Karen Klyne

Tag: books

  • From Scammed to Stronger: How a Real-World Threat Inspired My New Book

    From Scammed to Stronger: How a Real-World Threat Inspired My New Book

    There isn’t a day that goes by without hearing about yet another scam that’s ruined someone’s life. It really freaks me out! These schemes prey on innocent people, manipulating their trust and exploiting their vulnerability. And they’re not picky either: these predators target anyone, anywhere. More often than not, their victims are women, and that fact hit me hard.

    Scams are cruel not only because of the money they steal but also because of what they take from the victim emotionally: their confidence, sense of safety, and ability to trust. They don’t just drain bank accounts, they shatter lives. As an author, I couldn’t help but feel that this was a story worth telling.

    I decided to weave this universal problem into my plot, putting my protagonist through the all-too-common experience of being scammed. She’s not stupid or naïve by any means. She’s smart, savvy, and confident. But like so many others, she becomes a victim. The carefree, happy-go-lucky woman she once was disappears and is replaced by someone wary and suspicious. She feels like she’ll never be able to trust again.

    Of course, there’s a twist—after all, this is a romance.

    I believe stories have the power to educate and empower. So, to anyone who’s ever felt betrayed by someone they trusted, this story is for you. And to the rest of us, let it serve as a reminder: Stay vigilant, protect yourself, and remember that while the world may be full of scammers, it’s also full of people worth trusting.

    Secrets of Her Heart is out on March 1st 2025

  • Three Years, One Book, and a Bruised Ego: My Latest Writing Adventure

    Three Years, One Book, and a Bruised Ego: My Latest Writing Adventure

    It’s been three long years since Caribbean Dreams graced the shelves. Three years is a long time. That’s enough time to master a new language or grow your hair out or, in my case…do none of those things. Naturally, you might wonder: Have you had writer’s block? Been backpacking across the globe? Fallen off the edge of the earth? Let me save you the suspense: No, no, and no.

    What I did have was a cycling accident, followed by a malaise that could outlast a rainy Monday and an alarming lack of motivation to do much of anything—except, perhaps, avoid writing altogether. Yes, I admit it: for a while, I really couldn’t be arsed to lift a pen, much less craft a novel.

    So how did I get back on the proverbial horse? (Don’t worry, no more cycling analogies.) It took a cocktail of nagging friends, well-timed pep talks, a shiny new laptop, and what can only be described as a “kick up the backside” to jumpstart the process. Oh, and one more thing: I decided to turn my recent, ahem, life experiences into fuel for the fire.

    Writing this book was unexpectedly cathartic. (Who knew pouring your soul into pages could be better than binge-watching Netflix?) It’s amazing what happens when you turn a mishap or two into plot twists and channel minor existential crises into character development. The result? A book that’s not just another story—it’s a piece of me. And while I can’t promise it’s entirely free of my questionable humour, I can promise it’s written with honesty from the heart.

    So, if you’re ready to laugh, cry, and maybe feel a little less alone in your own mishaps, I hope you’ll join me on this new adventure. It’s been a wild ride, and this time, I stayed on the bike (metaphorically, of course). Secrets of Her Heart is set for release on 1st March 2025.

  • New life. Accident.

    New life. Accident.

    Hey there, fellow adventurers of the written word! Welcome to my humble corner of the internet, where I shall hopefully amuse you with tales of my triumphs and trials and today, my tumble off my bicycle. Buckle up and strap on your…kneepads. 

    Picture this: It’s a sunny day, the birds are chirping, and you can’t wait to get out and explore your new territory.  Your trusty bike comes out for a spin because there’s nothing quite like a ride down to the beach to fuel one’s creative thoughts. 

    Careering down the hill, the wind on my helmet, with a grin on my face.

    Motorhome meets my bike lane… “Hey, this is my space, you moron,” I shout. I make a quick move onto the pavement but he still hits me. Front tyre up, back tyre skids in the sand…and off goes KK, a over t! 

