Karin Kallmaker (born 1960) is an American author of lesbian fiction whose works also include those originally written under the name Laura Adams. Her writings span lesbian romance, lesbian erotica, and lesbian science-fiction/fantasy. Dubbed the ''Queen of Lesbian Romance'', she publishes exclusively in the lesbian market as a matter of personal choice.

Early life and education

Kallmaker was born in 1960 in

Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...

, California. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a B.A. in

Business Administration Business administration is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. Overview The administration of a business includes the performance o ...

in 1988.

Lesbian romance novels

Considered a master at characterization, Kallmaker's work reflects the interior lives of her lesbian heroines, set primarily in romance novel situations. "Credible and spirited" protagonists also face contemporary social challenges, resulting in a body of work that reflects lesbian community history since her debut novel, ''In Every Port'' (1989), which included events surrounding the assassination of Harvey Milk in 1978. Her second novel, ''Touchwood'', established her as a writer with "a sure sense of the power of language and of the power of eros." Her typical heroine is "the kind of indestructible and talented woman we all dream we could be -- much like Molly Bolt in '' Rubyfruit Jungle''." In spite of publishing the majority of her work as lesbian romance genre fiction, "there's something original to every book", featuring "complex stories of believable, vulnerable lesbian characters who grow strong through facing tough issues." Deeply influenced by mentor Katherine V. Forrest as an emerging writer, her fifth novel, ''Painted Moon'', was hailed as "the next Curious Wine," and remains one of her most popular novels, fifteen years after its original publication. Crediting

Jane Austen Jane Austen ( ; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for #List of works, her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century ...

as a foremother of the modern novel, Kallmaker's ''Just Like That'' is a lesbian version of '' Pride and Prejudice''. Another homage-by-genre-twist novel is ''Christabel'', inspired by the

Samuel Taylor Coleridge Samuel Taylor Coleridge ( ; 21 October 177225 July 1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets with his friend William Wordsworth ...

poem of the same name. Written initially under the pen name Laura Adams, Kallmaker dedicated the novel to Jeannette Howard Foster for her examination of the lesbian subtext, moving her to retell the story with the women triumphant. Her ability to push the boundaries of genre fiction while maintaining her popularity is epitomized by ''Maybe Next Time'', "an engrossing, compelling story of redemption, healing and surviving," which won a

Lambda Literary Award Lambda Literary Awards, also known as the "Lammys", are awarded yearly by Lambda Literary Foundation, Lambda Literary to recognize the crucial role LGBTQ+ writers play in shaping the world. The Lammys celebrate the very best in LGBTQ+ literatur ...

. Her novels include the Golden Crown Literary Society and

Lambda Literary Foundation The Lambda Literary Foundation (also known as Lambda Literary) is an American LGBTQ literary organization whose mission is to nurture and advocate for LGBTQ writers, elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve their legaci ...

award-winning ''18th & Castro'', ''In Deep Waters 1/2'', ''Just Like That'', ''The Kiss that Counted'', ''Maybe Next Time'', and ''Sugar''. Her writing career began with

Naiad Press Naiad Press (1973–2003) was an American publishing company, one of the first dedicated to lesbian literature. At its closing it was the oldest and largest lesbian/feminist publisher in the world. History Naiad Press was founded by partners Barba ...

, one of the shaping publishers of lesbian fiction. In 2001, she placed her work as Laura Adams with a new press, Bella Books. After Naiad Press closed in 2003, she moved the remainder of her lesbian romance titles to Bella. In 2008, she joined Bella Books as the press's first Editorial Director, and retired from that position in 2015.

