Karen Day grew up in LaPorte, Indiana, and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in journalism and English. She received her master’s degree in English literature from DePaul University and completed doctoral studies and exams in English literature at New York University where she also taught writing.

Over the years she’s had a variety of jobs—teaching, writing for newspapers and magazines, walking dogs, teaching tennis. But on the side, she was always writing fiction. And always using adolescent narrators. In 1999 she decided to write full-time. Six years and many rejections later, Karen signed a two-book contract with Wendy Lamb at Random House. Her first novel, a middle grade fiction book called Tall Tales, will be published in May, 2007.

Karen wrote her first short story when she was nine, and her first novel when she was sixteen. Neither was published. But these rejections didn’t discourage her. She writes everyday because she loves it and can’t imagine doing anything else. “I begin writing at 5:30, nearly every morning. Even if I didn’t have a publishing contract, I’d still be up working. Writing is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.”

Today Karen lives outside Boston with her husband and three kids.

Tall Tales
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House, May 2007
Ages 9 and up, ISBN 978-0-375-83773-9

“I want to make a friend.”

Meg’s family has moved so often that it’s been hard for her to find a best friend. She starts sixth grade in a new town determined to change that. When she meets Grace Bennett, Meg realizes that she’s finally found the friend she’s always wanted.

But Meg has a secret about her family. She doesn’t want anyone to know, especially Grace. So Meg can’t resist telling fabulous stories about her family to Grace and the other kids. Even as the tall tales slip out of her mouth, she’s afraid that Grace will discover she’s been lying.

In Karen Day’s rewarding debut novel, Meg discovers that friendship is the key to telling the truth, and to a better life for her family.