Karen Maitland Writer Date of Birth: 27.08.1956 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Travels
2. Medieval Interlude
3. Writing Career
4. Inspirational Surroundings
5. Medievalist Pursuits
6. Professional Affiliations

Early Life and Travels

Karen Maitland was born in 1956 and spent her childhood on the sunny island of Malta. Much like the characters in her novel "The Masquerade of Liars," she has traveled extensively, venturing as far as the icy reaches of Greenland and the Arctic. Before becoming a full-time writer in 1996, Maitland held various jobs, including cleaner, university lecturer, egg packer, and dancer.

Medieval Interlude

The era of the Middle Ages has always fascinated Maitland. She spent a year and a half living in a Nigerian village as close to a medieval lifestyle as possible. Without electricity, running water, or sanitation, she bartered at the market and built a hearth in her home. This experience taught her valuable lessons about the challenges of daily life in the past.

Writing Career

Maitland's debut novel, "The White Room" (1996), a contemporary thriller set against the backdrop of terrorism, was nominated for the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award. This recognition led to her signing a series of book contracts, allowing her to first work part-time and then leave her job to write full-time. During this time, she began writing "The Masquerade of Liars" and met her beloved literary agent, Victoria Hobbs.

Inspirational Surroundings

Maitland currently resides in the historic city of Lincoln, England, which, along with the wild Norfolk marshlands nearby, provides ample inspiration for her novels. Her tiny writing room is adorned with a collection of dolls' houses, while the "medieval" Great Room of her home boasts a dining table and a wolfhound sprawled in front of a roaring fire, a setting that may find its way into her upcoming novel, "The Owl Killers."

Medievalist Pursuits

In addition to her writing, Maitland grows medieval herbs, such as lady's bedstraw and St. John's wort, and experiments with cooking medieval dishes that she describes in her novels. Recipes for these dishes can be found on her website.

Professional Affiliations

Maitland is a member of The Crime Writers' Association, The Historical Novel Society, The Society of Authors, and is proud to have recently joined The Medieval Murderers, a group of her literary heroes.