Short stories and essays

A "cleverly inventive" short story writer, she has published more than five dozen short stories in collections from her own publishers, as well as anthologies from publishers such as Alyson Books, Regal Crest Enterprises, Circlet Press, Bold Strokes Books, and Haworth Press. The genre of her stories go from vanilla romance to explicit erotica. In a May 2006 interview with Q Syndicate, Kallmaker discussed some of the resistance she faced to the idea that a romance writer could also write erotica. "...Part of my goal for writing erotica was to decriminalize lesbian sex for lesbians, especially those in committed couples and those who don't live in an urban Mecca with an out-and-proud sex-positive attitude." Volumes containing her lesbian erotica short stories have won awards from the Golden Crown Literary Society and the

. Published essays have dealt with issues of identity for the author. In 1993, she wrote "When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Lesbian" for ''Multicultural America: A Resource Book for Teachers of Humanities and American Studies'', which explored the disconnect between different stages of coming out, when she first observed the community but did not yet feel a member of it. Ten years later, after the birth of her two children: "For many years I was, by all outward appearances, a suburban married woman." In 2007, in ''Love, Castro Street'', her essay "Where One Size Fits All" concluded the award-winning anthology with "No matter what my clothing of the day might be, from a shy writer offering to sign her first novel to a seeming soccer mom with two kids in tow, Castro Street has never refused me entry. The potholes, the crowds, the scary traffic are still there, but somehow the street is larger than ever."

Science fiction and fantasy novels as Laura Adams

As Laura Adams, Kallmaker has written lesbian science fiction and fantasy titles that include a "chilling brush with reality." Though the novels include strong lesbian romance storylines, their themes revolve around the power of lesbian community and

spirituality The meaning of ''spirituality'' has developed and expanded over time, and various meanings can be found alongside each other. Traditionally, spirituality referred to a religious process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape o ...

Writing career

Kallmaker has 18 years of experience with non-profit financial management. Workplaces, such as an association of home and health care service providers to the elderly, a private lender investing in projects to benefit low income people, and a half-year at an oil refinery, have provided background for many of her novels.Kallmaker, Karin. ''Lecture at Stonewall Library and Archives'', Ft. Lauderdale (2008) * ''In Every Port'' (1990) * ''Touchwood'' (1991), translated in French as ''Au grand jour'' * ''Paperback Romance'' (1992) * ''Car Pool'' (1993), translated in French as ''Emporte-moi'' * ''Painted Moon'' (1994) * ''Wild Things'' (1996), translated in French as ''Libera me'' * ''Embrace in Motion'' (1997) * ''Night Vision'' (1997) (writing as Laura Adams) * ''Christabel'' (1998) (writing as Laura Adams) * ''Making Up for Lost Time'' (1998) * ''Watermark'' (1999) * ''The Dawning'' (1999) (writing as Laura Adams) * ''Unforgettable'' (2000) * ''Frosting on the Cake'' (2001) (short stories) * ''Tunnel of Light 1: Sleight of Hand'' (2001) (writing as Laura Adams) * ''Substitute for Love'' (2001) * ''Tunnel of Light 2: Seeds of Fire'' (2002) (writing as Laura Adams) * ''Maybe Next Time'' (2003) * ''All the Wrong Places'' (2004), translated in French as ''Petits jeux entre amies'' * ''New Exploits 1: Once Upon a Dyke'' (2004) (with Johnson, Szymanski, Watts) * ''One Degree of Separation'' (2004) * ''Sugar'' (2004) * ''Just Like That'' (2005) * ''New Exploits 2: Bell, Book and Dyke'' (2005) (with Johnson, Szymanski, Watts) * ''18th & Castro'' (2006) (short stories) * ''New Exploits 3: Stake through the Heart'' (2006) (with Johnson, Szymanski, Watts) * ''Finders Keepers'' (2006), translated in French as ''La belle éprise'' * ''New Exploits 4: Tall in the Saddle'' (2007) (with Johnson, Szymanski, Watts) * ''In Deep Waters 1: Cruising the Seas'' (2007) (with Radclyffe) * ''Christabel'' (Second Edition)(2008) * ''In Deep Waters 2: Cruising the Strip'' (2008) (with Radclyffe) * ''The Kiss That Counted'' (2008) * ''Warming Trend'' (2009) * ''Stepping Stone'' (2009) * ''Above Temptation'' (2010) * ''Roller Coaster'' (2011) * ''Love by the Numbers'' (2013) * ''Captain of Industry'' (2016) * ''Castle Wrath'' (2017) * ''My Lady Lipstick'' (2018) * ''Because I Said So'' (2019) * ''Simply the Best'' (2021)

Works in translation and other formats

Numerous novels have been translated for distribution in France (KTM Editions), Germany (Verlag Krug & Schadenberg), Spain (Egales) and the Czech Republic (LePress). Some titles have also been acquired for hardcover editions by InsightOut Book Club, a division of the Quality Paperback Book Club. Most of her titles are also available in e-Book format. A complete listing of works in translation is available on the author's website.

