Karen lives in Peterborough
Ontario with her husband Jim and a four legged off spring named
Sugar. She is the mom of a 22 year old daughter and four grown step
children and a 2 1/2 year old grandson named Ike.
DEAD COMIC STANDING
is her second novel. Her first novel DEAD ON ARRIVAL garnered praise
from friends, family and online gamers. She also enjoys doing crafts
and other hobbies. Her latest book is called OVER HER DEAD BODY is
the second book to DEAD ON ARRIVAL. DAYTONA DEAD is the third in that
series which is soon to be released.
Where
are you from?
I
live in Peterborough Ontario Canada
What sparked your
interest in writing?
I always liked
creative writing in school and it just carried on in my
adult life. I
did it to keep myself amused and I ended
up with a
published book DEAD ON ARRIVAL
What
components, in your opinion, makes a great story?
Loveable/hateable
characters, amazing fast past plots and its gotta have some humor.
How
would you generally categorize the books/stories you write?
Light
mystery, some people even call them cozies.
Do
you set your books/stories in your home town, or do you prefer more
exotic locations?
Most
of the books I write take place in the Toronto area but I did place DEAD COMIC STANDING in Edmonton Alberta. I want to keep it Canadian.
I also sent Laura and Gerry to Daytona Beach for their honeymoon in
DAYTONA DEAD.
How
much of your writing is based on people or events familiar to you?
I
based Laura on me. It might sound egotistical but hey “write what
you know.” I have used some of my friends as shells of characters
and I am currently killing off a former boss in my work in progress.
What
inspired you to write Dead
comic standing?
I
had the opportunity to perform stand up comedy. I used this in a plot
concerning a serial killer who hates comedians and starts slashing.
How
did you come up with the title? I thought of Last Comic Standing and
substituted dead.
What was the hardest
part of the story to write?
Getting inside the
head of a psychopath was rough. I am nuts but that
was over the top.
What
was the easiest part of the story to write?
The
Comedy acts were a riot.
Was
there much research involved?
I
watched a lot of comedy showcases and researched serial killers
Is
there a message in your story you want readers to grasp?
Not
really I just want to entertain people.
What
do you feel is your biggest strength as a writer?
I
feel I do dialogue well and that I can incorporate comedy into the
story.
When
your first started writing, did anything about the writing process
surprise you?
Editing
sucks but it’s a necessary evil.
Do you celebrate
when you finish a story, and if so, how?
I usually wait till
the book is released.
Do
you have a set writing routine?
No
I am too lazy. I just write when an idea hits me.
Do
you listen to music when you write?
Yep
classic rock from the 70s
What
do you like least about writing?
Editing
Give
us a mini-tour of your writing space.
My
kitchen table. I use a laptop but the tabletop is cluttered.
Which authors do you
feel have influenced your writing most?
Janet Evanovich,
Charlotte Hughes and Leslie Langtry. Name a few titles I’d find if
I browsed through
your personal home
library. The Thornbirds, The Stephanie plum collection and Beach Road
by James
Patterson.
If
you could go back in time, what author would you most like to invite
to share a chat and a bottle of wine?
Charles
Dickens
Have
any new authors caught your interest?
I
have discovered a lot of new talented writers since being on
facebook.
COMING SOON! Look for an excerpt and interview with Laura Hamilton-Fitz Friday, April 12th
Buy Links:
Amazon:
B&N:
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145901
1 comment:
Karen is also featured on Thru the Glass!
Karen Vaughan is featured on Thru the Glass! http://thrutheglass.net/featured-interviews-karen-and-company/
Post a Comment