My greatest desire is to weave a story that mentally captivates, emotionally ensnares, and sticks with you long after the final page. Stories have the power to reach into the quiet places we rarely dare to delve — beckoning us to ponder possibilities we had yet to contemplate. Writing them, however, can be far less glamorous than it sounds. You live every emotion your characters experience. You sit in their decisions. You walk through their worst moments. It’s emotionally exhausting... But it’s completely worth it when you type that final sentence. There is no feeling like it.
At home, life is full in the best way. My husband is my constant — steady, supportive, and endlessly patient with every plot hole that needs to be filled, twist that might border on outlandish, and every late-night writing session. He is my biggest cheerleader (and what a cute cheerleader he is). My son is the perfect brainstorming buddy. He challenges me — ever the devil’s advocate. He brings creativity, new perspectives, and just the right amount of stubbornness to everything he does. He never lets me take the easy way out — “Yes, Mom, you do have to kill them off.” He’d call himself a jack of all trades, but a master of none — from music, art, and photography to drag racing and car restoration, he’s passionate about it all, and can frequently be found written into my books. My daughter-in-law, a dental hygienist and true crime aficionado, always has a creative idea to help flesh out the darker side of my stories. And of course I should mention my huskies — my FIVE faithful companions — each with their own brand of chaos, humor, and very strong opinions about how the household should be run. Life here is rarely quiet, often hilarious, and never dull — which, in many ways, feels like the perfect environment for a writer.
I’m endlessly grateful for every reader who steps into my worlds and lives a lifetime through my words. I truly love connecting with those who find something of themselves in my stories.
Mystery, romance, suspense, and a little mayhem are only pages away.
-K.A. STANDEN
As a native Southern Californian, I’m surrounded by sunshine and palm trees year-round. Unfortunately, I hate the sun with a vampiric passion. I live for overcast mornings, rainy afternoons, hot cups of coffee, and cozy blankets — which can be slightly problematic when it’s over 100 degrees most of the year.
Growing up near Route 66 and the music mecca of Los Angeles gave me an affinity for old American muscle cars, live music, SoCal Kulture, quirky characters, musty bookstores, and books in general. I’m an avid reader — sometimes finishing several books a week. My Kindle is essentially my security blanket; it goes everywhere with me, and yes, I’ve been known to sleep with it, too.
When I’m writing, my purse overflows with notebooks and random scraps of dialogue, Post-it notes quickly colonize my house, and obsession is the name of the game. I’ve been known to run out mid-conversation, or even leap from the shower when the muse strikes. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me doing normal person stuff, like reading, cooking, and crafting. Or… you’ll find me throwing practicality to the wind, working on my lime green 1965 Mercury Comet or redecorating my house… again (to my husband’s dismay).
Although I’ve spent years firmly planted in the corporate world — armed with an MBA and certifications in human resources, project management, and negotiations — I found business correspondence and technical writing painfully uninspiring. I much prefer crafting elaborate worlds of mystery filled with the characters who live uninhibited in my mind (and hopefully in yours). I adamantly believe that everyone deserves their happily ever after… even if a few bodies need to fall to achieve it.
In truth, I’m reluctant to call myself a writer most days. Yes, I wrote poetry from a young age and dabbled with short stories, but the dream of writing a novel always seemed insurmountable. Yet Sinful Purity made that dream a reality, and a “writer” I became. Still, I think of myself more as a court reporter or even a transcriptionist for my imagination. I take dictation from the unruly characters that run amok in the recesses of my mind. It sounds far more respectable than, “I write what the voices tell me to.” I’m always surprised, intrigued, and even sometimes disturbed by the journey — and I enjoy every second.
ABOUT ME
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Whether you're exploring the Sinful Series or have questions about the narrative journey, your perspective is always welcome. Reach out to share your thoughts, discuss collaborations, or simply start a conversation.