Kathryn
Baker is trying to escape her past...
After the tragic death of her husband, Kathryn
throws herself into her scientific career. She hopes to right the wrongs of her
past before they catch up to her. But when she runs into a handsome stranger,
she discovers that he just might hold the key to her future.
Adam Harrison is tired of running from his past
...
After losing everything he worked for in life,
Adam is finally ready to follow the path God has for him. When a series of
chance meetings brings him to Kathryn, he considers the possibility of loving
again. But Kathryn is still on the run from God and from her past.
Can Adam convince Kathryn to stop running and
trust him with her secrets, or will her fear make it impossible for them to
have a future together?
When did you decide to be a writer?
That’s an interesting question because I’m not sure I ever decided to be a writer. I just started writing. I always enjoyed writing short stories and I’ve written in journals for years, but a few years ago I got the idea in my head to finally write a book. It’s always been a dream of mine to be able to go into a bookstore or a library and pick a book I have written off the shelf.
That's a great dream! Is this the first full-length book you’ve written?
It is, unless you count the books I wrote in elementary school. They were full-length for children, but certainly not what an adult would consider full-length. My first book had about 70 words and a lot of poorly drawn illustrations. I still have it, though!
I knew I wanted to write a story about a scientist, since that’s the world I live in, and I love reading Christian romances with happy endings, so that was a must. The rest just fell into place (after hours and hours of writing and editing!)
I started writing the book in the summer of 2013, and I submitted the book to Pelican Book Group in the summer of 2018. It took 5 years, but I went for long stretches of time without writing anything. I’ve gotten a lot faster, considering I’ve finished the next two books in the series since then.
I have friends who are like an Anne to me, but I didn’t have a specific person in mind for any of the characters. I wouldn’t want any of my friends or family members to recognize themselves in the book. I’d get in trouble. :)
I share some characteristics with Kathryn, in that I am a logical, scientifically driven person, but I’d like to think my personality is more like Anne. I’m very family-oriented, and you can always count on getting cookies if you visit my house.
I’m much more of a wing it as you go kind of writer. I have a folder called “book ideas,” and whenever I get an idea for a story, I jot it down there, so there is always a general premise, but the story always takes me in a direction of its own.
I’d have to say Gina. You don’t meet her until later in the book. She’s a strong-willed woman who fights to get her way.
She sounds interesting! What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?
I love being able to take the stories in whatever direction I choose. If I don’t like the direction the story is taking, I can change it. I also love writing Christian books. My prayer is that my books can speak words of encouragement to those who are seeking to grow closer to God.
The next books you’ll see from me are the next two books in the Pine Springs series. If you enjoy Following the Sparrows, you’ll want to keep reading the series, as all the major characters make an appearance in the next two books: A Second Chance for Grace (which comes out in April), and Sunflowers and Suspicions. Those books are written, however, so right now, I’m slowly putting together a non-fiction book about how to handle being laid off. It’s about seeking God’s will, even when we don’t understand the curveballs life throws at us. I’ve also just started another fiction novel that’s in the very early stages. I won’t tease you with it yet, since it’s a long way from publication. Thank you so much for having me here today. It’s been fun!
Yes, it has!! Now here's an excerpt from Following the Sparrows:
As the day drew to a close, Kathryn couldn’t shake her
unease. The feeling grew and swelled in her stomach, as if she swallowed
something she shouldn’t. She stretched out the kinks in her back and stepped
away from the lab bench. What a long day, even by her standards.
It wasn’t fair. Work usually afforded a haven, a place to
tune out everything else. This was where she could forget about perfect
Christian Robert trying to make her into something she wasn’t. Forget about
Charlie and everything that happened in California. She scowled at the flasks
in her hood and her pile of dirty glassware. It would keep until tomorrow. She
wouldn’t be able to get anything else done tonight anyway. It was time to face
the music with Robert. She peeled off her gloves, shed her lab coat, and headed
out.
The summer heat hit her full in the face when she opened the
door. The air was thick and heavy. By the time she reached her car, the hairs
that had escaped her ponytail clung to her neck. After turning the key in the
ignition and throwing the car in reverse, she bucked in her seat as she shifted
to drive too quickly. She forced herself to drive cautiously out of the parking
lot, all the while anxious to get home and leave the dread behind.
As she pulled up to a traffic light, Kathryn glanced at the
car next to her and froze. She sank in her seat and shoved her sunglasses
against her face. A honk from behind jolted her—the light turned green.
Stealing a glance to the right, the car was gone. Hands trembling, she made it
the rest of the way to her neighborhood on autopilot.
She sat at the stop sign at the edge of the development
until her breathing returned to normal. She
talked herself down, her eyes glued to the rearview mirror. “Be rational. It’s
been three years. How can he still wreak this havoc? What would he be doing on
this side of the country anyway?”
Well, readers, now you've had a look at Karen and her new book! Sounds like a great read! Here's a little more about her, along with her social and purchase links:
Karen
lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. She works
full time as a scientist, but enjoys writing in her spare time whenever she can
find some! When not writing (with her left hand), she enjoys baking, volunteering
at her church, camping, hiking, playing board games, and reading. She loves
reading faith-based stories, because we can all use a happy ending.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenLMalley
2 comments:
Thank you so much for having me here, Nancy!
You're right, Karen, you must face the past and let go in order to open up to the future God has for you!
Great interview
Good luck and God's blessings
PamT
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