Personal life

Born Karyn Monk, she is the fourth child of John and Lorraine 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.

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.

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 Bantam. 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.

Single novels

• Surrender to a Stranger, 1994
• The Rebel and the Redcoat, 1996

Warriors Series

1. Once a Warrior, 1997
2. The Witch and the Warrior, 1998
3. The Rose and the Warrior, 2000

Kent Family Saga Series

1. The Prisoner, 2001
2. The Wedding Escape, 2003
3. My Favorite Thief, 2004
4. 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)