Awards

* 2020 - ''Because I Said So'' – Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Contemporary Romance * 2019 - ''My Lady Lipstick'' – Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Romantic Blend * 2011 - ''Above Temptation'' – Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Romantic Suspense * 2011 - ''Frosting on the Cake 2'' – Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Anthology/Short Story * 2010 - ''Stepping Stone'' – Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Lesbian Romance * 2009 - ''The Kiss that Counted'' – Lambda Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Romance * 2009 - ''The Kiss that Counted'' – Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Ann Bannon Popular Choice * 2009 - ''In Deep Waters 2: Cruising the Strip'' - Lambda Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Erotica co-authored with Radclyffe * 2008 - ''In Deep Waters 1: Cruising the Seas'' - Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Erotica co-authored with Radclyffe * 2008 - ''Finders Keepers'' - Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist, Lesbian Romance * 2008 - ''Finders Keepers'' - Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist, Ann Bannon Popular Choice * 2007 - ''18th & Castro'' – Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Erotica * 2007 - ''18th & Castro'' – Lambda Literary Award Finalist, LGBTQ Erotica * 2007 - ''Finders Keepers'' – Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Lesbian Romance * 2006 - ''Just Like That'' – Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Romance * 2006 - ''New Exploits 2: Bell, Book and Dyke'' - Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist, Lesbian Fantasy co-authored with Julia Watts, Therese Szymanski and Barbara Johnson * 2006 - ''All the Wrong Places'' –Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist, Lesbian Romance * 2006 - ''All the Wrong Places'' – Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Lesbian Erotica * 2006 - ''All the Wrong Places'' – Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Lesbian Romance * 2005 - ''Sugar'' - Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Lesbian Romance * 2005 - ''New Exploits 1: Once Upon a Dyke'' - Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Fantasy co-authored with Julia Watts, Therese Szymanski and Barbara Johnson * 2004 - ''Maybe Next Time'' – Lambda Literary Award Winner, Romance * 2003 - ''Tunnel of Light 2: Seeds of Fire'' - Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Fantasy * 2002 - ''Substitute for Love'' - Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Romance

Other recognitions

* 2004 Alice B Medal - The Alice B Readers Award for body of work * 2008 Selected as guest lecturer, ''Distinguished Author Series'', Stonewall Library and Archives * 2008 LJ Maas Memorial Award for mentorship of new and emerging writers * 2011 Golden Crown Literary Society Trailblazer Award

Personal

Kallmaker and her partner of more than 30 years reside in the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a List of regions of California, region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, S ...

. They were married on August 25, 2008, and are the mothers of two children, Kelson and Lee.

References

External links

A complete listing o
short stories and essays in anthologies
is available on the author's website.
Karin Kallmaker's Official Website
Kallmaker Biographical Information and Full Bibliography. Retrieved on 2008-05-31.
Goldie Award Winners
Golden Crown Literary Society.
Lambda Literary Foundation
Retrieved on 2008-05-31.
Publisher's home page
* ''Gay Power, Lesbian Lust and Literary Trash'', San Francisco Bay Times, 9/21/200

* ''In Their Own Words: Lesbian Writers on their Inspiration'', AfterEllen.com, 5/26/200
Readings and Lectures
by author on video {{DEFAULTSORT:Kallmaker, Karin 1960 births 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American women writers American women novelists American romantic fiction writers Lambda Literary Award winners American lesbian writers Living people American women short story writers 20th-century American novelists Writers from Sacramento, California California State University, Sacramento alumni American LGBTQ novelists LGBTQ people from California American women romantic fiction writers 20th-century American short story writers 21st-century short story writers