Author Karen Clarke On Her First Novel "My Future Husband" - GIVEAWAY

Author Karen Clarke, one of the most prolific short story witers in the UK,  recently published her first novel  MY FUTURE HUSBAND.  The book has received high praise indeed.  Author Teresa Ashby said " I absolutely loved My Future Husband - then my husband read it and he enjoyed it too."  Karen and I (Maria from RBH here) are actually writer friends who belong to the same crit group and it gives me great pleasure to welcome Karen to Romance Book Haven.  She was kind enough to answer a few questions for me about the book and her writing process.

KAREN ON THE WEB:



ANNOUNCEMENT:  THE WINNER OF KAREN'S GIVEAWAY IS JEMI FRASER.


Thanks for coming over to talk to us today, Karen.  Can you tell us briefly about your writing career so far?

I started taking it seriously around ten years ago, and have since had around 150 short stories published in women’s magazines in the UK and abroad, and have written three novels (plus one that will never seen the light of day!)


Where do you get the inspiration for your stories?

For short stories I tend to start with a first line or a prompt and take it from there.  Overheard conversations, newspaper stories and television snippets can all inspire ideas – as does walking my dog, Molly.


Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A bit of both.  I roughly know where my stories are heading, and how they will end, but I like to be surprised along the way!


Can you sum up the essence of your current release in Tweet sized sentence (that's 140 characters!).

This is harder than it sounds!  Sasha’s about to get married, but has no idea she hasn’t yet met her husband - until he comes back from the future to tell her.
So what's next?

I’ve just completed my third rom-com with a twist, A WOMAN POSSESSED, and I’m planning a change of direction with a psychological thriller.

MY FUTURE HUSBAND


‘THE TIME-TRAVELER’S WIFE FOR THE LIGHT-HEARTED’

When Sasha meets Elliot a month before her wedding to Pete, the news he brings seems incredible. He claims to have arrived from the future, explaining that their timeline was knocked off course in 2010, preventing them from meeting, and begs her to find him in the present day.

But Sasha’s wedding plans are underway and though she’s curious, Elliot turns out to be feckless, rebellious, and engaged to a glamorous and pregnant Belle. He’s not remotely her type and is instantly suspicious of Sasha’s motives for tracking him down, convinced his disapproving father has sent her to spy on him.

Sasha decides to ahead with her wedding, but a previous connection with Elliot’s father finds her doing the catering at a dinner party at his house. With the help of her best friend, Rosie, she soon discovers that Elliot has sadness in his past, and that Belle is up to no good.....

Get it at:  Amazon  Amazon UK

Karen has very kindly agreed to gift an Amazon copy of MY FUTURE HUSBAND to one lucky commenter - so leave a comment before you go!

49 comments:

  1. 150 short stories published? I am so impressed! Here in the U.S. few magazines even seem to carry short stories any more, and I miss them.

    I like the twists that were in this blurb and the imaginative storyline, so I'll be checking out My Future Husband.

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  2. Thank you Helena :o) We are lucky to have more outlets in the UK for short stories - some of the weekly women's magazines publish monthly fiction specials too.

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    1. Welcome to Romance Book Haven, Karen! I do hope you will enjoy chatting with all our friends here!

      And love the blurb of your book, sounds so intriguing! Thanks for this interview and sharing all about yourself!

      Thanks Maria for interviewing Karen! You ask great questions Lady!

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    2. Thank you Nas, Karen's one of the most published members of the crit group we both belong to. Teresa Asby's another. She's another friend who has done guest interviews with us. Both ladies are an absolute inspiration.

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  3. Whoa! That's awesome about getting so many short stories published! Congrats on the novel! It sounds wonderful!

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    1. Hi Cherie,

      There's a good short story market in the UK, but it's very competitive.

      Thanks for coming over.

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  4. Selling 150 short stories in the face of cut-throat competition is great Karen. All the best with the novels.

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    1. Yes, Wes, that's absolutely correct. Nice to see you over here.

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  5. Yay! Our own Karen Clarke. You are an inspiration - so many stories sold. Congrats on the novel as well. The premise sounds fab! Caroline x

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    1. Hey Caroline - great to see you here. I've had a copy of Karen's book for a while and I've just got to sit down and read it. Saving it up for a time when I'm not busy...so I can enjoy it.

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  6. Wow Karen, I never knew! Imagine 150......that is seriously impressive! :) Best of luck with your new novel, it sounds great! Really and truly I must get a kindle soon!
    Lovely interview! xxx

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    1. Seriously Edith, a Kindle is the best investment you'll ever make.

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  7. Great interview, Karen X

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  8. I'd love to read "My Future Husband" but wish it would come out in paperback! Nice interview xx

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    1. I hope someone buys you a Kindle Kath. Your life will change forever!

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  9. 150 WOW! That is very awesome indeed! Very impressive and I say a huge congrats! Very nice interview Maria !

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    1. Des, the competition in the UK short story market is intense, which makes Karen's achievement even more overwhelming. I've tried to succeed there, but Ireland which is my country of origin and India where I live seem to prefer my short stories. Karen's a very successful short story writer.

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  10. I loved My Future Husband - can thoroughly recommend it!

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    1. Womagwriter, you're very welcome. Lovely to see you over here. Thanks for all you do for short story writers.

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  11. Ohhh My Future Husband sounds really good! And 150 short stories, very impressive! Congrats !

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  12. Sounds like an interesting story.

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  13. LifeAsYouLiveIt16 May, 2013

    I NEED to read this book.

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  14. What an awesome premise for the story! Tons of conflict and tension looming! :)

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    1. I have this on my Kindle and I can't wait to read it.

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  15. I love the premise of this book. The cover's fun, too.

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    1. Hi Donna,

      I like the cover too - it's very unusual.

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  16. It's a great book - whoever wins this is in for a treat :-) x

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  17. Sounds like an intriguing book. Good job with the Twitter sized summary. It's very compelling!

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    1. Hi Sherry

      I nearly always ask my authors the Tweet question. It really gets to the heart of things.

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  18. Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments.

    I have to admit I only bought a Kindle recently - I thought I ought to seeing as I have an ebook out! - but I'm a convert now. I've downloaded so many great books it'll take me all year to read them.

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    1. I've enough books on mine to last for three years, Karen.

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  19. Not only am I impressed that you summarized the book in a Twitter-length pitch, the premise sounds intriguing.

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    1. The tweet length pitch is probably my favourite question.

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  20. Sounds like an intriguing story!
    And, wow, 150 short stories - that's a lot of characters to get to know!

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    1. Hi Deniz,

      Short stories are intriguing glimpses, Deniz, rather than a full commitment like a novel. But they are compelling.

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  21. Thank you, Stina and Deniz :o)

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    1. Thank you so much for being with us, Karen.

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  22. Congrats, Karen! I love time travel stuff. And 150 published stories is pretty amazing!

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  23. Hi Karen!! What a fab and fun premise!! I like that Elliot comes across on first impressions as a ne'er do well but love that all is not as it seems and that perhaps, just perhaps he and Sasha were meant to be!! Oh but what about poor Pete?!?! I am hoping he and Rosie hits it off? Am guessing cos I love happy endings!! Take care
    x

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  24. Thank you Nick and Old Kitty :o)

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  25. Anonymous21 May, 2013

    This sounds like an amazing read. I'm glad to have met Karen and thanks for the giveaway.

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  26. Thank you, Medeia :o)

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You can discuss your romance novel addiction too!