Stolz, Karen 1957-

PERSONAL:

Born March 5, 1957, in St. Louis, MO; daughter of Dutch (an Episcopalian minister) and Jeanne (a financial secretary) Stolz; children: Danny Spence. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University of Kansas, B.A., 1980; University of Iowa, M.F.A., 1982. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Episcopalian. Hobbies and other interests: Reading fiction, baking, shopping.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Pittsburg, KS. Office—Department of English, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS 66762-7510. Agent—Gail Hochman, Brandt & Hochman, 1501 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Austin Community College, Austin, TX, adjunct instructor in English, 1994-2005; St. Edward's University, Austin, TX, adjunct instructor, 2001-05; Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS, instructor in creative writing, 2005—.

MEMBER:

Associated Writing Programs, Kansas Center for the Book, Writers League of Texas (member of board of directors, 2001—).

AWARDS, HONORS:

Fellow, Texas Commission on the Arts and Austin Writers League, 1999.

WRITINGS:

World of Pies (novel), Hyperion (New York, NY), 2000.

Fanny and Sue (novel), Hyperion (New York, NY), 2003.

Contributor of short stories to magazines, including Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan.

SIDELIGHTS:

Karen Stolz told CA: "I have been writing fiction for a long time. I began sending out stories when I was in high school, but I didn't really understand how to write a good short story until I was a student at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Being there was life-changing for me; I had the time to write seriously for two years, make friendships I still keep up with all these years later, teach my first fiction-writing classes, sell my first story on my own, and get the attention of an agent. I write fiction because I love fiction, and because the process of realizing a story's intentions is very exciting to me. I love the shape of a story, whether it's short or novel-sized, and I love the tricks of language and the well-chosen word. I like to write about characters who do things I've never done, but whose hearts I understand. I love hearing from readers when they have read my books and feel moved by them.

"I am interested in the sixties and seventies, my personal growing-up years. I'm interested in racial issues as well, and my novel-in-process focuses on race and education. This work is coauthored with a longtime friend. I'd never coauthored anything before this, but it's been a very good experience so far. I have been in a couple of very good writing groups over the years (am in one now) and consider this an important part of my writing process. Being a teacher of creative writing is challenging and takes time away from my own writing, but it's exciting to be around students who are making discoveries and breakthroughs, and when I have good students, I feel honored to help them."