her story is uniquely hers — yet in its honesty, you may find reflections of your own strength, your own resilience, and your own unfolding self-discovery.

Karen Humphries is an award-winning cancer advocate, author, speaker and  mentor whose work has been formally recognised in Parliament for raising national awareness of cholangiocarcinoma and cancer survivorship. Living with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, she shares her story with vulnerability, humour and unwavering hope. Karen uses her lived experience to uplift and support others facing illness, grief and uncertainty.

* A voice that tells the truth people rarely speak aloud.
* Chronic Wisdom gives readers permission to feel what they’ve been carrying in silence — the grief, the fear, the exhaustion, the uncertainty — and reminds them that they are not broken or alone. Karen’s honesty reaches the parts of people that most books never touch. Her lived experience becomes a mirror for anyone who has ever whispered, “I don’t know how to keep going.”
* Hope for people who can’t find the light right now.
* This book doesn’t offer clichés or empty promises. It offers hope that feels real — the kind you discover only after surviving what should have destroyed you. Karen shows that hope isn’t loud or dramatic; it’s steady, gentle, and possible even in the darkest seasons. Readers walk away feeling lighter, understood, and supported… often at a time in their life when they need it most.
* A transformative journey that helps readers rediscover their own strength.
* More than Karen’s story, Chronic Wisdom becomes the reader’s story. Through the Seven Wisdoms, people learn how to rebuild themselves, find meaning in their pain, and reconnect with the part of them that still believes in possibility. Readers don’t just finish this book — they feel changed by it. Uplifted. Comforted. Stronger than they realised.
*  A universal story of survival, strength and self-discovery that reaches far beyond cancer.
* Although rooted in rare cancer and chronic illness, Karen’s story speaks to anyone who has faced hardship — grief, childlessness, trauma, identity loss or life upheaval. The themes of resilience, hope and self-discovery give the memoir mainstream appeal in both the health and personal development categories.
*  A rare, authentic memoir written from inside incurable stage 4 cancer — not after it.
* Most illness memoirs are written in hindsight. Chronic Wisdom offers a perspective almost never seen in publishing: a woman living with incurable stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma writing from within the experience. The immediacy, vulnerability and truth of her story create a powerful emotional connection for readers and a unique position in the market.

Publicity: 
* We have a comprehensive, multi-channel publicity and marketing strategy designed to maximise visibility, community engagement, and long-term demand for Chronic Wisdom.
* Key components include:
* High-Profile Book Launch Event
* A formal book launch will be held with prominent guests from across the community, including representatives from cancer centres, oncologists and medical teams, the NSW Stoma Organisation, local politicians, charity partners, and long-standing community supporters. Media invitations will also be extended. This event will include speeches, readings, and opportunities for interviews, ensuring strong initial visibility.
* Strong Community & Advocacy Networks
* Given Karen’s long-standing work in cancer advocacy, survivorship programs, and fundraising, the launch will be supported by her extensive network—patients, carers, clinicians, community groups, the NSW Stoma Organisation, and national cancer organisations. These partners will assist in amplifying awareness through their own channels.
* Social Media Campaign & Digital Storytelling
* Karen will run a coordinated marketing and awareness campaign across her active social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok (The Cholangio Queen), and LinkedIn. Content will include behind-the-scenes stories, excerpts from the book, video messages, reels, and personal reflections that connect deeply with her existing audience and expand reach organically.
* Dedicated Book Page on Karen’s Website
* Karen’s website will feature a dedicated landing page where readers can learn about the book, read an excerpt, purchase copies, access media materials, and make bookings for speaking engagements and consultancy. This will serve as a central hub for all traffic generated by her online and offline marketing.
* Conference & Speaking Engagements in 2026
* Karen has confirmed speaking opportunities at several conferences and community events in 2026, where Chronic Wisdom will be featured as part of her keynote presentations. These events attract health professionals, researchers, carers, cancer survivors, community leaders, and advocates — providing high-value exposure to audiences who deeply resonate with the book’s themes.
* Ongoing Media Engagement
* Karen will leverage local and national media contacts developed through her advocacy work. Opportunities include print articles, radio interviews, online publications, and potential TV segments focused on the book’s themes of survivorship, resilience, and lived experience with rare cancer or stomas.