M. K. Wren

M. K. Wren
Born	Martha Kay Renfroe (1938-06-05)June 5, 1938 Texas
Died	August 20, 2016(2016-08-20) (aged 78) Lincoln City, Oregon
Pen name	M.K. Wren
Occupation	Writer
Language	English
Nationality	American
Genre	Mystery, Science fiction
Notable works	The Phoenix Legacy
Partner	Ruth Dennis Grover

Martha Kay Renfroe (June 5, 1938 – August 20, 2016) was an American writer of mystery and science fiction.[1] Renfroe, who published her works under the pseudonym M.K. Wren, was best known for her mystery series featuring the character Conan Flagg.[2]

Early life

Renfroe was born in Texas.

Career

Using the nom de plume M. K. Wren, her works included the Conan Flagg Mystery series, the Phoenix Legacy, a space opera trilogy, and A Gift Upon the Shore (1990),[3] a post-apocalyptic novel. Publishers Weekly in its review of A Gift Upon the Shore described Wren's descriptions of "the subsistence-level daily life – the triumphs, the losses and the desperation" – as "compelling depictions."[4] A Los Angeles Times review called Wren’s writing of the same book as "clear and concise for the most part, though bordering on the mystic when it comes to her descriptions of the woods, and especially the ocean in its many moods."[5] The New York Times included it in its overview of recently released crime/suspense novels in its "Criminal At Large" column, describing Wren's A Multitude of Sins as "an artificial and pretentious formula mystery about an heiress who is a pianistic genius."[6]

The Conan Flagg mysteries were translated into German and released by München Goldmann publisher in the late 1970s in Germany.[7]

Personal life

Renfroe was a longtime resident of Lincoln City, Oregon.[3] She was also an artist whose artwork showed in galleries and at juried and invitational shows.[2]

Bibliography

Title	Publisher	Date	ISBN
A Gift Upon the Shore	Ballantine Books	February 3, 1990	0-345-36341-8
Neely Jones: The Medusa Pool	Minotaur Books	October 13, 1999	0-312-24223-9
The Shadow of Light (unpublished)	—

A Conan Flagg Mystery (1973–1994)

No.	Title	Publisher	Date	ISBN
1	Curiosity Didn't Kill the Cat	Doubleday	January 1973	0-385-06478-0
2	A Multitude of Sins		January 1975	0-385-06720-8
3	Oh, Bury Me Not		January 1976	0-385-12078-8
4	Nothing's Certain but Death		January 1978	0-385-13283-2
5	Seasons of Death		April 1981	0-385-17413-6
6	Wake Up, Darlin' Corey		January 1984	0-385-19292-4
7	Dead Matter	Fawcett	May 29, 1993	0-345-37821-0
8	King of the Mountain		November 30, 1994	0-345-39019-9

Phoenix Legacy (1981)

No.	Title	Publisher	Date	ISBN
1	Sword of the Lamb	Berkley	February 1981	0-425-04746-6
2	Shadow of the Swan		July 1981	0-425-04747-4
3	House of the Wolf		October 1981	0-425-05058-0

References

1. Wang, Amy (October 14, 2016). "RIP, science fiction author MK Wren". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2019-09-10 – via BoingBoing.net.
2. Bennett, Brit (September 26, 2016). "Obituary Note - Martha Kay Renfroe (scroll down)". Shelf Awareness. Ingram Publisher Services. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
3. "Remembering M K Wren". News Lincoln County. October 17, 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
4. "A Gift Upon the Shore - M. K. Wren, Author Ballantine Books". Publishers Weekly. January 30, 1990. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
5. Martin, Sue (April 29, 1990). "The Stuff of Nightmares : A GIFT UPON THE SHORE by M. K. Wren (Ballantine: $18.95; 375 pp.)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
6. Callendar, Newgate (Aug 3, 1975). "Criminals At Large". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
7. Curiosity Didn't Kill the Cat. OCLC. OCLC 74371411.

External links

• M. K. Wren at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database