Val M Karren

Award-Winning author Val M Karren (V M Karren) was born and raised in Seattle, USA, but has lived in Europe for most of his life. His interests in European languages and politics as a young man prompted him to travel to Britain and Europe, and later to Ukraine and Russia, where he lived, studied and worked.

In the 80s, Karren was engrossed with the events and ethos of the Cold War, and in the 90s, the transition of Eastern European countries into the post-Soviet era attracted him to that part of the world. He moved to Russia to watch these events unfold first-hand. After studying Russian literature at the University of Nizhny Novgorod, Karren eventually returned to the US and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Slavic Languages and Literature from the University of Washington in Seattle. Eventually he relocated to the Netherlands to earn an International MBA from the Maastricht School of Management. There he began writing his experiences in the form of short stories to share with family and friends.

Following his studies, Karren started a career in international trade based in the Netherlands. However, his work and interest in travel still carried him to many corners of the world, where he continued to collect a library of hilarious, eye-opening and sometimes heartbreaking stories. Later in his career he returned again to writing and penned his first novel,'The Deceit of Riches,' which had gradually taken form in his mind over 20 years.

Karren is currently the author of two series: 'The Deceit of Riches Series' and 'The Armchair Travel Series.' His debut novel 'The Deceit of Riches' won the National Indie Excellence Award in 2019 and was named Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in that same year. This historical thriller, based loosely on Karren's own experiences in Russia, was followed by 'From the Rooftops' as its sequel. He is now writing the third and final book of the series, 'October Revelations,' which is set for release in October of 2021.

'The Armchair Travel Series' is a collection of short fictional stories from various European countries. Karren released three of such stories in 2020--set in Portugal, the Netherlands and France--which entertain his readers with mystery, humor, and romance.

Karren's own experiences living in and traveling through Europe are recorded with loving detail in his memoir, 'The Tales of a Fly-By-Night.' He still lives in the Netherlands with his wife and four children where he continues to travel, read, and write.

Please visit flybynightpress.com or vmkarren.com for more information about the author and his books.