Karen E. Quinones Miller’s path to being a journalist, historian, and bestselling author was by no means an easy one. Born and raised in Harlem, she dropped out of school at age 13 and eventually joined the Navy. After five years of service, she found a job as a secretary at “The Philadelphia Daily News.” Then, at age 29, she decided to go back to school. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in journalism and went on to write several books in addition to her investigative reporting work. Her career is a testament to her tenacity, and her belief that “no” was never the final word.