Meet Karen
Karen Harvey has been telling
St. Augustine's story since 1978.
Karen Harvey is a local writer focusing on the history of the Oldest City. She completed her first novel (historical fiction) in June 2026. Amanita’s Sin developed from an authentic character who died in St. Augustine in 1914. The setting toggles the reader from the 1800s to the 1980s. Harvey has been a resident of St. Augustine, Florida, since 1978. She is the author of nine non-fiction books in print, three free-lance works, numerous articles, museum text panels and videos. She is an historic interpreter with knowledge gleaned from centuries of cultural changes in St. Augustine. Karen has appeared on the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and in numerous documentaries about “spiritual activity” in St. Augustine. She provides dramatic presentations of five women about whom she researched and wrote. She is a member of the St. Augustine Historical Society, the Romanza festival organization and the St. Augustine Lighthouse. She is active with the Florida Heritage Book Festival and has served on local citizens’ boards including the Historic Architecture Review Board and the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. She was a board member for the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, Inc.
The author is a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church, an historic structure built in memory of Henry Flagler’s daughter Jennie Louise Benedict. Her book Florida’s First Presbyterian’s covers the history of the congregation and church from 1824 to 1999.
For her contributions imparting historic information to the public, she is a recipient of the 2008 Tourism Employee of the Year Award. Her most recent publication St. Augustine Enters the Twenty First Century won the 2010 Florida Writers Award for first place in the history category.
Born in Flushing, New York, Harvey was transplanted to Florida when she was 11 years old. She holds degrees from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and American University in Washington, D.C. Her travels include living in Viet Nam, Guatemala, Bolivia and Ireland. She provided lectures about Florida history in Trinity University (Dublin) and the University of Dublin. She continues to visit countries that expand her knowledge of history.
Harvey’s second pictorial, St. Augustine Enters the Twenty-First Century, arrived in stores in June 2010. The 222 page book contains more than 200 photos and discusses the changes in the city and county over the last three decades. It is a companion piece to St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Pictorial History, a popular coffee-table publication now in its ninth printing. Additional available works include America’s First City: St. Augustine’s Historic Neighborhoods a book focusing on historic and architecturally significant sites and houses; Oldest Ghosts, a fun read about spiritual activity selling well to ghost hunters; Daring Daughters: St. Augustine’s Feisty Females; and Five Women Five Stories. She scripted the DVD documentary about St. Augustine’s Lighthouse titled First Light St. Augustine’s Lighthouse.
Harvey’s play Conquest and Colonization ran for five spring seasons from 1996 through 2000 entertaining school and tour groups with the story of the founding of St. Augustine and the settlement of Florida. She was the arts and entertainment editor for The St. Augustine Record for seven years and continues to write for the paper as a contributor.
Awards and Recognitions
Karen Harvey’s book St. Augustine Enters the Twenty-First Century won the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Award, placing first in the non-fiction history category in 2010.
In 2007 the Ponte Vedra Chapter of the Florida Writers Association selected her unpublished novel Run Away Home as a first place winner in the young adult category.
In 1989,while working at The St. Augustine Record, her feature story about Lewis Sanks’s black history tales won third place in a state-wide competition sponsored by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors.
In 2013 Harvey was given the title of “Condesa de Velasca” in recognition of her outstanding service to San Augustin Antiqua.
She was one of the original winners of the ROWITA award. ROWOTA (Recognizing Outstanding Women In The Arts) represents lifetime achievement and is awarded to women who have made significant contributions to the St. Johns County arts community. Harvey received the award in 2009, the year the award was established.
Critiques
Critiques of Karen Harvey's books.
“Of all the St. Augustine historical books, I sell more of Karen Harvey's, especially her St. Augustine pictorial history, than any one … and we stock many titles.”
Bon Summers
Ancient City Book Sellers, Owner
“Karen Harvey’s knowledge and love for the rich history of St. Augustine are on full display in this mystery about two strong-willed women who reach for each other across the many decades that separate their earthly lives. I came away admiring Amanita’s independence and cheering for Phoebe as she searched for her past.”
Tracy Upchurch,
Author of The Road to Picolata Fifth generation Floridan, attorney and college professor.
“Karen Harvey's contribution toward the preservation of the history of the Minorcans of Florida is found in her books St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Pictorial History and Daring Daughters. Oldest Ghosts, St. Augustine Haunts is a delightful book for those who want to read about sightings here in the Oldest City. Her books not only educate the reader — they entertain.”
