HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAREN

I thought I'd write something personal today: a tribute to my daughter Karen, who has hit a milestone birthday today.

Here she is at four months:

 Because this is my fiber art blog, here are a couple of photos of Karen wearing clothing that I made for her. In the one, I made her vest and skirt (and the doll nightgown), and in the other it is the coat.

And here Karen is now--her head shot for her books and website:

In addition to being a wife and mother and the editor of a medical school journal at Yale,

Karen is an author. She has been an avid reader--and a writer--all her life. I still have some of her early poems. Now, however, she writes mysteries. In the Annie Seymour mysteries, which take place in New Haven, Annie is a crime reporter. Since Karen spent many years as a reporter and an editor, she knows the inside workings of a newspaper extremely well. She included lots of New Haven restaurants and food, her travel writing experience at the paper serving her well. Second Hand Smoke takes place on Wooster Street, widely famous for what many consider to be the best pizza places in the country. I really liked Annie for her spunk and humor. ("Pepe's or Sally's?")

Karen's newest is her tattoo series, which takes place in Las Vegas, Brett Kavanaugh being a respectable tattoo artist who owns "The Painted Lady." So far I have read two: The Missing Ink and Pretty in Ink. Coming next month is Driven to Ink. Although I miss reading about Annie, I think Pretty in Ink is Karen's best so far.

The books are filled with humor in spite of the murders and suspense.

Recently Karen was the head of a Mystery Writers of America committee to determine the Edgar Award winner for a children's mystery book. I got to read some of the entries. Perhaps my favorite was a picture book. 

If you like mysteries, check out Karen's website: http://.kareneolson.com

Now I have to finish her card and gift before I see her tonight.