Kathryn Reiss

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Kathryn Reiss

Goodreads Author


Born
Massachusetts, The United States
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Member Since
September 2009

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Kathryn Reiss was born in Massachusetts, grew up in Ohio, and received B.A. degrees in English and German from Duke University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan. After college, she lived in Bonn, Germany as a Fulbright Scholar, and during this time wrote the first draft of her first novel, Time Windows.

Ms. Reiss is an award -winning author of 20 novels for kids and teens. She has been a Writer in Residence for the Princeton Arts Council, a recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Grant for Writers, and has been a featured speaker with (among others) Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, The Northern California Library Association,
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Kathryn Reiss Writer's block comes when a story isn't working--which is usually because there's something in the plot I've outlined that doesn't really work. So I'l…moreWriter's block comes when a story isn't working--which is usually because there's something in the plot I've outlined that doesn't really work. So I'll take the dogs for a long walk... because I find that I often work out thorny problems... and come back and make a pot of tea, and then sit down to try to put my scenes in order. This happens, then THAT happens, then this, then that... I make lists, trying to be sure things are unfolding the way I need them to. The pot of tea really helps, too! In extreme cases of writer's block I'll put the ms. away for a month and work on something else. When I come back to it, I can usually see what's wrong. (less)
Kathryn Reiss Hi Christin! I've written eight books for American Girl. The first two were some years ago before the company was bought by Mattel (yes, the toy manuf…moreHi Christin! I've written eight books for American Girl. The first two were some years ago before the company was bought by Mattel (yes, the toy manufacturer!); they were part of an American Girl series called History Mysteries, where intrepid young girls from eras in America's past solve mysteries. The fun for me was in bringing a particular time in the past to life while also inventing a character and a mystery for her to solve! My two History Mysteries are: THE STRANGE CASE OF BABY H and RIDDLE OF THE PRAIRIE BRIDE. Then, after Mattel bought the company and wanted books that had doll/toy tie-ins, that line of books was sold to Rosen Windmill Press., who reissued the books in a line called Mysteries in Time. So they're still available, but not published any more by American Girl. I was asked to write some mysteries for three different American Girl characters, and have done four 'Julie' mysteries, and 1 'Kit' mystery, and 1 'Rebecca' mystery. The Julie mysteries are set in the 1970's: THE TANGLED WEB, PUZZLE OF THE PAPER DAUGHTER, THE SILVER GUITAR, and (forthcoming this winter) MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. My Kit mystery is set during the Great Depression, in 1935: INTRUDERS AT RIVERMEAD MANOR. and my Rebecca mystery is set in 1915: A BUNDLE OF TROUBLE. THey're all a lot of fun to write, but also strange because I didn't create the characters myself, as I have done in all my other books. I hope you'll check them all out!(less)
Average rating: 4.02 · 10,970 ratings · 1,063 reviews · 25 distinct worksSimilar authors
Time Windows

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Dreadful Sorry (Time Travel...

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3.94 avg rating — 936 ratings — published 1998 — 17 editions
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The Tangled Web: A Julie My...

3.96 avg rating — 538 ratings — published 2009 — 8 editions
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Blackthorn Winter

3.88 avg rating — 513 ratings — published 2006 — 11 editions
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Paint by Magic (Time Travel...

3.92 avg rating — 498 ratings — published 2002 — 2 editions
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4.14 avg rating — 438 ratings — published 2010 — 6 editions
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More books by Kathryn Reiss…

Murder at Heatherstone Hall

Dear Friends,

It's been a long journey with this one... and I can't tell you how thrilled I am that it's out and available to my readers at last. I even just like looking at it on my coffee table! (It isn't true that publishing ever gets to be old hat; I'm as thrilled by my 19th novel as I was by my very 1st...) I appreciate your ordering my new novel, MURDER AT HEATHERSTONE HALL! You are the grea Read more of this blog post »
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Published on October 01, 2015 21:18
Dreadful Sorry Paint by Magic Pale Phoenix PaperQuake: A Puzzle
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The Tangled Web: A Julie My... The Puzzle of the Paper Dau... The Silver Guitar: A Julie ... Message in a Bottle: A Juli...
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Blackthorn Winter Murder at Heatherstone Hall
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Dollhouse of the Dead The Headless Bride Rest in Peace
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3.75 avg rating — 110 ratings

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Quotes by Kathryn Reiss  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“But what are facts, really, except things we’ve already proven? There could be lots of almost-facts out there, still waiting for proof.”
Kathryn Reiss, Intruders at Rivermead Manor: A Kit Mystery

“toiletries.”
Kathryn Reiss, Message in a Bottle: A Julie Mystery

“whittled”
Kathryn Reiss, Message in a Bottle: A Julie Mystery

Topics Mentioning This Author

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“Here’s to books, the cheapest vacation you can buy.”
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Stephanie Fitzgerald Thanks, Kathryn!😃


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