Crafting Stories That Challenge Perception.
Karin Clemens explores the spaces between reality and imagination, weaving layered narratives that linger long after the last page.
Karin Clemens is the pen name for Karin Rownd Kwiatkowski, so chosen to pay homage to her literary hero, American humorist Samuel Clemens a/k/a Mark Twain.
Karin’s treasured copy of The Complete Short Stories of Mark Twain has been reread so many times that the hardcover is frayed and faded, and the pages have separated from the binding. Her favorite tale from those 60 short stories is The Diary of Adam and Eve which never fails to make her laugh or weep. She will tell you that her Parallax Series of novels and the storytelling form itself were inspired by Mark Twain’s technique of telling one story from two points of view—his and hers. “What would men be without women? Scarce, sir…mighty scarce.” – Mark Twain
The writing of Maya Angelou has been another source of inspiration for Karin, particularly I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” –Maya Angelou.
Her vocational training included a crusty old editor at Texas Highways Magazine who insisted that she and her husband find three separate, original sources for each historical article. That arduous practice taught Karin to hunt for original sources of information (rather than paraphrase the last writer from three decades earlier who paraphrased the previous writer from a few decades before that, etc., none of whom sought original sources). Through that process, Karin realized that stories inspired by original source material and archaeological evidence are far better than anything a writer could invent.
Under the name Karin Rownd Kwiatkowski, she is also an award-winning filmmaker of documentaries and narrative films. “First and foremost, I’m a storyteller. Digital film making and Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing have revolutionized the film and writing industries. With these advances in technology, it’s possible to reach readers and viewers quicker, more efficiently and at a lower cost than anyone could’ve imagined in past decades.”
Karin, a native Texan, currently lives near Sedona, Arizona, with her husband. She has four adult children and two rescue dogs who answer to Astro and Ilsa.
Karin Clemens is a storyteller driven by curiosity about perception, silence, and the unseen forces that shape human behavior. Through meticulous research of historical sources, archaeological and DNA discoveries, her stories invite readers to experience by-gone worlds where every moment carries meaning.
The Parallax Series explores how perspective shapes reality. Karin Clemens sets the stage for future installments, delving into memory, perception, and hidden truths.
