Tag: romance

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 1^st March 2025.

Feb 17, 2025
Come Read with Me

Hi there, folks. Here’s another beautiful cover Nicci Robinson over at Global Wordsmiths has created for me.

I’m doing a double somersault as we’re preparing my new book, Come Dream with Me, released on 15^th July, just in time for those chilled out reads on the beach, by the pool, or in the garden. It’s a story of two different loves, one from the past and one in the present. As per usual, I cover another subject. Dementia. My mother suffered from it, my dear friend too, and sadly, my sister has this dreadful condition. At some point in life, everyone has known someone with this cruel syndrome. Many, many moons ago, as a student nurse I worked in the dementia unit of a psychiatric hospital. They didn’t differentiate between the types of dementia, even though their symptoms were so diverse. I was lucky to work with Sister Phillips, a caring and compassionate woman who treated each individual with kindness. She brought as much fun and laughter into their lives as she possibly could: favourite foods, favourite tipples, walking, gardening, listening to music, singing to it and dancing to it. You name it, we did it. At the time, it was frowned upon by many of the hierarchy, but she didn’t care! I praise the Sister Phillips’ of this world.

I hope I’ve treated this subject with all the respect it deserves, showing not only the sadness, but also the times of happiness and laughter. Dementia is like travelling from an old life to a new. If you have support…the journey can be brighter and less frightening. Never travel alone; there are many friends out there waiting to help…it’s just a question of finding them. Watch this space for a release day competition 🙂

When your past and your future collide, who do you become in the present?

When Dani Cavell returns home from Australia to help her parents, her life isn’t what she’d thought it would be. Single and living with her mum and dad, Dani knows it’s time to move on but isn’t sure how to do it. Until she takes a job in a dementia unit where Caroline Kingley, the woman who broke her heart many years ago, is now a patient.

Angel Lamb has always been a free spirit. Life is an adventure meant to be enjoyed and no woman has ever made her want to settle down. But when Dani Cavell walks into her life, she wonders if she’s met the woman who could make her dreams of a perfect partner reality.

When she learns Dani’s history with the elegant and renowned painter in the dementia unit, she isn’t sure that Dani’s heart is ready for what she has to offer. Can Dani let go of the woman who’d once captured her heart? Or will she and Angel miss their chance at the greatest adventure of all?

Jun 3, 2021
Unlikeable characters…and why I love ’em

People often ask me why I love writing unlikeable characters. In fact, many reviewers go so far as to say, “I didn’t like so and so at first, but in the end I did.” Take Tannus, the haughty Chief of Caysher and Kaitlin, the thorn in Tannus’s side in my Opening in Time trilogy. When Kaitlin met her, they didn’t exactly hit at off. They were two headstrong women from very different backgrounds: Tannus was responsible for the lives of a whole village of women whilst Kaitlin was more interested in the next fashion statement. But by the end of their journeys (separately and together), they emerged as different people, likeable people.

So why do I love writing unlikeable characters? My simple answer is…I’m drawn to them like a magnet. If there’s a dirty, rotten scoundrel around…I’m in there. Why? Because it gives the characters somewhere to go. And unlikable doesn’t mean uninteresting. Think of all the villains you’ve loved to hate and couldn’t tear yourself away from the pages because you simply had to find out what they would do next.

If you think about it, where would A Christmas Carol be without Ebenezer Scrooge? Everybody hated him in the beginning, but despite that, he had an appeal of sorts, and the readers stayed with the character and the story. Why? Because the reader recognises that he’s human, that’s he’s flawed. In the early stages, he’s a right nasty, callous piece of work. But let’s face it, he had his reasons but they’d just swallowed him up and mutated into avarice. So, just like Ebenezer, there’s generally a reason why some of my characters come over as unlikeable. They have a past. They’ve got baggage. But they’ve also got redeeming qualities that shine out in the end.

And just like Scrooge, the transformation is for the better. And that’s why I like ‘em.

My December release, True Karma, features Amelia Steele, a grumpy, older woman of sorts, undiagnosed on the spectrum, and detached from the world around her. But when the irrepressible songwriter, Juno Costello, bursts into her life, Amelia begins to change and is able to see the world in a new and brighter light. You can join them on their journey from Monday 14th December, when you’ll be able to grab a copy on Amazon. It will also be on Kindle Unlimited for those of you with a subscription (and because Amazon has strange and unfathomable inner workings, the paperback is already available from today).

Is Amelia unlikeable? Possibly, in the beginning… but love moves to its own rhythm, if only you stop long enough to hear it.

Dec 9, 2020
Cover reveal time!

Nicci Robinson over at Global Wordsmiths created me a beautiful cover.

Hey there, folks,

I’m jumping for joy again as we’re preparing my new book, True Karma, for release on the 14th December, just in time for Christmas. It’s a pure romance, but we all know the course of true love never runs smoothly. Oh dear!

Do you believe in karma? As the title suggests, karma brings two women from different walks of life together. It’s set in an English village and the suburbs of San Diego, and revolves around their meeting and subsequent relationship. Here’s the blurb:

Amelia Steele has never fit in, and over time, she’s given up trying. Her world has narrowed to work and walking the neighbour’s dog, Karma. She likes people watching but never seems to move to the same rhythm they do. While walking Karma one day, she notices a new person, one who talks to everyone and seems full of life. Amelia avoids her, unsure how to deal with someone like that, until the moment Karma slips his leash.

Juno Costello is living life to the fullest. A successful songwriter, she’s come to England to try to find some balance in her frenetic life full of shallow hangers-on. When she hears a woman crying out for help, she’s quick to jump in but is soon baffled by the woman’s reticence. But the more she learns about Amelia, the more she wants to know. It isn’t long before she thinks she’s found a place that feels like home.

Until, that is, Amelia makes a terrible mistake…

One final thought

Karma says: If you focus on hurt, you will continue to suffer. If you focus on the lesson, you will continue to grow.

Your choice, lovely readers!

With hugs,
Karen

Nov 6, 2020
Sliding Doors – release day!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee…Yay! 🎵It’s been a long time coming, but it’s out today! 🎶 Cometh the hour…cometh the day…cometh the book, Sliding Doors.

It’s up and running worldwide on Amazon and available in eBook, Kindle Unlimited, and will be available in paperback in a few days’ time. This is usually the point when I say, “Right! Now, I’m on a flight bound for (insert lovely city) to join a cruise to exotic places. But nope, there’s no cruising for me…of any kind (wink, wink).

So let’s celebrate with a competition to win a signed paperback of Sliding Doors instead. All you have to do is comment on any of my social media accounts, or on the Facebook pages where I’ve shared this blog, or by contact via my website. Tell me what life you would like to inhabit instead of your own — or tell me why you love your own life! I’ll get my word gurus over at Global Wordsmiths to help me pick the most original answer, and the winner will get a nice, shiny copy of Sliding Doors delivered to anywhere in the world.

I hope you enjoy reading my new romance as much as I loved writing it. Once again, a huge thank you for all your support and encouragement—it really is appreciated.

Keep safe, keep healthy, keep sane, and have fun. 😀

Jun 15, 2020