Kathy Lynn Emerson


Kathy Lynn Emerson is an American writer of historical and mystery novels and non-fiction. She also uses the pseudonyms Kaitlyn Dunnett and Kate Emerson.
Emerson writes historical mysteries as Kathy Lynn Emerson, historical fiction set in royal courts as Kate Emerson, and contemporary mystery books as Kaitlyn Dunnett. Her book How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries was nominated for two industry awards and won the 2008 Agatha Award for Best Non-Fiction.
Emerson was born and grew up in New York state. After graduating from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, she continued for graduate school at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She also taught at Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She now lives on a Christmas tree farm in Wilton, Maine, with her husband and three cats.

Mysteries as Kaitlyn Dunnett

As Kaitlyn Dunnett, she writes the Liss MacCrimmon Mystery Series, published by Kensington Books. These are:Kilt Dead, novel originally published in 2007Scone Cold Dead, novel originally published in 2008A Wee Christmas Homicide, novel originally published in 2009The Corpse Wore Tartan, novel originally published in 2010Scotched, novel originally published in 2011Bagpipes, Brides, and Homicides, novel originally published in 2012Vampires, Bones, and Treacle Scones, novel originally published in 2013Ho-Ho-Homicide, novel originally published in 2014The Scottie Barked At Midnight, novel originally published in 2015

Historical fiction as Kate Emerson

As Kate Emerson, she writes historical non-mystery fiction set in the 16th century. The Secrets of the Tudor Court series comprises:The Pleasure Palace, novel originally published in 2009Between Two Queens, novel originally published in 2010By Royal Decree, novel originally published in 2010At the King's Pleasure, novel originally published in 2012The King's Damsel, novel originally published in 2012

Historical mysteries as Kathy Lynn Emerson

She writes historical mysteries as Kathy Lynn Emerson.
The Face Down Mysteries feature Susanna, Lady Appleton, a 16th-century gentlewoman, herbalist, and sleuth. In chronological order, they are:
  • “The Body in the Dovecote”, short story
  • “Much Ado About Murder”, short storyFace Down in the Marrow-Bone Pie, novel originally published in 1997
  • “The Rubaiyat of Nicholas Baldwin”, short storyFace Down Upon an Herbal, novel originally published in 1998
  • “Lady Appleton and the London Man”, short storyFace Down Among the Winchester Geese, novel originally published in 1999
  • “Lady Appleton and the Cautionary Herbal”, short storyFace Down Beneath the Eleanor Cross, novel originally published in 2000Face Down Under the Wych Elm, novel originally published in 2000Face Down Before Rebel Hooves, novel originally published in 2001
  • “The Riddle of the Woolsack”, short storyFace Down Across the Western Sea, novel originally published in 2002
  • “Lady Appleton and the Cripplegate Chrisoms”, short story
  • “Lady Appleton and the Bristol Crystals”, short storyFace Down Below the Banqueting House, novel originally published in 2005Face Down Beside St. Anne's Well, novel originally published in 2006
  • “Encore for a Neck Verse”, short story
  • “Confusions Most Monstrous”, short story
  • “Death by Devil's Turnips”, short storyFace Down O’er the Border, novel originally published 2007
  • “Any Means Short of Murder”, short story
  • “A Wondrous Violent Motion”, short story, published in December 2013 Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine
  • “The Curse of the Figure Flinger”, short story
  • “Lady Appleton and the Yuletide Hogglers”, short storyMurders and Other Confusions: The Chronicles of Susanna, Lady Appleton, Gentlewoman, Herbalist, and Sleuth, anthology of short stories, published by Crippen & Landru, 2004Crimes and Confusions, anthology of short stories, published in 2010
The Diana Spaulding 1888 Mysteries or Diana Spaulding 1888 Quartet feature a journalist from late 19th-century America. In chronological order, they are:Deadlier than the Pen, novel originally published in 2004
  • “The Kenduskeag Killer”, short story
  • “The Telltale Twinkle”, short storyFatal as a Fallen Woman, novel originally published in 2005No Mortal Reason, novel originally published in 2007Lethal Legend, novel originally published in 2008Crimes and Confusions, anthology of short stories

Other titles as Kathy Lynn Emerson

Emerson has written a number of other fiction titles. These include:
  • 4 books for young readers aged 8–12, originally published from 1985 to 1991
  • 14 romance novels, originally published in 1990s, that are currently out of printSomeday, a romantic suspense novel for young adults, originally published in 2001Shalla, an American colonial-era historical novel for young readers, originally published in 2010
She also has three book-length nonfiction titles:Wives and Daughters: The Women of Sixteenth Century England, originally published in 1984; replaced by the revised and enlarged A Who's Who of Tudor WomenThe Writer’s Guide to Everyday Life in Renaissance England, originally published in 1996How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries: The Art and Adventure of Sleuthing Through the Past, originally published in 2008

Awards

  • Winner of the 2008 Agatha Award for Best Non-Fiction: How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries
  • Nominated for the 2009 Anthony Award for Best Critical Non-fiction Work: ''How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries''