Karen Hughes

Karen Hughes is the author of five mythic fantasy books in the Kalika Magic series, listed on the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge. Her most recent book is Spark and Flame (2025).

Karen grew up on a cattle station on the Liverpool Plains and is now a dedicated mentor and advocate for other writers living in rural areas. She is the founder and director of Hunter Valley Writers, an organisation that delivers creative writing workshops across Australia, nurturing aspiring authors and sharing her expertise, and the owner of Ironbark Retreat, a bush sanctuary that fosters creative inspiration and personal growth. She is also the co-managing editor of Verity La Journal.

Currently, Karen is immersed in the final edits of Thorium, a new work of adult literary fiction exploring mythic themes that began as the creative component of her PhD.

Website: https://karenhughes.com.au