Karen, describe yourself for our visitors.
I’m an accomplished author with 50 books published in the past 10 years, which have been nominated for and/or won 69 awards, and 17 more titles under contract. My books cover such genres as women’s fiction, romance, mystery/police procedural/cozy, suspense, paranormal, futuristic, gothic, inspirational, thriller, horror and action/adventure.
I also write children’s books, poetry, and writing reference titles such as my bestseller, First Draft in 30 Days, available from Writer’s Digest Books. My second release from will be Writer’s Digest Books will be From First Draft to Finished Novel {A Writer’s Guide to Cohesive Story Building }, coming September 15, 2008. Check my website for more information and to register to be notified of release.
My previous writers’ reference titles focused on non-subsidy, royalty-paying electronic publishing, author promotion, and setting up a promotional group like my own, the award-winning Jewels of the Quill, which I founded in 2003. The group does two anthologies, edited by myself and others, together per year. I’m also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), EPIC, Sisters in Crime Internet Chapter, BooksWeLove.net, and World Romance Writers.
I need to be able to write or work a full eight hours on weekdays to be truly happy, but I do enjoy designing websites, graphics, and cover art. My favorite things to do non-writing related are extremely simplistic and probably boring to most. Take walks with my family. Read all day. Relax with my family and watch movies. Watch the snow fall. Shop. I’m a simple girl who gets all the vicarious thrills I need through writing, so I need little else to be content.
I’m a Youth Group leader at my church. Previously, I taught Sunday School, was a Kids’ Praise Team leader, and was a Cub Scout leader. Working with youth truly feels like my ministry.
I love music and I’ll listen to pretty much everything except country, rap and bluegrass.
How do you find time to connect with God?
I’m a pray-as-I-go-along person. If anything happens that bothers me, worries me, relieves me, thrills me—you name it, past, present and future—I’m talking to Him about it. I tried to study the Bible each day. My favorite verses are Romans 12:1 and 2, which really seem to cover everything in life to me. When I first accepted the Lord, my every question was, “What’s God’s will here? Should I do this? Or this? Or not? What does He want me to do?” It was a constant struggle.
I’ve learned that Romans 12:1 and 2 are the answer to every question every single time. What I do or don’t do beyond that isn’t the point. The point is my submission. “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God… Then you’ll be able to test and approve what God’s will is…” God’s will in every circumstance I face is for me to submit myself to Him. The question: Should I confront this person? The answer: Submit to Him, offer myself to Him. The question: Should I teach Youth Group? The answer: Submit to Him, and He’ll reveal the answer to me based on my obedience in offering myself to Him. These verses are just such a peace to me after so many years of struggling for His will.
Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?
When it comes to genre, I have no strong preference in my writing, just as I have no strong preference for what genre I prefer to read. I love to read horror/thriller, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, gothic, paranormal, children’s books/YA, action/adventure/suspense, classic literature…I read in pretty much every genre. Bottom line, there are worlds to discover everywhere, both in reading and writing.
Many authors have inspired me. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs, Michael Crichton, Elizabeth Dearl, Jane Toombs, Bram Stoker, the incomparable J.R.R. Tolkien. These authors inspire me because they write great books with intriguing characters that spark my imagination on multiple levels. I haven’t read a lot of inspirational material because most of what I read in the past is so unrealistic—almost fearful of actual touching on sin and pain and God’s power. The exception, so far, is Angela Hunt’s novels. The Debt, in particular, made me look at the world and my own walk with the Lord in such a powerful way, I doubt I’ll ever be the same. That’s the kind of Christian novels I strive to write.
Tell us about your journey to publication.
I wrote my first book when I was ten years old. My first novel was published in 1998 after countless “good” rejections and after I’d made the monumental (and retrospectively premature) decision to write only for my own pleasure instead of for publication. Since then, I’ve been extremely blessed.
Up until a few years ago, I’d never felt led to write Christian novels, but that changed unexpectedly while writing Wayward Angels. Writing it was an experience unlike any I’ve gone through before. It was like having God sit down with me every morning and guide my figurative pen. When the book was done, I also felt like I hadn’t written it. It almost didn’t feel like my own writing, and I did experience some self-doubts about it when it was released. I worried how Christians would react. Yet the reception was beyond what I could have ever imagined. This book has a realistic, powerful edge that I never want to lose, and I also recognized that God was leading my hand while I was writing it. While reading it time, I experience in an overwhelming way His incredible ability to take a life that seems beyond redemption and turn it into something not only worthwhile but beautiful. Writing inspirational fiction just feels like the right (though certainly not the only) course for me at last. I hope that the Christian novels I write will glorify God and touch people in such a way that they see His power to change lives.
Tell us about your current book?
BABY, BABY, Book 1 of the Family Heirloom Series
Book 1 family heirloom: Accepting God’s will
A Proverbs 31 wife wonders, does “submissive” mean giving up having anything of her own?
Thirty-seven-year-old Tamara Wolfe married her childhood sweetheart, Robert, right out of high school and proceeded to have a passel of children who fill her life to capacity. With the last of her children in preschool, Tamara decides to make a business out of her long-time love of creating designer gift baskets. She doesn’t expect Robert to be against it from her first word.
