Redemption in Indigo (22 page)

Karen Lord was born in Barbados in 1968 and decided to explore the world. After completing a science degree at the University of Toronto, she realised that the course she had enjoyed most was History of the English Language. Several degrees, jobs, countries, and years later, she had taught physics, trained soldiers, worked in the Foreign Service, and gained a PhD in sociology of religion. She writes fiction to balance the nonfiction she produces as an academic and research consultant. She lives in Barbados and now uses the internet to explore the world, which is cheaper.

[Back to Table of Contents]

To Dr Peter Laurie, for reading the very first draft, giving me excellent advice, and recommending that I enter the manuscript in the Frank Collymore Literary Competition; to the Reverend Dr Carol Roberts, for proofreading my PhD thesis and
Redemption in Indigo
and doing a brilliant job with both; to the Frank Collymore Literary Endowment Committee, whose award supported me both emotionally and financially as I strove to take my writing more seriously; to Nalo Hopkinson, for bringing the news of a local award to an international audience, and for continuing to promote Caribbean speculative fiction, not least through the example of her own award-winning works; to Small Beer Press, for accepting this manuscript; to Robert Edison Sandiford and other authors, for directly or indirectly helping me to navigate the business side of a writing career; to my father and my sister, for more than I can express; and to everyone—friends, family and strangers—for reading drafts, giving feedback, and keeping my muse motivated with their enthusiasm and interest, to all of you I say, ‘Thank you'.