Karen Smythe

Karen Smythe is a Canadian novelist and short-story writer based in Guelph, Ontario.23 She has had a diverse career in both academia and writing:

Literary Career

Karen Smythe is an established figure in Canadian literature. She has published multiple works, including:

• A short-story collection titled "Stubborn Bones" (Polestar/Raincoast Books, 2001)14
• A novel called "This Side of Sad," which is her debut novel but not her first literary work1
• A non-fiction book "Figuring Grief," analyzing the depiction of mourning in fiction4

She has also contributed fiction and criticism to various journals and magazines.1

Professional Background

Karen's professional experience includes:

• Teaching literature at the University of Regina1
• Serving as the fiction editor at the Pottersfield Portfolio1
• Working as an English professor and university Registrar3
• Acting as a senior policy analyst3

Current Focus

Currently, Karen Smythe:

• Works full-time as a novelist and short-story writer2
• Provides writing and editing consultation services for health professions2
• Lives in Guelph, Ontario, where she writes from her writing shed13
• Is working on her second novel1

Karen Smythe's work often explores themes of memory, consciousness, and grief, as evidenced by her novel "This Side of Sad" and her academic work on mourning in fiction.14