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The Karen Harper Collection:
Guide and Inventory

(Compiled by Danielle Buckius)

INTRODUCTION

This collection contains materials that have been donated by fiction author and OSU alumnus, Karen Harper. The collection includes drafts and editorial materials for many of the novels, novellas, speeches and articles written by KH, correspondence with publishers and historical societies, photographs, audiotapes, and miscellaneous publicity and marketing materials, including periodicals.

Harper’s prolific career began in 1982 with the publication of her first novel, Island Ecstasy. Since 1982, KH has published over forty novels and novellas. Working mostly within the romance genre, KH has explored historical romances, historical mysteries, and romantic suspense, notably those set in Ohio’s Amish country (Down to the Bone, Dark Road Home, Dark Harvest). Harper’s recent series of historic mysteries features Queen Elizabeth I as amateur sleuth (The Poyson Garden, The Twylight Tower, The Tidal Poole, The Thorne Maze, The Queene’s Cure, The Queene’s Christmas). For additional information onf the author and her works please see her web site at: http://www.karenharperauthor.com/

The OSU Libraries acquired the Karen Harper Collection from the author in a series of five gifts from October 1997 through October 2003.

Throughout this guide, “KH” refers to Karen Harper. Descriptions of material contained within quotation marks indicate the author’s words.

KAREN HARPER COLLECTION -

CATALOGUE OF INVENTORY, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Detailed Listing/ Box and Folder Listing:

Box 1

Bound marketing publications

Bound marketing publications, including:
  • Good Housekeeping, May and December 1994 issues, featuring novellas River of Sky and Going Home
  • British Heritage, April/May 1981 issue, featuring article entitled “Mary Boleyn” by KH
  • Fiction Writers Magazine, May/June 1988 issue (#28), featuring article entitled “The Seven Deadly Syns of Synopsis Writing” by KH
  • Miscellaneous bound advertisements (mostly from publishers) with KH book reviews and synopses


Box 2

Folder Number #1-8

  1. Folders 1 to 7:
    Miscellaneous publicity, including book reviews and speaking engagements / book signing advertisements.
  1. Single book covers included in donated material without other supportive manuscripts: Passion’s Reign, Midnight Mirage, One Fervent Fire, Sweet Passion’s Pain, The Firelands, and The Baby Farm (with MIRA presskit)


Box 3

Folder Number #9-25

  1. Synopsis, Almost Forever


  2. Synopsis, Liberty’s Lady


  3. Synopsis, Braden’s Brides


  4. Outline, Eden’s Gate


  5. Outline, Dawn’s Early Light


  6. Synopsis, Wild Lily


  7. Synopsis, Freedom Flame


  8. Novel, Freedom Flame (draft), (folder 1 of 2)


  9. Novel, Freedom Flame (draft), (folder 2 of 2)


  10. Author Notes for Novella, O Christmas Tree


  11. Novella, O Christmas Tree (author version)


  12. Novella, O Christmas Tree (copyedit by publisher)


  13. Novella,Violets are Blue (author version)


  14. Novella, Violets are Blue (copyedit by publisher)


  15. Notes & Bookcover, Rapture’s Crown


  16. Bookcover & Galleys, Island Ecstasy


  17. Random Revision Pages, Silver Swords



Box 4

Audiotapes



Audiotapes:
  • Radio Interview: Island Ecstasy (contributor note: tape quality poor at beginning of interview, but improves as interview progresses)
  • “Trends in Historicals and Regencies” – Moderated by KH
  • “What Makes a Historical (…)” – Davis, Harper, Harrington, LaFarge
  • “Your Light to Success – RWA 1994 Nat’l Conference, New York - July 27-31, 1994: Getting to Know You” – Pat Potter and KH


