Karen

81, Female

Perth , Western Australia

Australia

Profile Information:

Hometown:
North of Boston
About Me:
Ran away from home to join the Peace Corps, eventually settled in Western Australia. Worked in media and advertising among other jobs; started up a publishing company, Quenda Books, in 2002-3 to publish children's books but am broadening to include books for older people including crime fiction. "The Angelus Ghost" was published in hard print last year after starting life as an e-book. Have had a number of short stories published Have been reviewing books for a leading crime fiction website, www.newmysteryreader.com for 5 or 6 years. Am particularly fascinated by the stupidity of real-life criminals, such as the lads who held up a bank wearing their work shirts with their names embroidered on the pockets, and the recent escapees in New Zealand who, handcuffed together, ran either side of a lamp post and knocked themselves out. Who needs to buy a plot suggestion book when the news shows do it free?
I Am A:
Writer, Publisher, Critic
Website:
http://www.bandicoot-books.com
Books And Authors I Like:
Robert Parker, Margaret Maron,Marcia Muller, P D James, Ngaio Marsh, W J Burley, JanWillem van de Wettering, J D Robb and many others. There are a number of new writers not getting the attention they deserve, such as Barbara Levenson, Chester Campbell and Mary Stanton, to name only three. And of course nobody beats W Shakespeare when you're looking for a plot idea!
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
Law and Order. CSI, although the insistent music tracks and weird lighting at starting to get to me. Almost any wildlife or historical documentary, particularly forensic speculations such as "Who Killed Joseph Stalin?" They don't often give definitive answers, but they do give you some great ideas.

Comment Wall:

  • Stephanie Padilla, Editor-NewMysteryReader.com

    HI Karen!

    Welcome! It's great to see you here. I love your expression of dumb criminals, sometimes it's a delight to laugh at the darker side....

    Mar 7, 2009

  • Beth Groundwater

    Hi Karen,
    Thanks for befriending this mystery author! I hope you'll put my debut novel, A Real Basket Case, on your to-read list. And if you're interested, I'm running a contest for free mystery books for those who sign up for me email newsletter to get news about the sequel, To Hell in a Handbasket, due out in May. Sign up here: http://bethgroundwater.com/Newsletter.html

    Mar 17, 2009

  • Beth Groundwater

    Wow, you are one busy beaver, Karen! Good luck with your new artist and safe travels.

    Actually, you may be able to get your hands on a copy of A Real Basket Case there in Australia. At least 7 library systems in the country have the large-print version, and you may be able to have your local library ask for one as a loaner. To see the holdings, go to: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/73993988&tab=holdings&loc=80919&start_holding=351#tabs
    Then, check out the last two pages that list Australia and New Zealand library systems having copies. If you can get your hands on one of those and read it and like it, let me know if you would like me to send you a PDF file of the ARC of To Hell in a Handbasket to read. I know some people hate to read books on the computer, but if you're willing, that may be the quickest and cheapest way for you to get a copy to review.

    Mar 17, 2009