Keenan Powell is an accomplished author of mystery novels and short stories, best known for her Maeve Malloy series. Born in Roswell, New Mexico, Powell spent her childhood moving around the United States as an Air Force brat before settling in Northern California. It was here that she earned a B.S. in Broadcast Communication Arts from San Francisco State University and a Juris Doctorate from McGeorge School of Law. After graduating from law school, Powell visited a friend in Anchorage, Alaska, and fell in love with the city, leading her to move there immediately. She continues to live in Anchorage and practices law in her spare time.
Powell has received numerous accolades for her work, including nominations for the Lefty, Agatha, and Silver Falchion awards. Her writing career began with illustrations for the first edition of Dungeons and Dragons while she was still in high school. Despite her early success in art, Powell chose to pursue a legal career, thinking it to be a more practical path. However, her love for storytelling eventually led her back to the world of writing. In addition to her Maeve Malloy series, Powell has written a number of short stories, including "The Banshee of Adams, Mass.", which was shortlisted for the Al Blanchard award. She also writes a legal column called "Ipso Facto" for the Sisters in Crime Guppy section newsletter, First Draft. Powell is a member of several writing organizations, including Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.