I recently had the opportunity to chat with a very talented author.  So, without further delay let’s hear from the talented

Karen Kelley

Did you always want to be a writer? 
No.  I was always reading something, though.  When I was young, I would sneak my mother’s True Story magazine into my bedroom and sit on the floor to read it. I could shove it under the bed if Mom walked in.  I was so sneaky. 

When did you decide to seriously pursue a career in writing?
Around 1994.  I had thought about writing before, but got sidetracked.  Anyway, it seemed like an impossible dream.  Who was I?  I didn’t have a college education, never really been out of our small town—what right did I have to be a writer? 

What was the best piece of advice you received when first starting out?
Write every day.  Not so I would finish the book, which is what I thought at the time, but  because with anything you do, the more you do it, the more you’ll learn and grow. 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
LOL  Write every day.  Take everything with a grain of salt.  Don’t take critiques personally, but do take what you can use to help improve your writing, then toss the rest.

Tell us what makes Karen…well Karen.
Karl.  LOL  I always said I had no personality until I married him, then I got his through osmosis.  Scary isn’t it---there are two of us out there.

You write in a couple of genres, do you have a favorite? 
Paranormal.  I love ghosts, witches, vampires, dragons and of course, my aliens. 

Is there something out there you want to try?
Young Adult.  My editor once told me about Libba Bray.  I bought one of her books, and I was hooked.  I love the genre. 

Several of your stories are connected, do you enjoy writing books that are connected?  As a reader I LOVE them!  Do you find it more difficult to write connected stories?
I hadn’t really planned on writing a whole Planet Nerak series, it just sort of happened.  The first one, Close Encounters of the Sexy Kind was so much fun.  I’d always wanted to put more humor in my books.  My editor loved it, so everything just evolved from there.  I don’t think it’s that hard because I really get into my stories and for me, the planet Nerak and the characters are real.   

Many of your books have a bit of humor in them, do you find a sense of humor to be important, both in your stories and in real life?
Certainly! It sure beats crying.  If you fall, dust off the seat of your britches, and try it again.        

Do you enjoy hearing from your readers and what is the best way to contact you?
I love hearing from readers!  They can contact me through my website www.authorkarenkelley.com  and they can also sign up for my newsletter there.  I have a contest every month—lots of goodies.  My way of saying thanks!

Tell us some of your favorites…foods, books, movies, authors, music, colors, and any others you would like to share.
Foods---sweets, except I’ve switched to healthy sweets in my quest to look hot.  Hmmm, those days may have passed.  Healthy is a good reason, though  LOL

Books---paranormal, any romance, real people, motivational (I always need motivation)

Movies---American Dreamer because it’s a romance and it’s funny, Steel Magnolias for a good laugh and cry, How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, Pretty Woman, The Rock….I love most movies

Authors---Sharon Sala, Lori Foster, Gena Showalter….ack….too many to list

Music---Enrique Iglesias, James Blunt, Brooks and Dunn, Janis Joplin….all the oldies rock and roll.

Colors---blue, red, brown---just so I don’t live in a world of white (no, I’ve never been locked in a state hospital)

How would you spend a perfect day if you could do anything you wanted?
At the beach.  I love watching the waves roll in, the mine-mine birds aka seagulls, the pelicans, walking in the wet sand. 

What do you consider your greatest strength to be?
In writing? Dialogue and humor    In myself?  The person I am today.    

Any weaknesses?
Writing?  Description, but I’m working on it.  In myself?  Procrastination.    

What is your guilty pleasure?
Sitting on the back porch and watching the birds when I should be writing.

If you could bring one of your characters to life, who would it be and why?
The current ones.  It might make the book easier to write. 

How would your husband describe you?
I asked, he said: Sexy, the hottest woman I’ve ever met….okay, he didn’t really say that, but he did say this: wicked sense of humor, outgoing, kind

and with a little prodding and a few blatant hints…the love of my life.

Do you have a writing schedule that your follow daily? 
Yes:   Oh, hell, where has the time gone!!!!  Move…away…from…the…e-mail!!!

Are you a plotter or a panster?  What is your perfect writing environment?
Both.  A plotter so I can get another contract (I need a fairly decent synopsis), and a pantser for the in-between.

The perfect writing environment would be a semi-dark room, my laptop, a comfortable chair, incense, Enya playing through my headphones.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?  Current or upcoming releases?
Temperature’s Rising reissue Brava mass market just came out along with The Power of Love anthology.  The anthology is 12 authors and the authors and agents have donated all their money from the sale of this book to a women’s shelter.  I love the idea of women helping women. 

And in just a few weeks, the third book in my Planet Nerak series, The Bad Boys Guide To The Galaxy.   It’s already getting great reviews.  Woo-hoo!!!!

I love writing.