Author Information:

Hi, I'm Karen Dickson. My family emigrated to South Africa when I was nine and I grew up in a beautiful seaside village called Gonubie, which is just outside East London in the Eastern Cape. Whilst there I met my husband, John and had my first child. We returned to England in 1991 and now live in Shaftesbury in Dorset. I have two children, both grown-up now, two grown-up step-sons and four step-grandchildren. In October I will become a granny again to a new grandson. As a child I was always writing stories. I was, and still am, a prolific reader. I read all the children's classics, but my favourite authors were Enid Blyton and Laura Ingalls Wilder. As an adult I enjoy many genres of fiction, horror, crime thrillers, romance, suspense. A few authors I enjoy are John Grisham, Elly Griffiths, Rita Bradshaw, Rosie Goodwin and David Nicholls and I enjoy mooching around book shops in search of new authors. I have always been interested in social history. My grandparents used to tell me stories about their lives growing up in the early part of the twentieth century and their descriptions were so vivid I could actually picture the scenes in my mind. When I write, although my books are set mainly in Dorset and not up north which is where my grandparents lived, I find I draw on their descriptions and memories extensively. I have been overwhelmed at the response I have received over my first published novel, The Shop Girl's Soldier. People have even stopped me in the street to tell me how much they enjoyed it. My next novel is due out next March and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as they did the first one. I am currently writing another novel which is set around Shaftesbury and Bristol during the Second World War. Thank you for taking the time to look at my page and please follow me if you would like future updates on my writing. Thank you x