Karen Quinones Miller facts for kids

Karen E. Quinones Miller (born June 20, 1958, New York City) is an American writer, journalist, and historian. She is known for her best-selling books, many of which are set in Harlem, New York. She is also a community activist.

About Karen E. Quinones Miller

Karen Miller was born in New York City on June 20, 1958. Her parents were Marjorie and Jose Quinones. She has a twin sister named Kathleen and a younger brother named Joseph. Her older brother, David, passed away in 2008. Karen is African-American.

Early Life and Education

When she was 13, Karen left junior high school. She spent much of her youth in Harlem. Even though she didn't go to school, her parents made sure she kept learning on her own. They gave her many books to read. This is how she became interested in the history of Harlem. She read novels and poems by famous writers like Langston Hughes and Ralph Ellison.

In 1980, Karen joined the U. S. Navy. After her time in the Navy ended in 1985, she married Kenneth W. Miller. Their daughter, Camille, was born in 1987.

Becoming a Journalist

In 1988, Karen moved to Philadelphia. She worked as a secretary for a newspaper called the Philadelphia Daily News. She felt that the newspaper's stories about people of color were unfair.

Because of this, Miller decided to leave her job. She enrolled at Temple University to study journalism. She did very well in college, graduating with high grades. She often jokes that the only thing she missed by not going to high school was the prom. After college, she worked for another newspaper, the Virginian-Pilot. In 1994, she returned to Philadelphia to work for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Her Books and Publishing

In 1999, Karen Miller wrote her first novel, Satin Doll. Her daughter, who was 11 at the time, encouraged her to write it. Many agents and publishers said no to her book at first. So, she decided to publish it herself.

Self-Publishing Success

Karen sold 3,000 copies of Satin Doll in just six weeks. In eight months, she sold 28,000 copies! This success caught the attention of many publishing companies. In 2000, Simon & Schuster bought the rights to Satin Doll and another book.

Miller has published eight books, all of which are set in Harlem. She also kept her own publishing company, Oshun Publishing Company, Inc. She used this company to publish Satin Doll. Oshun Publishing also helped other writers, like Daaimah S. Poole, publish their books. Miasha, another best-selling author, says Karen Miller was her mentor.

Literary Recognition

Karen Miller is recognized in the book Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African-American Women in Literature. In 2013, the city of Philadelphia honored her as one of fifty writers in the Philadelphia Literary Legacy project. Other famous writers in this project include Louisa May Alcott and W.E.B. Du Bois.

As a Historian

Karen Miller is known as an expert on the history of Harlem. She has appeared on TV shows on The History Channel, BET, and TV-1. On these shows, she talks about important people and events from Harlem's past.

In 2005, Karen had brain surgery. In 2008, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Even with these health challenges, she continues to write. However, she now rarely goes on book tours.

Awards

• Nominated for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary – Fiction for her book Ida B..