Author Interview and Spotlight - Karen King's I Do or Don't I?

Today I want to welcome Karen King to my blog again. This time she's talking about her chicklit novel and she's also answered some interview questions. Her book looks amazing. I just love the title!

Author Interview:

What is the best thing for you about being a writer?

Getting a letter or email from someone who’s enjoyed reading my book. That makes my week!

What is the hardest thing for you about being a writer?

Finding time to write down all the ideas that are whizzing around in my head.

What genre/s do you write and what genre is your latest release?

I write for children and adults. I write most genres for children except horror but for adults I write contemporary romance stories. My latest release is a chick lit called ‘I Do?...or Do I?’

What essential things have you learned about writing in the last year?

That I can write long books. ‘I Do…or Do I?’ is 75,000 words so the longest book I’ve ever written. Before that my longest book was ‘The Millionaire Plan’ which was 50,000 words but most of my books are written for children so can be as few as 500 words.

What inspired you to write this novel?

I think some people seem to drift into marriage because they’ve been going out with someone for a while and marriage seems the next step. They’re swept up in the preparations and it seems too late to call it off, even if they do have doubts. I remember reading that one of Princess Diana’s sisters told her that she couldn’t call of the wedding now because her face was on the tea towels. This is what happens to Cassie, she’s sort of pushed into marriage by Timothy and his mother, then she meets her first love, Jared, again and wonders if she’s doing the right thing but the wedding preparations are racing ahead and she feels like she can’t stop them. Will she say ‘I do? or call it off?

What rituals do you use to help you focus or get the words down on the page e.g. music or a snack?

I just write. I’ve been published for thirty years now and for most of the first twenty years I was writing to deadlines so I learnt to put my bum on the chair, fingers on the keyboard and start writing. I do drink gallons of coffee while I work though and have been known to get through a whole box of chocolates.

What book would you like to work on next?

I have a three book contract for chick lit novels with Accent Press, the publishers of ‘I Do?...or Do I?’. I’ve finished book two now so am working on book three.

Thanks, Kathy

It's only a pleasure. I loved reading your answers.

Blurb:

Local journalist Cassie is getting married to hot-shot lawyer, reliable Timothy and his mother Sylvia, who Cassie has nicknamed ‘Monster-in-Law’, wants to plan the entire wedding. When Sylvia books the exclusive ID Images to take photographs of the extravagant do, Cassie has no idea what she’s walking into. 

The elusive JM, ID Images’ newest photographer, just so happens to be Jared, Cassie’s first love and ex-fiancé, who broke off their engagement to travel and take photos of far-reaching wonders. He’s back to pay for his next wild adventure. 

Cassie decides it’s best to pretend not to know him, but when she’s asked to write an article for her newspaper, she’s tasked with a column surrounding all things wedding related. When Cassie jokingly writes a column meant for herself depicting her situation, a co-worker submits it in place of the real article and it’s soon making headlines, with readers asking the age old question - Who Will She Choose?

Excerpt:

‘June! That’s only two months away!’ Sam squealed down the phone. ‘You can’t plan a wedding in two months.’

Which is exactly what Cassie had told Timothy when his mother, Sylvia, had suggested it. She could hardly believe she’d let them both talk her in to it.

‘The thing is, Sylvia heard there was a cancellation at Hollington Castle and she booked it for us. It’s a really sought after venue and we’d be mad to turn it down,’ she told Sam.

‘Are those Sylvia’s words or yours?’

‘Sylvia’s,’ Cassie admitted. ‘She’s right, though. We got a good price, too, because of the cancellation. Timothy and I went to look around yesterday and it’s an amazing place. It dates back from the eighteenth century, you know.’

‘You only got engaged on Valentine’s Day,’ Sam pointed out. ‘I thought you weren’t planning on getting married until next year?’

‘We weren’t, but it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. It’s normally booked up at least eighteen months ahead. Especially in the summer.’ She was repeating Timothy’s words to her yesterday when she’d expressed some doubt about arranging the wedding so quickly. ‘You do want to marry me, don’t you, darling?’ he’d said, and when she’d assured him she did he’d pooh-poohed her protest that two months wasn’t long enough to plan a wedding, saying his mother would help, and she’d found herself agreeing. Now it was all arranged, the venue was booked, they were getting married on 26^th June – and she was starting to panic. How the hell was she supposed to organise everything in that time? There was her dress, the bridesmaids’ dresses, invitations, flowers, food, reception, favours, wedding cake … she was hyperventilating just thinking about it.

‘Look I know it’s short notice but you will be my maid of honour, won’t you?’

‘Yes, yes, yes!’ She could just see Sam, jumping up and down with excitement. ‘Oh, I was hoping you’d ask me.’

‘Of course I’d ask you, you’re my best friend. Who else would I want?’ Cassie told her. ‘Can you meet me for lunch and I’ll fill you in on all the details? Twelve thirty at Benjo’s? We’ve got an appointment with the photographer this morning so I can tell you all about that, too.’

‘What, already? I’m guessing that’s Sylvia’s doing, too?’

‘Yes, the people who cancelled the wedding had booked I.D. Images so of course they have a cancellation too, and Sylvia knows Daniel, the “D” in I.D., so he’s agreed to hold the slot for us. If we want it.’

Sam whistled. ‘As if you’d turn that down!’ She paused. ‘I thought you were going to the Discover France show today.’

‘I was, but Sylvia booked the appointment and Timothy can’t make it. He’s got to work.’

‘Whereas you just mess around… ’

Cassie sighed. Sylvia never took Cassie’s job as a features writer for the local newspaper seriously. Timothy was a partner in a law firm, whereas Cassie filled in time until she became Timothy’s wife as far as Sylvia was concerned. Sylvia had given up her secretarial job when she married Timothy’s father and devoted her whole life to looking after him, then Amanda and Timothy when they came along. She made it obvious that she expected Cassie to do the same when she married Timothy, even though Cassie had clearly stated that she had no intention of giving up work. ‘Luckily, Owen’s cool about it. He said I can swap my day off.’

Buy Links:

Amazon - http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01CGKLOKQ

Waterstones - https://www.waterstones.com/book/i-do-or-do-i/karen-king/9781910939345

Book Depository - http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781910939352

Author Bio

A member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, the Society of Authors and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists, Karen King writes sassy, contemporary romance just right for reading on the beach. 'I DO - or Do I?' is her first chick lit for Accent Press. She has been contracted for two more.

Karen has had two other romance novels, several short stories for women’s magazine and 120 children's books published.

When she isn’t writing, Karen likes travelling, watching the ‘soaps’ and reading. Give her a good book and a box of chocolates and she thinks she’s in Heaven.

Author links

Website: http://www.karenking.net/

Twitter: @karen_king

Karen King Romance Author Facebook Page

Karen King Children’s Books Facebook Page

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/karenkingauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkingauthor/?hl=en