The decision to go forward with an unplanned pregnancy—or not—is more than just an inflammatory topic of debate. It is, first and foremost, the loneliest and most difficult moment in a woman’s life.

Barbara Pierson wrote The Karma of a Woman when she was 26 years old and facing her second experience with an unplanned pregnancy. “My purpose,” she explains, “is neither to promote, condemn, nor argue what is right or wrong. It is, instead, a channel for other women to tune into for support.” Her hope, she explains, is that it will serve to create empathy and understanding for the pain and deeply personal circumstances that might drive a woman to choose one way or the other—even as she realizes that no matter how she chooses, her life will never be the same.

Pierson recounts her own journey masterfully, as a short memoir in verse. The book is illustrated with full-color mandalas by Kimberly Febo. “Mandalas are considered to be one of the oldest forms of art,” says Febo. “They have been used throughout the world for self-expression, spiritual transformation, and personal growth. They transcend all religions. They speak the language of spirit.”

The Karma of a Woman has been used as a performance piece by various artists in venues throughout New York City. Available now for the first time in print, it is a book that is as visually beautiful as it is powerful in its words.

Available in softcover (8.5" x 8.5", full color), ePub, and Kindle