Karen Thompson Walker is an American novelist celebrated for her captivating storytelling and unique literary voice. She has authored the New York Times bestselling novel The Age of Miracles, which has received widespread acclaim and has been translated into twenty-seven languages. This novel, alongside Walker's literary achievements, has been recognized as one of the best books of the year by reputable publications and platforms such as People, O: The Oprah Magazine, and Financial Times, amongst others.
Born and raised in San Diego, Walker's academic journey led her to graduate from UCLA and the Columbia MFA program. She currently resides in Portland with her husband, the novelist Casey Walker, and their two daughters. Her role as an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of Oregon further underscores her commitment to the literary arts.
Walker's second novel, The Dreamers, published in 2019, is a mesmerizing narrative set in an isolated college town in Southern California. It explores the mysterious illness that induces perpetual sleep among the town's inhabitants, leading to a series of events that captivate and provoke thought about the possibilities contained within a human life. The novel has been lauded for its luminous prose, intricate characters, and the thematic depth it brings to discussions about reality versus delusion, and the capacity for humans to dream heightened dreams.
Her contributions to the literary world have not gone unnoticed, with features in Jezebel, Electric Literature, Publishers Weekly, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and more. Through her distinct and original voice, Walker continues to enchant and engage readers worldwide, drawing comparisons to other speculative fiction luminaries such as Margaret Atwood.