Karen Kijewski (pronounced key-EFF-ski) (born 1943) is an American writer of mystery novels, known for her Kat Colorado series. Biography Kijewski was born in Berkeley, California, the daughter of University of California, Berkeley professor Clarence Glacken, and received B.A. and M.A. degrees from UC-Berkeley. She was a high school English teacher in Massachusetts for almost a decade before dedicating herself to writing. A resident of Sacramento, California, she made a living tending a bar while establishing herself as a novelist. Kijewski is married and has two daughters. Bibliography Katwalk (St. Martin's, 1989). Katapult (St. Martin's, 1990). Kat's Cradle (Doubleday, 1992). Copy Kat (Doubleday, 1992). Wild Kat (Doubleday, 1994). Alley Kat Blues (Doubleday, 1995). Honky Tonk Kat (G.P. Putnam, 1996). Kat Scratch Fever (G.P. Putnam, 1997). Stray Kat Waltz (G.P. Putnam, 1998). Awards Kijewski's first novel, Katwalk, received a mixed reception from reviewers; however it also won the 1990 Anthony Award and the Shamus Award the same year, both for "Best First Novel". References 1943 births Living people 20th-century American novelists American mystery writers American women novelists Writers from Sacramento, California Writers from Berkeley, California University of California, Berkeley alumni Anthony Award winners Shamus Award winners Women mystery writers 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American novelists 21st-century American women writers