About Chris Karlsen:
I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.
My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.
I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters.
I’m currently working on the Bloodstone Series, which is historical suspense with romantic elements. I’m also writing a world war two novella series.
Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.
I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and four wild and crazy rescue dogs.
What inspires you to write?
For most of my stories it has been a character who works their way into my psyche. I rarely can put a fine point on what exactly inspired the character. The character's view of an event or the world around them is something I want to give voice to. They're my vehicle through time and place. Setting is a major contributor to my inspiration. The Bloodstone series is set in Victorian London and the main character is a London detective, Rudyard Bloodstone. It was the setting of Victorian London that was the basis for the series. It's a setting that, to me, lends itself perfectly to murder and dark activities. It is both romantic, eerie, and a wonderful mix of society.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Bernard Cornwell-I love his Saxon Tales series. There are too many to list in the series but the lead character is wonderfully candid and crafted.
Joe Wambaugh-and his Hollywood Station series. He writes the best cops having been one himself. There's humor and pathos in the various men and women. I really loved book 1 in the series "Hollywood Station."
Julie Anne Long-and her Pennyroyal Green series. She's brilliant at writing strong female and male characters who dominate a scene but not each other.
Tell us about your writing process.
I started by outlining my stories. That said, the last few I have been writing by the seat of my pants and not attempting to outline first. It can be a struggle for me and is slower as I work through moments and events. But, I also enjoy the freedom of writing outside the initial idea and outline.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Yes. I've done both. When a support character is getting too much page time or starting to become the star too often, I will tell them softly to stop pestering me and I'll give them a book of their own. I also listen to a character when I've had them say or do something I'm unsure about, then I'll listen if I sense it is the wrong thing for the character.
What advice would you give other writers?
It's easy to say I'll sit and write tomorrow. The best way to write a story is to commit to sitting in the chair and just doing it. I try to write 6 or 7 days a week. I set aside three or four hours a day to writing. Some days the writing flows and some not so much. On the slow days where I just feel stymied, I force myself to power through. I can fix an awkward sentence or page, I can't fix a blank page. I'd advise anyone starting to try and set aside a time daily, if possible, to dedicate to the story even if it is only 15 minutes every morning. Also, do your own research. Don't rely on other works of fiction. When you're reading a favorite author, and there's a scene you love. Break it down and analyze what the author has done that impressed you. See how you can apply the same qualities to your story.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I got tired of beating my head against the NY publishing wall. I had a friend who started her own small publishing house, Books to Go Now. She asked me early on if I'd consider publishing with her. I did and haven't looked back.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I worry for print. I don't see any younger people reading print. I feel like that is such a sad thing as the tactile experience of just sitting and reading and turning the pages is calming (for me anyway). I also fear a loss of interest in reading by many younger generations. There seems to be a lessening of interest in the worlds the written words create. I believe publishing will be more and more reliant on either e-books or audio.
What genres do you write?: Historical Suspense and historical romance
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Chris Karlsen Home Page Link
Link To Chris Karlsen Page On Amazon
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
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