Join me in welcoming award-winning author, Karin Beery to the Diamond mine! I’ve had the pleasure of learning from Karin and she has so much wisdom to share in the world of writing, and it shows in her stories. If you haven’t had the chance to enjoy “Practically Married” or “Finally Forever” yet, definitely treat yourself.. The second book in the Novak series will be releasing soon and I can’t wait. Without further ado, here’s Karin!
Welcome Karin! First let’s learn a little bit about you. Can you share a few things about yourself that have nothing to do with writing?
I never had a pet until after I graduated from college. Since then, I’ve had five cats and four dogs. I also never went canoeing or kayaking until college. Now my husband and I own three kayaks (two for us and one for a guest).
Wow! That’s a lot of changes after college. At one point my husband and I had three siberian huskies. That was an adventure haha. What drew you to write?
Fiction has always been an escape for me, be it TV shows, movies, or books. I started writing as a kid to have stories I wanted to read. 20+ years later, I started writing again for the same reason—I wanted romance novels that teens, their parents, and their grandparents could all read without embarrassment.
Those are some of my favorite kind of stories to read. What’s your writing process?
I do best in bursts—I pick a month (usually March and/or October) and do writing sprints several times a day, five days a week. By the end, I have 50,000-60,000 words written, which I consider my first draft (even if I don’t write the final chapter). Then I go back and start the revision process.
Those sprints are so helpful! I credit them for the completion of some of my own stories. How do you come up with your story ideas?
Literally anything. Dreams. Real people and events. People I’d like to know or events I’d like to see happen. For Practically Married, I asked myself if I could make the marriage of convenience trope (one of my favorites!) work in a contemporary setting instead of in the past.
That is the trickiest trope in modern stories. And you made it work! We all loved “Practically Married” and “Finally Forever” Tell us about your release coming up this fall.
In October, I’m releasing the second book of the Novak sisters’ series, Curveball on the Dance Floor. In Finally Forever, we met Christine and Tony. In Curveball, we get to see what happened between them behind the scenes and where they go after the dance off.
Are there certain themes explored in the story?
Unlike my other books, this book includes a storyline in which the solution isn’t as black and white as some of the other books. I wanted to include it because it’s something that people I know have dealt with, and I wanted to make sure my main characters’ actions honored biblical principles while also creating a captivating story. And, of course, there’s a lot of hope and love.
Oh, now you have us so curious! Do you have any favorite characters in your books?
Vanessa is a secondary character who pops up in this book, and the more I tried to figure her out, the more I liked her. She’s not a Novak sister, but I think she might need her own book eventually (even if it’s a novella).
Sometimes I feel like it’s those secondary characters that are so easy to get attached to. What are you working on now?
Book three! Caroline and Chris have a third sister—Carmen. She’s been in Germany for three years, but some unexpected events and outcomes have inspired her to move home, even though she considers it a sign of failure.
When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Reading (shocker!). I’m a raging extrovert, but also shy, so I enjoy hanging out with people I already know. 😊 I love the water, which is fortunate, since I live in Michigan. I love to kayak, swim, or just sit on the shoreline and look at the water.
Thanks for joining us, Karin!
Check out the first book in the Novak Series, "Finally Forever" as you wait for the October Release.
Winning the dance competition could land Caroline her dream job but at the cost of her heart.
Former competitive dancer Caroline Novak dreams of leaving the corporate world to work with special needs women at the Pathways non-profit, but the organization can’t afford a full-time director. All-American defensive end Ben Allen was on his way to the NFL when a knee injury sent him home and into the same office as Caroline, his best friend’s older sister. When Pathways participates in a Dancing with the Stars-inspired fundraiser, Caroline quickly volunteers, and Ben joins her as the local “star.”
It doesn’t take long for Ben to realize it’s more than a dance competition, and Caroline is more than his best friend’s sister, but after two failed engagements, she’s hesitant to trust her heart with another man. When the NFL calls Ben, it looks like his dream might finally come true—but it could cost them the championship and Caroline her heart.
AMAZON LINK: https://a.co/d/iJZXAwQ
Want to Connect with Karin?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinbeery/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinbeery/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karinbeery
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2666258-karin
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karin-beery