Box 5

Folder Number #26-34

  1. Misc notes, outlines, etc., River of Sky


  2. Random pages, River of Sky


  3. Novel, River of Sky (revised pages)


  4. Folders 29-34:
    Novel, River of Sky (earlier draft)


Box 6

Folder Number #35-43

  1. Folders 35-40:
    Novel, River of Sky (later draft, post-editor’s suggestions)


  2. Folders 41-43:
    Novel, River of Sky (author version)


Box 7

Folder Number #44-52

  1. Folders 44-46:
    Novel, River of Sky (author version)


  2. Folders 47-52:
    Novel, River of Sky (copyedit by publisher)



Box 8

Folder Number #53-62

  1. Notes, Outline, 1st Draft, The Falls


  2. Novel, The Falls (early material)


  3. Folders 55-58:
    Novel, The Falls (1st complete draft)


  4. Folders 59-62:
    Novel, The Falls (author version)



Box 9

Folder Number #63-72

  1. Folders 63-64:
    Notes, outlines, Black Orchid


  2. Folders 65-66:
    Novel, Black Orchid, 1st draft with suggested revisions


  3. Folders 67-70:
    Novel, Black Orchid, copyedit by author


  4. Folders 71-72:
    Novel, Black Orchid, copyedit by publisher



Box 10

Folder Number #73-81

  1. Folders 73-75
    Novel, Black Orchid, copyedit by publisher


  2. Folders 76-77
    Novel, Black Orchid, revised pages


  3. Folders 78-81
    Novel, Black Orchid, 2nd revision, post-copyedit by publisher



Box 11

Folder Number #82-90

  1. Folders 82-86:
    Novel, Black Orchid, earlier draft (March 1996)


  2. Folders 87-90:
    Novel, Black Orchid, 1st John Paine read-through



Box 12

Folder Number #91-98

  1. Folders 91-94:
    Novel, Black Orchid, author revision, post-John Paine’s 1st read-through


  2. Folders 95-98:
    Novel, Black Orchid, 2nd John Paine read-through



Box 13

Folder Number #99-107

  1. Folders 99-101:
    Novel, The Empty Cradle, early drafts and notes (book cover in folder #99)


  2. Folders 102-103:
    Novel, The Empty Cradle, 1st draft of early chapters


  3. Folders 104-107:
    Novel, The Empty Cradle, author’s revised draft, March 1997



Box 14

Folder Number #108-111

  1. Folders 108-111:
    Novel, The Empty Cradle, later draft, copyedited by author


Box 15

Folder Number #112-122

  1. Notes, outlines, Dark Road Home


  2. Early drafts, Dark Road Home, (+ book covers)


  3. Early drafts, Dark Road Home, re-write suggestions by publisher


  4. Folders 115-117:
    Novel, Dark Road Home, early draft with previous title: Wedding Ring Quilt


  5. Folders 118-120:
    Novel, Dark Road Home, early partial draft


  6. Folders 121-122:
    Novel, Dark Road Home, author version previous to changing title from Wedding Ring Quilt


Box 16

Folder Number #123-131

  1. Folders 123-125:
    Novel, Dark Road Home, author version previous to changing title from Wedding Ring Quilt


  2. Re-write notes, outline, Dark Road Home


  3. Folders 127-131:
    Novel, Dark Road Home, publisher re-write suggestions



Box 17

Folder Number #132-141

  1. Folders 132-136:
    Novel, Dark Road Home, revised draft


  2. Folders 137-141:
    Novel, Dark Road Home, copyedit by publisher


Box 18

Folder Number #142-150

  1. Outline, Circle of Gold


  2. Misc. notes, Circle of Gold


  3. Folders 144-150:
    Novel, Circle of Gold, author version


Box 19

Folder Number #151-163

  1. Misc. notes, The Wings of Morning


  2. Draft #1, The Wings of Morning, early ideas, synopsis


  3. Draft #2, The Wings of Morning, 2nd version of ideas


  4. Draft #3 & misc. notes, The Wings of Morning


  5. Folders 155-157:
    “Reject Pages,” The Wings of Morning, 1st version


  6. Folders 158-163:
    Novel, The Wings of Morning, author version


Box 20

Folder Number #164-174

  1. Folders 164-170:
    Novel, The Wings of Morning, copyedit by publisher


  2. Synopsis, version #3, The Wings of Morning


  3. Folder 172-174
    Novel, The Wings of Morning, revised, post-copyedit



Box 21

Folder Number #175-184

  1. Folders 175-177
    Novel, The Wings of Morning, revised, post-copyedit


  2. Synopsis, character outline, timeline, Promises to Keep


  3. Folders 179-180:
    Novel, Promises to Keep, early draft


  4. Folders 181-182:
    Novel, Promises to Keep, 1st draft, chapters 1-8


  5. Folders 183-184:
    Novel, Promises to Keep, author version, pre-copyedit by publisher


Box 22

Folder Number #185-192

  1. Folders 185-187:
    Novel, Promises to Keep, author version, pre-copyedit by publisher


  2. Folders 188-192:
    Novel, Promises to Keep, copyedit by publisher


Box 23

Folder Number #193-203

  1. MIRA Press Kit, Shaker Run (book cover, author bio, synopsis)


