Karen Thompson Walker (born 1967) is an American novelist and short‑story writer. She is best known for her debut novel The Age of Miracles (2012) and her second novel The Dreamers (2019).
Early life and education
Walker was born in 1967 in Berkeley, California. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. Details regarding her undergraduate education and early career are not extensively documented in widely available sources.
Career
Walker published her first short story, “The Danube,” in the literary magazine Prairie Schooner in 2006. Her debut novel, The Age of Miracles, was released in 2012 by Random House. The novel, set during a fictional astronomical phenomenon that halts the Earth's rotation, follows a teenage girl coping with personal and societal upheaval. The Age of Miracles received critical acclaim and was selected for several book clubs and reading programs.
In 2019, Walker released her second novel, The Dreamers, also published by Random House. The book explores a small Midwestern town where a mysterious sleeping sickness spreads, interweaving the perspectives of multiple characters. The Dreamers was shortlisted for the 2020 Oregon Book Award for Fiction and received praise for its lyrical prose and thematic depth.
Walker’s short fiction has appeared in various literary journals, including Ploughshares, The Missouri Review, and The New Yorker. She has taught creative writing workshops and has been a speaker at literary festivals.
Bibliography
- The Age of Miracles (Random House, 2012)
- The Dreamers (Random House, 2019)
Awards and honors
- 2013 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (Honor Book, Fiction) – The Age of Miracles
- 2020 Oregon Book Award, Fiction (shortlist) – The Dreamers
Personal life
Public information about Walker’s personal life, including current residence and family details, is limited.
References
Information compiled from publisher releases, literary journal archives, and award announcements publicly available as of 2026.