Karyn Monk
Karyn Monk | |
---|---|
Born |
Karyn Monk DOB unknown |
Pen name | Karyn Monk |
Occupation | Novelist |
Nationality | Canadian |
Period | 1994 - 2005 |
Genre | Romance |
Spouse | Philip |
Children | 3 |
Relatives | Lorraine Monk (mother) |
Website | |
www |
Karyn Monk is a Canadian best-selling writer of historical romance novels since 1994. Her books have appeared on the USA Today Bestseller List, and have won numerous awards.
As of December 2006, Monk is on a temporary break from writing to spend time with her three young children.[1]
Biography
Personal life
Born Karyn Monk, she is the fourth child of John and Lorraine (Spurrell) Monk. Because her parents had expected a boy, they had not chosen a girl's name, and decided to name their new daughter after the delivery room nurse. Neither parent was sure how to spell the name "Karen," though, leading to the unique spelling they chose.[1]
Monk was graduated from university with a degree in History. She planned to work in advertising and in her spare time perform in local musicals. While auditioning for a part in an original musical called "Last Tango in Fargo North Dakota," she met her future husband, Philip, who was that show's music director.[1]
The marriage had three children: Genevieve (b 1998), Carson (b 2001), and Adelaide (b 2005). The family lives in Toronto.[1]
Writing career
With her husband's support, Monk soon left her job in fashion advertising to pursue her dream of writing.[2] After two years of work on her first manuscript, she obtained an agent, who eventually sold her book, "Surrender to a Stranger," to Bantam. The novel was later nominated for Best First Book by Romantic Times.[1] A USAToday bestselling author, Monk has received critical acclaim for her sensual, powerful novels. She has been awarded many honors, including the Aspen Gold, Barclay Gold, the National Readers' Choice Award,[2] and a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award.[3]
As of December 2006, Monk is on a temporary break from writing to spend time with her three young children.[1]
Awards and recognition
- 1995 - Romantic Times nominee for Best First Historical Romance, Surrender to a Stranger[3]
- 1998 - Romantic times nominee for The Witch and the Warrior[3]
- 2003 - Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Historical Adventure[3]
- 2004 - Daphne du Maurier Award winner for Mystery/Suspense for My Favorite Thief
- 2004 - Second place in the Barclay Gold Award for My Favorite Thief
- 2004 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for My Favorite Thief
- 2004 - Golden Quill Award finalist for My Favorite Thief
- 2004 - Aspen Gold Award finalist for My Favorite Thief
- 2004 - Orange Rose Award finalist for My Favorite Thief
- 2004 - Booksellers' Best Award finalist for My Favorite Thief
- 2005 - Aspen Gold Award winner for Every Whispered Word
- 2005 - Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense winner for Every Whispered Word
- 2005 - Romantic Times Nominee, Every Whispered Word[3]
Bibliography
Single novels
- Surrender to a Stranger, 1994
- The Rebel and the Redcoat, 1996
Warriors Series
- Once a Warrior, 1997
- The Witch and the Warrior, 1998
- The Rose and the Warrior, 2000
Kent Family Saga Series
- The Prisoner, 2001
- The Wedding Escape, 2003
- My Favorite Thief, 2004
- Every Whispered Word, 2005
Anthologies in collaboration
- "Saving Celeste" in the anthology MY GUARDIAN ANGEL, 1995 (with Sandra Chastain, Kay Hooper, Susan Krinard and Elizabeth Thornton)