Karin Cronje is an award-winning novelist who has published several novels, short stories, and a memoir. She graduated from Pretoria University in 1979 (BA Drama) and began a career in journalism, working at various newspapers and magazines, initially full time and later as a freelance writer. She has researched and written for, among others, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation and the Sunday Independent. She has dubbed programmes for the SABC, performed in radio dramas and acted for Artscape. She also furthered her studies in psychology and qualified as a life skills coach.
Karin worked in the publishing industry for many years as a marketing manager and publicist. She was fortunate enough to work with and promote many leading academics, politicians and authors, including Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer and authors Wally Serote and Mandla Langa; former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town Mamphela Ramphele; Member of Parliament Jeremy Cronin; former Minister of Education Kader Asmal; and cartoonist, Zapiro.
In 2006, she left South Africa to teach creative writing and English in South Korea, first at a private school and later at Suncheon National University, in Suncheon. Karin returned in 2008 the year in which her novel Alles mooi weer was published, and for which she received the Jan Rabie/Rapport prize.
She joined the University of Stellenbosch Certificate Programme at the satellite campus at the Army Base in Youngsfield, Wynberg, in 2010. Her duties include teaching Academic Literacy and English to students enrolled in university courses. She also teaches research methodology and writing, as well as performance, communication, and life skills for the Bandmasters course.