Who is Karli?

Full name: Karla Maria Espinosa (nicknamed Karli or Karlita), a young Mexican immigrant college student majoring in journalism who evolves into an investigative reporter prodigy.

Character Overview

Karli is portrayed as:

• An underdog heroine with a big heart
• Immense courage
• Compassion for the oppressed and innocent (especially children and victims with no voice)
• A drive to expose corrupt oppressors and seek justice

She balances college life, dating (often with romantic entanglements and “boy troubles”), friendships (including roommate Kiana and other housemates at the International House), and family time with her high-stakes adventures. Her idol is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist named Tomalia, whom she hopes to succeed. The stories blend:

• Mystery
• Romantic suspense
• Hope
• Inspiration
• Themes of perseverance, empathy, and faith

Gardener frequently shares short vignettes and AI-generated videos/images of Karli on X, using writing prompts like #vss365 and #vssmystery to showcase her adventures (e.g., infiltrating cults, chasing con artists, solving cases involving injustice, or reflecting on personal growth).

Current Works

The published works center on Karli’s backstory in a young adult short-story series titled Life at the International House:

• Season One — Chronicles her freshman semester, chasing dreams, cross-cultural friendships, and early adventures at a university International House.
• Season Two — The spring semester conclusion, where Karli fully steps into her role as a journalist, standing up for solidarity among housemates while helping the innocent.

These stories are inspirational, heartwarming, and have ranked highly (e.g., top bestseller on Kobo in Taiwan, often near Harry Potter). Gardener teaches in Taiwan, and his students’ reflections highlight how Karli’s character positively impacts and inspires them.

Upcoming Plans

A new-adult inspirational romantic suspense novel about Karli’s sophomore year is forthcoming, set in the fictional beach community of Angelica Beach, California (a suburb of Santa Angelica), where Karli attends college. This new story will expand on her investigative exploits with more mystery, excitement, romance, and her signature courage. For more, visit Dave A. Gardener’s website (authordaveagardener.com) or follow him on X (@DaveAGardener) for ongoing Karli stories and updates.

The stories emphasize uplifting narratives for young adults, focusing on hope and changing the world through kindness and truth-seeking.