Karen Owen – författare

Recent electoral seasons in American politics demonstrate women’s keen interest, involvement, and influence as candidates and officeholders. Women possess political ambition, albeit in varying degrees, and as such, women seek opportunities to be politically engaged and affect America's representative institutions. This book analyzes why American women run for political office, and explores how political role models, identified as publicly elected officials and/or those who have served in the political arena, have greatly motivated women to run for higher political office, including seats in the U.S. Congress and state governorships. Evidence from personal interviews with ten congresswomen and fifty-five female state legislators reveals the ambitious nature of female politicians, the encouragement of political factors in their decisions to advance in politics, and their perceived responsibility to be role models to other women. Moreover, in studying thirty-five years of elections data, I find substantial support for how female political role models influence female state legislators’ candidacies and electoral outcomes to higher office. This work highlights the importance of women as symbolic representatives; female politicians are instrumental in emboldening a new generation of women to engage in politics. Role models in politics indeed have a purpose and an influential nature.

'At last! A book that perfectly captures the goofy kind of love that Dads have with their kids. Terrible jokes, embarrassing moments and unbridled adoration. Mums get a pass on this occasion!' - Ryan TubridyIntroducing the hilarious Disaster Dad series by Irish rugby star and media personality Donncha O'Callaghan, written with Blue Peter Book Club author Karen Owen and illustrated by Jenny Taylor.When Dad decides to plan a special surprise for Mum's birthday, the house turns to chaos!Mum is going to America to visit family for a week and has left a very clear master plan for Dad, Finn and Emma to follow. But when the plan is destroyed, Dad goes rogue and starts organising a birthday surprise! From disastrous D-I-Y and cockadoodle-doo-ing cockerels to bonkers baking, this book is crammed full of chaos!This laugh-out-loud family story is sure to delight readers aged 7+, and is perfect for fans of Dermot O'Leary, Jeremy Strong and Pamela Butchart.

'At last! A book that perfectly captures the goofy kind of love that Dads have with their kids. Terrible jokes, embarrassing moments and unbridled adoration. Mums get a pass on this occasion!' - Ryan TubridyIntroducing the hilarious Disaster Dad series by Irish rugby star and media personality Donncha O'Callaghan, written with Blue Peter Book Club author Karen Owen and illustrated by Jenny Taylor.When Dad decides to plan a special surprise for Mum's birthday, the house turns to chaos!Mum is going to America to visit family for a week and has left a very clear master plan for Dad, Finn and Emma to follow. But when the plan is destroyed, Dad goes rogue and starts organising a birthday surprise! From disastrous D-I-Y and cockadoodle-doo-ing cockerels to bonkers baking, this book is crammed full of chaos!This laugh-out-loud family story is sure to delight readers aged 7+, and is perfect for fans of Dermot O'Leary, Jeremy Strong and Pamela Butchart.

'Donncha is back with another dad-sized dollop of disaster! Jam-packed with delicious doughnuts, wind-borne wellies and supermodel mutts, this chronicle of calamity is fantastic fun for all the family ... and their dog!' - Alan Nolan, author of the Molly and Bram seriesIrish rugby star and media personality Donncha O'Callaghan is back with another laugh-out-loud family story, written with Blue Peter Book Club author Karen Owen and illustrated by Jenny Taylor.When Finn, Emma, Dad and Mum participate in a family fun day to raise money for charity, their competitive nature is revealed!When the family discover that Dad's arch-rival is also competing in the family fun day, Dad is determined to win! With a welly-throwing competition, wacky races and a talent show to prepare for, the family are on a strict NO DOUGHNUTS diet and training regime. But will their efforts be enough to win the prize?Full of mishaps and chaos, this hilarious story is sure to delight all readers aged 7+, and is perfect for fans of Dermot O'Leary, Jeremy Strong and Pamela Butchart.Also available - Disaster Dad: Chicken Chaos.'Even sillier than the reddest pair of underpants, this is packed with action, antics and the groaniest of dad jokes' - Shane Hegarty, author of the Boot series

'Even sillier than the reddest pair of underpants, this is packed with action, antics and the groaniest of dad jokes' - Shane Hegarty, author of the Boot series'Donncha is back with another dad-sized dollop of disaster! Jam-packed with delicious doughnuts, wind-borne wellies and supermodel mutts, this chronicle of calamity is fantastic fun for all the family ... and their dog!' - Alan Nolan, author of the Molly and Bram seriesIrish rugby star and media personality Donncha O'Callaghan is back with another laugh-out-loud family story, written with Blue Peter Book Club author Karen Owen and illustrated by Jenny Taylor.When Finn, Emma, Dad and Mum participate in a family fun day to raise money for charity, their competitive nature is revealed!When the family discover that Dad's arch-rival is also competing in the family fun day, Dad is determined to win! With a welly-throwing competition, wacky races and a talent show to prepare for, the family are on a strict NO DOUGHNUTS diet and training regime. But will their efforts be enough to win the prize?Full of mishaps and chaos, this hilarious story is sure to delight all readers aged 7+, and is perfect for fans of Dermot O'Leary, Jeremy Strong and Pamela Butchart.Also available - Disaster Dad: Chicken Chaos.

Join SPUD, the Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives, on their first fast-paced detective adventure. Getting your first hearing aids can be nerve-wracking; especially when you have to wear them to school. When Callie realises her new hearing aids - 'the Slugs' - give her the unique ability to communicate with Bo the Mynah bird, some of her worries are lifted. In fact, having a pair of eyes in the sky might come in handy… The duo team up with Callie's best friend, Grace, as they set out to catch a local thief who has been causing trouble all over town. Includes high-speed chases, a very peckish bird and purple POO! A new mystery series, illustrated by Louise Forshaw and perfect for reluctant readers.

SPUD – the Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives – have another mystery to solve!When there's a treasure heist on a school trip to the Tower of London, it's up to Callie, Grace and Bo to crack the case! Having magical hearing aids and a Spy in the Sky might just come in handy...

SPUD – the Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives are back and they have another mystery to solve. When Callie, Grace and Bo discover that a tarantula has escaped from the wildlife park, they must find the spider and reunite her with her spiderlings, before she dies from the cold. Can Callie’s magical hearing aids and mynah bird Bo – the SPUD team’s Spy in the Sky – help to find the missing creature before it’s too late?

SPUD – the Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives – are on holiday, but find themselves in a race to solve a new mystery! When they discover puffins coated in waste oil that has been dumped in the sea, they must find out who is to blame. Can they crack the case before more damage is caused to precious sea life and the Welsh coastline?