Karen E. Olson

, Female

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:
North Haven, CT
About Me:
Twenty years of working in newsrooms with mice, moldy carpeting, out-of-date computer systems, cranky editors, weird reporters and an even odder public lends itself nicely to writing a mystery series about a reporter whose affinity for the f-word has made me a target for little old ladies who like to email me about their displeasure with that. My books In the Annie Seymour mystery series are SACRED COWS, SECONDHAND SMOKE, DEAD OF THE DAY, and SHOT GIRL, which will be out in November 2008.

I am also currently writing the first in a mystery series about a tattoo shop owner in Las Vegas. THE MISSING INK will be out in July 2009. There is no cursing in this book. Have to give the readers options.
I Am A:
Writer
Website:
http://www.kareneolson.com
Books And Authors I Like:
I like the usual suspects, and I lean toward darker, noirish stories rather than cozies.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
The Palm Beach Story; All the Presidents' Men; The Full Monty; Rebecca; Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.

The Amazing Race; The Wire; American Idol; Project Runway; Tony Bourdain's No Reservations; Extras.

Comment Wall:

  • Daniel Hatadi

    Ah, the First Offenders are coming. Welcome aboard, Karen.

    Mar 13, 2007

  • Victor Gischler

    My wife makes me watch Project Runway ... and ... well, now I sorta like it.

    Don't tell the guys.

    Wait? What? Anyone can read this chatter. Uh-oh ...

    Mar 13, 2007

  • Lori G. Armstrong

    Nice pic, Karen! Viva la FOFO's

    Mar 13, 2007

  • Karen E. Olson

    Yet another site to check every day...thanks, Lori, for inviting me into this little world. I have no clue how it works, so I'm just going to watch everyone else and see how it's done...

    Mar 13, 2007

  • Lori G. Armstrong

    You'll be checking a couple of times a day. Now I know why I never see my kids.

    Mar 14, 2007

  • Alison Gaylin

    Hi, Karen! I'm thinking of subsituting a picture of Sunjaya for my author photo. Good idea?

    Mar 14, 2007

  • Lori G. Armstrong

    Love the new look. Very urban. Where'd you get the pic at the top?

    Can I get that pic of me, Dusty and Harry on my page? What ever happened to the pic of the 4 FO from Bouchercon at the Shamus Awards?

    Sorry. Stop with the questions now....

    Mar 18, 2007

  • Karen E. Olson

    Lori, you inspired me. I've been goofing with the picture up at the top for the last half hour to get it the way I want. It's the New Haven skyline, and I think it's okay now and I have to stop. I my picture, the skyline is also in the background.

    I'll email you the picture of you, Dusty and Harry. And I've got other pictures, too, so I suppose I might as well put those up now.

    I'm supposed to be writing. Yeah, right...

    Mar 18, 2007

  • Megan Abbott

    Hey, Karen--Good to "see" you. Let's get together in NYC soon!

    Mar 18, 2007

  • Sandra Scoppettone

    You can make a font bigger by holding down Ctrl and using the wheel in your mouse. Truth is I didn't mean to make the font that big and only did it in my first post.

    Mar 18, 2007

  • Lori G. Armstrong

    Ooh, another morning of checking what's what.

    You get writing done yesterday?

    Mar 18, 2007

  • Daniel Hatadi

    Karen, just so you know, the timezone issue will be fixed in the future (and it will report the time based on the country in your profile).

    Mar 19, 2007

  • Carol Davis Luce

    Hi Karen, thanks for befriending me here on Crimespace.

    Mar 24, 2007

  • Shane Gericke

    Another ink-stained wretch for the Happy Newsie Club! (Me, former Chicago Sun-Times.) Good to meet you here, Karen.

    Shane

    Apr 3, 2007

  • Karyn J. Powers

    Hi Karen, I found your series and love your characters. Now I've been sending your books to my sisters around the state. (life's too short to wait for library books) I love the slightly shady father from Vegas.

    Apr 22, 2007

  • Nichole R. Bennett

    Hi Karen! Great meeting you at Mayhem.

    May 30, 2007

  • J.D. Rhoades

    Just finished SECONDHAND SMOKE...it was great. Annie's my kind of girl. Look forward to reading the rest.

    Aug 11, 2007

  • Clea Simon

    Excellent cover! Looking forward to this one.

    Sep 5, 2007

  • JackBludis

    The term "literary" writing always frosts me.

    So many, when they say, "I write literary fiction," mean, "I'm a real writer, and other's aren't."

    I don't write literary fiction, I just write the best I can.

    Sep 28, 2007

  • Karyn J. Powers

    Can't wait to get my hands on Dead of the Day. I hooked my sisters on "Annie" (especially my sister, Ann). Congrats, woman, and Happy Holidays!

    Dec 4, 2007

  • Mari Sloan

    I like the way you describe your reporter background on your author's page. I'm betting your characters in your books are a lot of fun to read, and you will be fun to know. A background of decidedly odd people makes for great writing.
    :-)
    Mari

    Dec 31, 2007