Author Karen Begelfer has been an avid scuba diver for 10 years, logging more than 200 dives in 20 countries. She holds an Open Water certification with PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Karen has been in love with the ocean since she was a child, and is threatening to sprout gills any day now. She is also a lifelong foodie, taking on the challenges of gastronomy from fish eyes in Tokyo, to alpaca in Peru to treacherous Manhattan street hotdogs. A self-taught cook, Karen's food delights those around her, including friends, family, co-workers, and the local fire department, recently called in to assist in an unfortunate exploding pound cake incident. Karen has requested additional pages for her passport so frequently that she has gained celebrity status at her town's post office. She uses her excitement for diving and hunger for tasty tidbits as valid excuses to travel the world extensively. When not traveling she resides in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband, daughter, and two salty dogs.