Karen Quinones Miller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karen E. Quinones Miller
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|---|---|
| Born | June 20, 1958 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Alma mater | Temple University |
| Spouse |
Kenneth W. Miller
(m. 1985; div. 1987) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents | Jose Quinones Marjorie Bayne Quinones |
Karen E. Quinones Miller, born on June 20, 1958, in New York City, is an American journalist, historian, and best-selling author. She is also known as a community activist. She has spent a lot of time studying the history of Harlem, a famous neighborhood in New York.
Contents
About Karen E. Quinones Miller
Early Life and Education
Karen E. Quinones Miller was born in New York City. Her parents were Marjorie (Bayne) Quinones 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.
She left junior high school when she was 13 years old. She often says she spent her youth exploring the streets of 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 Harlem's history. She read books and poems by famous writers like Langston Hughes and Ralph Ellison.
In 1980, Karen decided to join the U. S. Navy. She wanted a different kind of life. After her time in the Navy ended in 1985, she married Kenneth W. Miller. They had met while she was still serving. Their daughter, Camille R. Quinones Miller, was born in April 1987. Karen and Kenneth divorced in May of that same year.
Becoming a Journalist
In 1988, Karen moved to Philadelphia. She started working as a secretary for a newspaper called the Philadelphia Daily News. She often wrote letters to the editor, saying that the newspaper's stories about people of color were unfair.
Eventually, Karen decided to leave her job. She enrolled at Temple University to study journalism. She did very well in college, graduating with a high GPA. She often jokes, "Just goes to prove, the only thing I missed by not going to high school was the prom." After college, she worked for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper. Then, in 1994, she moved back to Philadelphia to write for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Karen Miller's Books
Starting Her Publishing Journey
In 1999, Karen 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, Karen decided to publish it herself. This is called self-publishing.
She sold 3,000 copies of Satin Doll in just six weeks! In eight months, she sold 28,000 copies. Because of this success, she signed with a literary agent in 2000. Many publishing companies wanted her book. Simon & Schuster won the rights to publish Satin Doll and a second book.
Her Own Publishing Company
Karen has published eight books with big publishing companies. All of her books are set in Harlem. But she also kept her own publishing company, called Oshun Publishing Company, Inc. This was the company she used to self-publish Satin Doll.
Oshun Publishing also published a novel called Yo Yo Love. This book became a best-seller in Essence magazine. It helped start the writing career of another best-selling author, Daaimah S. Poole. Another Essence best-selling author, Miasha, says Karen Miller was her writing mentor. She helped Miasha get her first publishing deal with Simon & Schuster. Karen Miller is also featured in a book called Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African-American Women in Literature.
Recognized for Her Writing
In 2013, the city of Philadelphia chose Karen Miller as one of fifty writers to be honored in the Philadelphia Literary Legacy project. This project celebrates important writers from Philadelphia. Other famous writers in this project include Louisa May Alcott and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Karen Miller as a Historian
Karen Miller is known as an expert on the history of Harlem. She has appeared on TV shows on channels like The History Channel, BET, and TV-1. On these shows, she talks about different historical people from Harlem.
In 2005, Karen had brain surgery to remove a tumor. In 2008, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a health condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. Even with these health challenges, she has continued her writing career. However, she now rarely goes on book tours.
Awards and Recognition
Karen E. Quinones Miller was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. This was for her book Ida B. in the Outstanding Literary – Fiction category.
