Biography of K.D. Kragen

K.D.Kragen is a philosopher, writer, teacher, editor, husband, father and grandfather. Somehow he actually manages to be all those things while still pursuing interests that include practicing Aikido and Iaido, riding his motorcycle (Veronica), and running.

A third generation San Franciscan, K.D. grew up in the Italian District of the city. As a child he developed a passion for classical music, especially the works of Katchatorian and Mendelsson, his love of music later included jazz, folk and rock n' roll. At 13 he began playing guitar, learning the songs of Joan Baez and Woody Guthrie. Eventually with his friend Lenny, they played at Italian parties and weddings with plans to later travel through Europe. But their plans were short-lived as the Vietnam War was on and K.D.'s number came up. He was drafted but snuck in under the wire into the U.S. Coast Guard.

After his service he married the love of his life, Janet, who helped him gain an appreciation of classical literature and he helped her gain an appreciation of classical music. Despite all his education, many are surprised to learn that K.D. hadn't begun to learn to read until the fourth grade and hadn't read a full novel until he was in high school. His first favorite writers were Ray Bradbury, Robert E. Howard, and Jules Verne, which is where his love of science fiction began. With his Veterans benefits he went to college and got a B.A. in Philosophy from Azusa Pacific University, an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion from Denver Seminary, and a second M.A. in Philosophy from Syracuse University. It was during his college years that he began writing. He finished his first short story "The Chairs" in 1984.

In 1989 K.D. and family moved to Bainbridge Island, WA where he got a job washing dishes at the Streamliner Diner, joined a local writers group, and started his first novel titled Creatures of the Heart. (Note: he worked at the diner until his wife told him he's no longer allowed to work outside the home; after that his writing output increased dramatically.) Since then he's finished 6 novels with three more in progress. In 2001 K.D's daughter Colleen married Eric von Foerster, they currently reside in Washington with their son Dante Shalom von Foerster.

K.D. is currently working on his seventh novel, the third in the series of The KillWare Chronicles, and eighth novel, third in the series of The Creature Chronicles. His fourth novel, Plagueman, was released in December 2005 through ArcheBooks and is available for sale online as well as from your local bookstore.

For the past ten years K.D. has been the managing editor of Scandia Patch Press, and recently he joined the faculty of Trumeau Art Studios and community as resident philosopher. When he's not writing novels, working on cars, editing the strange works of other local writers, speaking at writers conferences, cooking dinner or pumping out book reviews, K.D. is usually trying to get a little sleep.