I’ve
very pleased to welcome prolific writer, and writing tutor, Karen King. Karen
has published over a hundred titles for children but today she is talking about
her romance novels.
Thank
you for inviting me on your blog to talk about my romance novels, Kate
I’ve
been writing children’s books for years then turned to writing romance novels
about ten years ago. The first romance novel I had published was Never Say Forever. It was aimed at Mills and Boon but didn’t quite make the grade.
However, it’s now been published by four different publishers – as a People’s Friend Pocket Novel, in large
print by Thorpe Publishing, then by Astraea Press a small, independent US
publisher and has now been republished by Accent Press.
Although I love
writing for children, I enjoy writing romances too, because I love exploring
adult relationships and dealing with contemporary issues. Never Say Forever and my next two novels (my next one will be
published next spring) feature heroines who don’t want to settle down in a
serious relationship then along comes a guy they just can’t resist so they have
this big emotional battle. I think this happens to a lot of people, and that
some people give up their dream for love and wish they hadn’t a few years down
the line, whereas others follow their dream then long for their lost love. The
luckiest are those who manage to find a compromise.
My second romance
novel The Millionaire Plan and my
latest chick lit I do…or do I?
feature heroines who are marrying for the wrong reasons then meet someone who
makes them rethink so they have a tough decision to make. Again, I think this is a plot many
people will identify with. Amber in The
Millionaire Plan is trying to marry a millionaire to save her parents from
losing the family home, a Tudor house that’s been in the family for
generations. Then she falls for Jed, a hired hand, and must make the choice
whether to marry for love or money. Whereas Cassie in I do?...or do I? has drifted into marriage with her boyfriend,
Timothy, because she didn’t like to turn him down when he proposed, and he’s
safe, reliable – not like her ex Jared who dumped her to travel the world as a
photographer. Then Jared comes back into her life, Timothy turns out to be not
so reliable and Cassie is wondering whether to call off the wedding.
Although
the ending of a romance novel is fairly predictable, readers are there for the
ride, they want to know how the couples overcome their obstacles and to relate
to the characters and storylines. Often the readers are going through, or have
gone through, the same things themselves and will be rooting for the heroine
and urging her to make the right decision. Some people say romance is escapism,
and yes, it is in a way, but there’s a relationship truth at the core of it and
readers relate to that.
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? her first chick lit for Accent Press, was published in May 2016.
She has been contracted for two more. And she is delighted that Accent Press has
republished her earlier romance novels, The
Millionaire Plan and Never Say
Forever. The Millionaire Plan was nominated for the RONA Award
(Romantic Novel Awards) in 2014 and I do?-or
do I? has just been nominated for the RONA.
Karen has had 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
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/karenkingauthor/
Karen’s Romance Books
I do ... or do I?
Blurb
Local
journalist Cassie is getting married to hotshot, 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?
Buy
Links
The Millionaire Plan
Blurb
Love or
money, what would you marry for?
Amber Wynters is on a mission to find a
millionaire to marry – and fast. Her parents are nearly bankrupt and being
forced to sell their family home, a beautiful Tudor house that has been in the
family for generations, thanks to Amber's ex-fiancé persuading them to invest
in his dodgy shares. Armed with a self-help book and a ten-point plan, she sets
off to hook herself a rich husband. On a millionaire's yacht, she meets the
drop-dead gorgeous Jed Curtess. The attraction between them is sizzling. It's a
shame that he is only a hired hand. Can Amber ignore her heart and follow her
plan?
Buy Links
Available from Amazon
Never Say Forever
Blurb
Do you follow
your dream or follow your heart?
That's the decision Kendall McKenzie
has to make when she meets hunky businessman Jake Newman. He's as attracted to
her as she is to him – but Kendall has vowed never to get married, and it seems
that Jake has too. When they are together, sparks fly. It's obvious to everyone
except themselves that they're meant to be together. Can Kendall trust Jake
enough to give him her heart? And if she does, will she have to give up her
dream?
Buy Links
My pleasure, Karen.
Best of luck in the RONA.
Thanks for hosting my, Kate. x
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Karen. I'd love to know how you have achieved such an amazing output of children's books (without writing for a hundred years) - you'll have to come back and tell us about that.
ReplyDelete