Karen Healey

Karen Healey is a New Zealand-born author best known for her work in the young adult genre, notably in science fiction, fantasy, and magical romance. Her debut novel, Guardian of the Dead, gained recognition for its blend of real-world elements and supernatural horror.

Karen Healey was born in Whangarei in 1981. She has lived in several places across New Zealand, including Whangarei, Otematata, Oamaru, Blenheim, and Christchurch, as well as in Fuuchuu-shi, Japan, and Melbourne, Australia. Before becoming a full-time writer, Karen worked as a shop assistant, shelf-filler, tutor, and English teacher, including time in Japan. Now, she balances writing with part-time substitute teaching in Christchurch.

Her debut, Guardian of the Dead, released in 2010, was well-received. The book introduces Ellie, a misfit heroine with emerging powers, alongside a mix of captivating characters and supernatural adventures rooted in Maori mythology. The plot seamlessly integrated New Zealand's landscapes and myths into its contemporary setting and supernatural elements. As Healey once described, the book features "a funny, uncanny, terrifying adventure, featuring a kick-ass misfit heroine."

Following the success of her debut, Healey continued to produce notable works, such as the Olympus Inc. series, the Movie Magic series, and When We Wake. In While We Run, the sequel to When We Wake, Healey delves deeper into a dystopian world. She explained, "Readers can expect the creepiest antagonist I have ever written."

Healey has won the Aurealis and Sir Julius Vogel awards and has been a finalist for the ALA Morris Award, the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and the Andre Norton Award. Although she does not believe all writers have this responsibility, she is passionate about integrating political themes into her works. "All writing is political writing," she remarked, emphasizing the natural inclusion of political themes in literature.

In 2017, Healey became an Ursula Bethell Writer-In-Residence at the University of Canterbury, where she had also completed her education.

Kate Healey lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Photo credit: www.karenhealey.com