Karleen Koen (''née'' Smith) is an American novelist perhaps best known for her 1986 debut historical fiction novel, ''
Through a Glass Darkly''.
Personal life
Karleen Smith grew up in Houston, Texas. In 1970, she majored in English and graduated from
North Texas State University
The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public research university in Denton, Texas. It was founded as a nonsectarian, coeducational, private teachers college in 1890 and was formally adopted by the state 11 years later."Denton Normal School," ...
.
[ Koen became the first managing editor of ''Houston Home & Garden'', working in that capacity for five years. She decided to leave in order to focus on her husband Edward Koen and her two children.]Historical Novel Society The Historical Novel Society (HNS) is a nonprofit international literary society devoted to promotion of and advocacy for the genre of historical fiction.
Definition of historical fiction
There are varying definitions as to what types of literature ...
alongside Diana Gabaldon
Diana J. Gabaldon (; born January 11, 1952) is an American author, known for the ''Outlander'' series of novels. Her books merge multiple genres, featuring elements of historical fiction, romance, mystery, adventure and science fiction/fantasy. ...
and Margaret George
Margaret George (born 1943) is an American historical novelist specializing in epic fictional biographies. She is known for her meticulous research and the large scale of her books. She is the author of the bestselling novels ''The Autobiogra ...
, among others.
Literary career
To help pass the dull hours at home, Koen began writing a historical fiction novel on her favorite time period, the eighteenth-century. The book centered on teenage noblewoman Barbara Alderley and her trials and travails as she navigates English and French society. To gain a publisher for her work, now called '' Through a Glass Darkly'', Koen sent the manuscript to Jean Naggar, whose name she found in ''Writer's Digest
''Writer's Digest'' is an American magazine aimed at beginning and established writers. It contains interviews, market listings, calls for manuscripts, and how-to articles.
History
''Writer's Digest'' was first published in December 1920 under ...
''. Naggar encouraged Koen to continue finishing the book; believing it to be "the launching of a major author," Naggar mailed the manuscript to five major publishing companies;[ ]Random House
Random House is an American book publisher and the largest general-interest paperback publisher in the world. The company has several independently managed subsidiaries around the world. It is part of Penguin Random House, which is owned by Germ ...
purchased it for a "whopping" $350,000 in August 1985, which was at the time a record for a new novelist.[
Koen began work on her second novel soon after ''Through a Glass Darkly'' was purchased for print. She titled it ''Now Face to Face'', and described it as ""a continuation and completion of Barbara's story and it involves er cousinTony and the themes of bonding, family and love – and I don't mean sex."][
Her writing influences include ]Winston Graham
Winston Mawdsley Graham OBE, born Winston Grime (30 June 1908 – 10 July 2003), was an English novelist best known for the Poldark series of historical novels set in Cornwall, though he also wrote numerous other works, including contemporary ...
, Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning, (; 13 May 1907 – 19 April 1989) was an English novelist, biographer and playwright. Her parents were actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier and his wife, actress Muriel Beaumont. Her grandfather was Geor ...
, and Mary Stewart.
Works
* '' Through a Glass Darkly'' (1986)
* ''Now Face to Face'' (1995)
* ''Dark Angels'' (2006)
* ''Before Versailles'' (2011)
See also
* List of romantic novelists
Notable novelists who specialise or specialised in writing romance novels include:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
V
W
X-Z
See also
* Lists of writers
The following are lists of writers: ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koen, Karleen
Living people
American women writers
Writers of historical fiction set in the early modern period
Year of birth missing (living people)
People from Houston
University of North Texas alumni
Writers from Texas
Women historical novelists
21st-century American women