Carol Lopez-Bradshaw
Menorcan Cultural Society, President
“Within the pages of her volume Karen Harvey has produced a photographic story of the city, the best in my judgment that has been done. Her book is a fine addition to the St. Augustine bookshelf.”
Michael V. Gannon
Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board; Professor of History, University of Florida
“The information in all of Karen Harvey's books gives us the chance to develop characters to interweave with historic interpretations. We recommend her books to our guides as a primary source of historic material so they can provide a more interesting and informative presentation.”
Sandy Craig
Tour Saint Augustine, Inc., Owner and President
“With a combination of historic subject matter like light keeper's lore and Karen Harvey's wonderful energetic writing style you can't miss with Daring Daughters or any of her books.”
Kathy Fleming
St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, Inc., Director
“Karen's pictorial history of St. Augustine and St. Johns County was the first broad stroked presentation of photos and stories of almost all the families descending from the New Smyrna colonists. As a Minorcan and historian I was thrilled to see the coverage. I have to admit I also enjoyed Oldest Ghost, which includes my tale of the paranormal.”
Kenneth Beeson
Historian, Educator and Businessman; Former Mayor of St. Augustine
“Harvey's first effort at recording St. Augustine's rich past has become a classic for anyone interested in St. Augustine's developing history. It is a must read for everyone seeking knowledge of the city — both past and present.”
Robert W. Harper
Lightner Museum, Executive Director
“The contents of this volume represent the first published results of the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board survey and one of the few histories of St. Augustine that speaks about decades which in this Ancient City are often considered modern times.”
William R. Adams
Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board; Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism
“This is a book full of intrigue … there is a hint of the supernatural in the chapter about daring daughter Abbie Brooks with a ‘mystery still left to be solved.’”
Carol Elliott
First Coast Entertainer
“Karen Harvey's Oldest Ghosts: St. Augustine Haunts comprises a fascinating collection of ghostly encounters in the nation's oldest city. Its often firsthand accounts evoke the sense that you are listening directly to local folk narrating their own unique, hair-raising episodes.”
Harry Stafford
Haunted St. Augustine Paranormal Tour, Director
“Florida's First Presbyterians weaves together the lesser known history of the pioneer Presbyterians of 1824 with the better known story of the grand sanctuary in which we worship today. It is an excellent way to look deeper into the history of Memorial Presbyterian Church.”
Dr. John A. Hunter
Memorial Presbyterian Church, Pastor
“We are so proud! Karen's new book on St. Augustine in the 21st century took first prize in the historical segment of the Royal Palm FWA annual conference.”
Katherine Dvornick
Florida Heritage Book Festival
“We are so proud!”
Marilyn Wiles
Enterprising Women's Leadership Institute
“The actions of these courageous women help shape the history of St. Augustine … It is a must read for all interested in St. Augustine, Florida and women's history.”
Taryn Rodriguez-Boette
St. Augustine Historical Society, Executive Director
“Karen Harvey has done such a wonderful job of bringing the women from St. Augustine's past into the present. So many books and museums completely overlook the essential role women played in the establishment of St. Augustine. Their contributions were so significant and yet they have been downplayed until now. Karen is a great historian and wonderful storyteller. This book is a celebration of her attention to detail, research and retelling some very important tales otherwise forgotten or dismissed. Congratulations Karen and thank you for bringing Daring Daughters center stage where they belong!”
Nadia Ramoutar
Professor, Flagler College; Author
“The survey out of which this book grew was the first serious look at the historic architectural treasures of St. Augustine beyond the ‘same old, same old’ handful of colonial buildings. Mining the pages of Karen Harvey's work will enable you to really appreciate the richness of our built environment.”
David Nolan
Author and Historian
“The guests on our tours are intrigued by Oldest Ghosts as it features actual ghostly experiences by tour guides and guests alike as they hear the stories of St. Augustine's most notorious former residents. Karen Harvey creates a ‘realness’ to the old stories and their characters as you read about recent occurrences experienced here in St. Augustine.”
John and Cindy Stavely
Ghosts Tours of St. Augustine, Directors
“Karen's book is a significant marker for our city's history.”
Margo Pope
Retired Editor, The St. Augustine Record
“It was so good to see you the other night and I'm so glad my dad was able to meet you and John. My dad told me he truly enjoyed meeting you. I gave the book to my dad and he loved it. As I looked through it, I just started crying. You did a marvelous job! I love this city so much and you captured what I love about it. With almost every turn of the page, I said, ‘I covered that,’ ‘I know about that,’ ‘That's my city.’ You captured today's St. Augustine!”
Jessica Clark
Anchor, First Coast News, NBC Channel 12 / ABC Channel 25