    Did a great job on my knee and ended up with open reduction internal fixation surgery…lots of screws, plates, rods, and wires. But unfortunately, it hasn’t made me bionic! No more chasing white balls around the golf course or cycling for me. Snivel, snivel, snivel.

    A treasured memory…

    To add insult to injury, literally, I’ve had all this time on my hands but had no interest whatsoever in writing! Plenty of painkillers and lots of self-pity, but my new laptop gathered dust.

    But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining (or in my case a load of silver plates and screws.) 

    They’ve rebuilt my leg but the doctor said I’d never walk again. No one tells me what I can and can’t do though… and now I’m back, though my mobility is limited, I can still get around.

    Wakey, wakey. Here I am, a writer with a penchant for dramatic plot twists, and I’ve got one here on my doorstep. I found myself knee-deep (’scuse the pun) in a brand new book as unpredictable as the journey that inspired it.

    So, dear readers, sometimes the best stories are the ones that catch you off guard. I’m hoping the adventure is worth the ride. Look out for details of my new book coming soon!

  • Crossing Over to Romance

    Crossing Over to Romance

    I never intended to write a trilogy. I’ve always loved writing, and all I ever wanted to do was finish a book and have it published. One lucky day I met Victoria Villaseñor of Global Wordsmiths, at a Writing East Midlands event. She took one look at my mammoth ramblings and said, “This is a trilogy.” Victoria became my editor, and so began my journey into the unknown. I published Parallel Lives in September 2018, followed by Crossing Over in April 2019 (both are on sale all this month over at Amazon). It’s been great, but both sadly and happily, I’ve just put the finishing touches to the final book of the trilogy, Destiny of Hearts, due for release in September.

    What next? Well, funny you should ask…

    Some years ago, I was involved in a house auction and was completely fascinated by the whole process; particularly the strong, confident woman at its helm. Hey, I thought, wouldn’t it be great to write about a sexy lady auctioneer in action? And that’s how it began: a nice, pure romance, and something so different to my musings on parallel worlds.

    But we all love a good old romance, me included. And they’re even better at Christmas, which is when mine will be released. Watch this blog for more details (title reveal, cover reveal, teasing blurb!).

    Once again, many thanks to my readers, and I look forward to sharing this new adventure with you.

  • Time for a spot of cruising…of the boat variety

    Time for a spot of cruising…of the boat variety

    Yes, it’s that time of year when my friend, Christine, drags me off to discover yet another part of the world. The things I do for friends, eh? This time we’re off to see some Inca treasures and Mayan temples. We begin in Chile before moving on to Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, and we complete the journey in Los Angeles. It’s going to be a gruelling twenty-eight days coping with all that champagne, cocktails, and wine, not to mention all that lovely rich scrumptious food and the arduous touristy-type trips we’ve got planned.

    Joking aside, I know how damn lucky I am to be able to have these experiences. I was speaking just the other day with an impossibly young twenty-year-old who’s only just starting out on her own journey in life. She’s in the process of joining the army, making changes to build herself a whole new life and break away from her frankly, harrowing past. She was wide-eyed as Christine and I showed her our trip on the map, going to places she’d never even heard of.

    “Wow, that’s amazing,” she said when we’d finished showing her photos of Mayan temples. “You’re so lucky.”

    Christine and I looked at each other and wondered what impression this young lesbian had of us two, old enough to be her grandparents.

    “It’s not luck,” Christine said. “It’s the result of damned hard work. And you can have the same thing if you give it everything.”

    She nodded, looking contemplative. Both Christine and I worked hard to get to where we are, but by God, we’re making sure we enjoy it now! I hope you’re all doing the same.

    But I digress. We’re looking forward to linking up with old acquaintances and no doubt, to make new ones to add to our ever-increasing circle of connections, which is probably my favourite part. Meeting new people, hearing their stories, finding things in common with people I might otherwise have never met. I love that!

    Whoopee…here we come!