Karla Sutton-McKinney is a mentor, teacher, poet, writer and now author of her first poetry book Summer of 2020. Karla has been writing poetry since 1999. Her first piece was dedicated to her late cousin Rashed Omarr Davison titled Just As I Am. Karla resides in Cordova, Tennessee twenty minutes outside of downtown Memphis. A native of St. Louis, MO, she has been married to Mark A. McKinney for 27 years and has three sons, all who are married with growing families. She has two grandchildren with another preparing for his or her exodus in March of 2021. Currently, she is taking a break from teaching to return to school to become better equipped to advocate for educational equity by obtaining her MasterтАЩs in Education Policy and Leadership. Karla spends her time sharing the Word of God in teaching ladyтАЩs Bible studies and Sunday School, in prayer sessions or one-on-one mentoring moments. She also enjoys the outdoors, reading, cooking and spending time with family. She invites you to share in her experience with God through this first book of poetry Summer of 2020 based on turbulent events...while gathering a glimpse into her next work Back-to-the-Beginning Volume 1 - The Things He Said. Grab your tea or coffee, settle into your quiet space, prepare your heart and mind to embrace the work ordained for us before we were ever known. Enjoy.