Robert has always prided himself on giving Tamara the option of staying home to raise the children, just as his father did before him. Since birth, it’s been drilled into him that a man who doesn’t provide for his family is the worst kind of loser. What will happen if her business takes off? She won’t have time to take care of the family. Worse, maybe she won’t need him anymore.
Although they’d agreed years before their family was complete, Robert considers that perhaps the cure for Tamara’s restlessness is another baby.
Tamara prays for wisdom. All she wants is a small space of time for herself. Is she being selfish? Or is God leading her to continue being an outdated model of the Proverbs 31 wife—submissive, but never equal?
Find out more and read an excerpt: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/fiction9.html
Karen Wiesner
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Samhain Publishing – Karen Wiesner
978-1-60504-050-9 (electronic)
Available now in electronic formats; April 28, 2009 in trade paperback
How did you come up with ideas for this book?
I love writing about marriage because there are always conflicts waiting to be explored in a relationship like this. The idea of a Christian marriage in jeopardy also intrigued me because, by holy design, a Christian marriage should be different than others—but sometimes that makes it even harder. Reviews are just starting to come in, and that’s especially thrilling for me because the reviewers truly *got* this book:
5 Hearts
and The Romance Studio Sweetheart Award Winner! "I was pleased to find out Ms. Wiesner is doing a series of this community of Peaceful, Wisconsin . There are many supporting cast members who were screaming to be acknowledged during Tamara and Robert’s story. The sub characters were very important to the telling of the Wolfe family saga. Even though Tamara and Robert were deeply in love and took care of their family, they were constantly involved in their community and church.These characters, both siblings, parents, neighbors, and townsfolk were such loving and believable people that it was as if I was living in that small town. Tamara and Robert Wolfe’s story was told so beautifully. It was apparent at the beginning, even throughout their problems, that they each loved the other to distraction. This late-thirties couple was struggling not only financially but also emotionally. The expertise in revealing Ms. Wiesner’s storyline created a spell-binding tale that I just could not help but love. She is truly a gifted author with a remarkably talented way of expressing her story. I cannot wait for her next installment in this series. I highly recommend you read this book."
~reviewed by Brenda Talley for The Romance Studio Visit Web site"In BABY, BABY, Karen Wiesner creates a heartwarming family and a sweet couple in Tamara and Robert. BABY, BABY does a great job showing a romance changing and growing even after years of marriage. Both Tamara and Robert look beyond their own wants and examine God’s will for their lives. This is truly a heartwarming story."
~reviewed by Lisa for Romance Junkies Visit Web site"Wiesner throws her characters headfirst into the Refiner’s fire. To keep their marriage intact, Robert and Tamara have to overcome pride, trust and a bad parental role model. Wiesner shows the raw side of misplaced trust. Before the end, you’ll be wincing at mistakes made and rejoicing at the choices made as a marriage emerges–newly formed–under God’s grace." ~Diane Lesire Brandmeyer, author of Hearts on the Road dianabrandmeyer.com
“BABY, BABY by Karen Wiesner is a story about what happens when a wife starts a successful home business from what she’s made in the past for friends and relatives. The main characters, Tamara and Robert, have realistic problems that many married couples face. As they struggle with what’s the right thing to do in their lives, Robert and Tamara never forget their love for each other. Their prayers are poignant and revealing. I think Wiesner did an outstanding job of portraying a wonderful role in Tamara as a strong woman who wants to please God and keep her family intact. I highly recommend this inspirational romance. I look forward to reading more books by Karen Wiesner.”
~multi-published author Diane Craver dianecraver.com"A refreshing look at family conflict wrapped in a sweet story of love, faith and forgiveness. I look forward to the next book in the Family Heirloom Series."
~author Robin Bayne robinbayne.com
List your three most recent books.
- The Bloodmoon Curse
1-59998-250-1 (download); 978-1-59998-397-4 (trade paperback)
Contemporary Gothic Romantic Suspense with an Inspirational Twist - Wayward Angels, Book 4 of the Wounded Warriors Series
0-7599-4418-0 (trade paperback); 0-7599-4417-2 (electronic)
Inspirational Women’s Fiction - Adventures in Amethyst Series
978-1-59374-897-5 {trade paperback}; 978-1-59374-898-2 {electronic}
Contemporary Romance Novellas
What’s next for you?
Shadow Boxing, Book 2 of the Family Heirlooms Series is coming January 2009 electronically; later in 2009 in trade paperback. After eighteen years of a marriage performed in haste, Joshua and Justine Samuels wonder if they joined before God and family out of a sense of responsibility, not love.
I’m currently revising the third book in the series, Foolish Games, which features characters from the first two books. Kimberly Wolfe was one of Peter Samuels’ late wife’s best friends. He’s the man she’s loved from afar for as long as she can remember. Falling in love could take simply letting go of their fears…or a miracle.
For more information about this series, visit http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/fiction9.html.
My agent is also shopping around an inspirational romantic cozy mystery called Retired and on the Rocks, the first in my Denim Blues Mysteries series, which I hope to announce a sale for soon. For more information, visit http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/WIP.html#retired.
Where can visitors find you online?
Readers can visit me at:
http://www.karenwiesner.com
http://www.firstdraftin30days.com
If you would like to receive my free e-mail newsletter, Karen’s Quill, and become eligible to win my monthly book giveaways, send a blank e-mail to
KarensQuill-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
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