Novelist Karen Harter died Aug. 19 at age 55. She had battled cancer in her pancreas and liver for more than three years.

Her two novels, Where Mercy Flows and Autumn Blue, were published by Center Street. Both of her books have been featured in Reader's Digest Select Editions. Autumn Blue, a Romance Writers of America RITA Awards finalist this year, is also up for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year in the Long Contemporary category next month.

During her early years of writing, Harter and her husband, Jeff, ran a real estate business and mortgage company while raising their family. She also served alongside her husband as pastor of The Valley Church in Mount Vernon, Wash.

Harter is survived by her husband; sons Ryan, Mike and Jacob; parents Roy and Jean Stevens; and siblings Linda Stordahl, Don Stevens and Paula Knopf.

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