  2. Notes, Shaker Run


  3. Novel, Shaker Run, 1st draft


  4. Folders 196-197:
    Novel, Shaker Run, 7th draft, copyedited by author


  5. Folders 198-201:
    Novel, Shaker Run, author version


  6. Folders 202-203:
    Novel, Shaker Run, author revision, post-copyedit by publisher


Box 24

Folder Number #204-210

  1. Folders 204-205:
    Novel, Shaker Run, author revision, post-copyedit by publisher


  2. Notes, Down to the Bone


  3. Folders 207-210
    Novel, Down to the Bone, “1st Manuscript”


Box 25

Folder Number #211-218

  1. Folders 211-214:
    Novel, Down to the Bone, author version


  2. Notes, The Twylight Tower


  3. Folders 216-217:
    Novel, The Twylight Tower, partial early draft


  4. Prologue, The Twylight Tower, 1st & 2nd revisions



Box 26

Folder Number #219-227

  1. Folders 219-221:
    Novel, The Twylight Tower, author version


  2. Folders 222-224
    Novel, The Twylight Tower, author version, 2nd copy


  3. Folders 225-227
    Novel, The Twylight Tower, copyedit by publisher



Box 27

Folder Number #228-235

  1. Notes, outlines, The Stone Forest, (+ book cover)


  2. Novel, The Stone Forest, early material


  3. Folders 230-233:
    Novel, The Stone Forest, early draft


  4. Folders 234-235:
    Novel, The Stone Forest, author version


Box 28

Folder Number #236-245

  1. Folders 236-237:
    Novel, The Stone Forest, author version


  2. Synopsis & book cover, King’s Man


  3. Folders 239-240: Novel, King’s Man, 1st draft and revision pages


  4. Notes, outline, Dark Harvest


  5. Folders 242-245:
    Novel, Dark Harvest, 5th draft


Box 29

Folder Number #246-252

  1. Misc. notes, The Queene’s Christmas


  2. Folders 247-249:
    Novel, The Queene’s Christmas, 5th draft, copyedit by author


  3. Folders 250-252:
    Novel, The Queene’s Christmas, author version


Box 30

Folder Number #253-260

  1. Novel, The Queene’s Cure, book proposal, 4 drafts, book cover


  2. Misc. notes, The Queene’s Cure


  3. Folders 255-257
    Novel, The Queene’s Cure, early draft with copyedits by author


  4. Folders 258-260
    Novel, The Queene’s Cure, copyedit by publisher


Box 31

Folder Number #261-267

  1. Folders 261-263:
    Novel, The Queene’s Cure, author final revision post-copyedit by publisher


  2. Folders 264-267:
    Novel, The Queene’s Cure, text-proofs by publisher


Box 32

Folder Number #268-274

  1. Notes, The Tidal Poole


  2. Folders 269-271:
    Novel, The Tidal Poole, copyedit by publisher


  3. Folders 272-274:
    Novel, The Tidal Poole, final revision, post-copyedit by publisher


Box 33

Folder Number #275-281

  1. Notes & outline, The Thorne Maze


  2. Folders 276-278:
    Novel, The Thorne Maze, early draft


  3. Folders 279-281:
    Novel, The Thorne Maze, author version


Box 34

Folder Number #282-297

  1. Synopsis, Tame the Wind


  2. Partial manuscript, Tame the Wind


  3. Notes, The Edge of Ever


  4. Outline, notes, early drafts, The Fyre Mirror


  5. Unfinished manuscript, Shake Down the Dawn


  6. Outline, The Christmas Heirloom


  7. Outline, Into the Maze


  8. Outline, Dead Ringer


  9. Outline, Dark Angel


  10. Outline, notes, The Coffin Quilt


  11. Outlines, Amish Black and White


  12. Outline, The Christmas Quilt


  13. Outline, Mr. Edison’s Murder


  14. Outline, Deep Water


  15. A Set of Six Poems, by KH


  16. Misc. clippings, notes, and research



Box 35

Folder Number #298-305 and Journals

Ohioana Quarterly, five issues:
  • Volume 36, No 1, Spring 1993, pp 18-19:
    Book review by Jane Horrocks – “An Old-Fashioned Story: Circle of Gold, by Karen Harper”


  • Volume 42, No 3, Fall 1999, pp 198-199:
    Book review by Charles C. Cole, Jr. – “Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Poyson Garden, by Karen Harper”


  • Volume 42, No 4, Winter 1999, pp 311:
    Synopsis of KH’s novel, The Baby Farm


  • Volume 44, No 3, Fall 2001, pp 231-232:
    Book review by Charles C. Cole, Jr. – “The Twylight Tower by Karen Harper”


  • Volume 45, No 4, Winter 2002, pp 459:
    Book review by Kate Templeton Fox – “The Stone Forest by Karen Harper”


  1. Misc. speeches by KH


  2. Folders 299-301
    Correspondence, to/from publishers, historical societies, etc.


  3. Folders 302-304
    Misc. articles written by KH


  4. Author photographs (8 total)


Box 36

Maps

This box contains four hand-drawn maps of the settings of the following novels:
  • Wings of Morning


  • The Baby Farm (2 maps included)


  • Circle of Gold



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