Katherine Hall Page

 

At the time I began reading Katherine Hall Page’s books, there weren’t many authors writing mysteries with female protagonists – nowhere near the number today. So, I guess we can call her one of the pioneers who blazed the trail for today’s authors. I remember looking for her books whenever I hit the local bookstore, knowing she could be counted on for a good mystery. Faith Fairchild, daughter and wife of a minister, is a great character. She had a successful catering business in New York City before she married, and made the transition to suburban matron and mother with a bit of hesitancy; she’s a blend of urban sophistication and suburban warmth – a great combination. Although Faith’s husband is always there in the background, it’s usually Faith and her neighbor Pix who do the sleuthing. If you haven’t read Katherine Hall Page’s books, give yourself a treat and try one.

 

 

Books

 

Faith Fairchild Mysteries

Author Profile:

Katherine Hall Page was born and grew up in New Jersey, graduating from Livingston High School. Her father was the Executive Director of The Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and her mother was an artist. Page has an older brother and a younger sister. Early on the family developed a love of the Maine coast, spending summer vacations on Deer Isle. She received her BA from Wellesley College, majoring in English and went on to a Masters in Secondary Education from Tufts and a Doctorate in Administration, Public Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard. College had brought her to Massachusetts and she continues to reside there. Before her career as a full-time writer, Ms. Page taught at the high school level for many years. She developed a program for adolescents with special emotional needs, a school within a school model, that dealt with issues of truancy, substance abuse, and family relationships. Those five years in particular were rich ones for her. This interest in individuals and human behavior later informed her writing.

Married for thirty years to Professor Alan Hein, an experimental psychologist at MIT, the couple have a twenty-two-year-old son. It was during her husband's sabbatical year in France after the birth of their son that Ms. Page wrote her first mystery, The Body in the Belfry, 1991 Agatha Award winner for Best First Mystery Novel. The fifteenth in the series, The Body in the Snowdrift , will be published by William Morrow in the spring. Ms. Page was also awarded the 2001 Agatha for Best Short Story for "The Would-Be Widower" in the Malice Domestic X collection (Avon Books). She was an Edgar nominee for her juvenile mystery, Christie & Company Down East. The Body in the Bonfire was an Agatha nominee in 2003. Page's short story, "The Two Mary's" was an Agatha nominee in 2004.

Descended from Norwegian-Americans on her mother's side and New Englanders on her father's, Ms. Page grew up listening to all sorts of stories. She remains an unabashed eavesdropper and will even watch your slides or home movies to hear your narration. Her books are the product of all the strands of her life and she plans to keep weaving.

Author website: http://www.katherine-hall-page.org/

Webcast: “Deft, Daring and Delightful: Mystery Writers Discuss Their Craft” (Judith Austin Memorial Lecture at the Library of Congress) Speakers: Jo Dereske, Carolyn Hart, Katherine Page, Patricia Sprinkle, Jacqueline Winspear  Date: 04/24/2006; Running Time: 56 Minutes.  http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=3888