Karen Dudley

I am tweaker of words, a procrastinator of work, a scribbler of novels, and a maker of gourmet meals. I am also a mum, which is more work than all of the above put together. Great perqs though! My checkered past includes field biology, production art, photo research, palaeo-environmental studies, editing, archaeology and Classical Studies. Needless to say, I just couldn't seem to settle on one job and sometimes I thought there was something wrong with me--a sentiment echoed by my mum. Then, a number years ago, an epiphany! I finally realized that what I really wanted to do was... everything! And if you want to do everything, the best way to do it is to be a writer. I have discovered that I'm happiest sitting at my computer in my pink leopard fleece footie pajamas (now there's a troubling mental image for you!) creating imaginary worlds and people. I am now doing everything and living in Winnipeg with my urban planner/librarian/professor husband (who has his own career identity problems), our lovely daughter, and assorted very nice but occasionally evil-minded cats. I wrote four environmental mysteries and a short stack of wildlife biology books for kids before I had another epiphany... I want to write fantasy! So I did. Food for the Gods is an historical fantasy novel set in ancient Athens. It's all about chefs and gods and food and murder and strange beasties and a huge amount of fun. Think Gordon Ramsay in ancient Greece with a generous dollop of the fantastical and you're starting to get the picture. It's sequel, Kraken Bake is also tonnes 'o fun. And now, I am working on something completely different. It's all very hush-hush at the moment, but I can tell you it is a second world fantasy and it has a definite Silk Road flavour. Ah, yes, having fun, having fun...