Karyn Monk
Encyclopedia
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.
. 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.
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
.
The marriage had thee children: Genevieve (b 1998), Carson (b 2001), and Adelaide (b 2005). The family lives in Toronto
.
. The novel was later nominated for Best First Book by Romantic Times. 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, and a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award.
As of December 2006, Monk is on a temporary break from writing to spend time with her three young children.
As of December 2006, Monk is on a temporary break from writing to spend time with her three young children.
Personal life
Born Karyn Monk, she is the fourth child of John and Lorraine (Spurrell) MonkLorraine Monk
Lorraine Monk, OC, O.Ont, née Lorraine Althea Constance Spurrell is a Canadian photographer.Her daughter Karyn Monk is a novelist.-Biography:...
. 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.
Monk was graduated from university with a degree in History. She planned to work in advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
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
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
.
The marriage had thee children: Genevieve (b 1998), Carson (b 2001), and Adelaide (b 2005). The family lives in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Writing career
With her husband's support, Monk soon left her job in fashion advertising to pursue her dream of writing. After two years of work on her first manuscript, she obtained an agent, who eventually sold her book, "Surrender to a Stranger," to BantamBantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
. The novel was later nominated for Best First Book by Romantic Times. 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, and a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award.
As of December 2006, Monk is on a temporary break from writing to spend time with her three young children.
Awards and recognition
- 1995 - Romantic Times nominee for Best First Historical Romance, Surrender to a Stranger
- 1998 - Romantic times nominee for The Witch and the Warrior
- 2003 - Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Historical Adventure
- 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 AmericaRomance Writers of AmericaRomance Writers of America is a national non-profit genre writers association. It provides networking and support to individuals seriously pursuing a career in romance fiction and supports top authors such as Nora Roberts and Judith McNaught.-History:...
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
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 HooperKay HooperKay Hooper is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning American author of more than 60 books.-Biography:Kay Hooper was born on an Air Force base in California, where her father was stationed. The family soon moved back to North Carolina, where Hooper was raised with her younger brother and...
, Susan KrinardSusan KrinardSusan Krinard is an author of paranormal romance, science fiction, and fantasy.Krinard received a BFA in Illustration from the California College of Arts and Crafts. She became inspired to become an author when a close friend of hers read a romantic "Beauty and the Beast"-like excerpt she'd written...
and Elizabeth Thornton)