Character Interview: Karen Stivali's Daniel Gardner

I'm happy celebrate Valentine's Day with Daniel Gardner, Karen Stivali's main character in her contemporary romance Holding On, the sequel to Meant To Be. Karen was here in December, and you can read that interview here to find out more about her and her work. Today we have Daniel all to ourselves.

If you're not yet familiar with Daniel, here are some things you need to know about him: Daniel is a transplanted Brit, living in the United States with his lovely wife Marienne and stepdaughter Ella. He's an English professor, a brownie addict, and he's hopelessly in love. Sigh. I wonder what he's giving Marienne for Valentine's Day...

Interview with Daniel

Daniel, first tell me how you met Karen. Want to dish about her?

I met Karen one day while she was writing at a café. She was staring at me so intently it made me curious, so I went over to talk to her. She said I reminded of her of the character she’d had in mind for a story. No one had ever said that to me before, so I was quite intrigued.

Dish about her? *chuckles* I can imagine the scowl on her face as she waits to see what I answer for this question. She’s a very petite woman, but she can give the death stare when she wants to. Let’s see...what can I tell you that won’t get me in too much trouble? She does most of her writing in the middle of the night, which is fine with me as we’re both total insomniacs. She’s rather addicted to chocolate, which is also fine with me because I am too, and she’s always willing to share. And she likes to...never mind. She’d kill me off if I told you that. *winks*

You're a cruel man, Daniel! Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?

Never in a million years. I wouldn’t even write a book about myself. Karen insists there’s something special about me, but I think she’s a bit biased. I’m just an ordinary bloke.

Did you have a hard time convincing your author to write any particular scenes for you?

Convincing her to write scenes? No. I try to convince her NOT to write some scenes and she does anyway. She likes to know everything and write it all down. I’m more one to sweep certain memories away or lock them up in the nearest cupboard. She never lets me do that. Stubborn woman.

What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?

I actually rather like reading myself. Give me a good book and a comfortable chair, and I’m quite content.

Do have any secret aspirations that your author doesn’t know about?

I don’t think I do. Karen pushes me to do things I didn’t even know I could do, and she puts me through all sorts of things in Holding On. I can’t think of anything else I’d possibly be doing. She’s given me a very full life.

If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

I’d spend it in bed with my wife, Marienne. With a picnic basket of food next to the bed. But you probably already guessed that if you’ve read Meant To Be. 



Yes, I saw that one coming. What impression do you make on people when they first meet you?

I think when people first meet me they probably think I’m fairly quiet. Then they get to know me and realize I rarely shut up. 



What's the worst thing that's happened in your life? What did you learn from it?

My mother dying when I was in my teens. It taught me that you need to appreciate the people in your life while they’re there with you and that you should let them know how much they mean to you as often as possible. I hope I do that.

Tell us about your best friend.

My best friend is Marienne, who, thank God, also agreed to be my wife. There’s a line in a movie “You’re everything I never knew I always wanted.” That’s how I feel about her. I didn’t know it was possible to have another human being know you so well and yet totally love and accept you. She’s my soul mate. No question. I’m an exceptionally lucky man.

I'd say you're both exceptionally lucky. What are you most afraid of?

Losing the people I love. 



What’s the best trait your author has given you?

Best trait? I like to think that I’m kind-hearted and a bit of a romantic. I also like to think I’m funny, but I’m not so sure about that one.

What’s the worst?

I’m a compulsive worrier. I even get on my own nerves with that at times.

Will you encourage your author to write a sequel?

Well, she already has written one sequel. Holding On is the sequel to Meant To Be. And she wrote a short story about my wedding to Justine ("All I Need," in the Foreign Affairs Anthology) and another short story ("White Wedding," in the upcoming Wedding Anthology---both anthologies from Turquoise Morning Press) about my wedding to Marienne. I’ve also heard that I’m going to be in the upcoming novel Just In Time, which is Justine’s story. Karen’s being very secretive about that one though, so I don’t know what happens. I hope she keeps writing about me. I love it when she brings me to life. 

We do too, Daniel, we do too!
 

About the author:

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker, and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies, and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details. 

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s women's fiction stories, published with Turquoise Morning Press, include Meant To Be (August 2012) and its sequel Holding On (November 2012). Both full length novels are currently available in e-book and paperback. A prequel to these novels, the short story "All I Need," appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (August 2012). Another short story, "White Wedding," which takes place between Meant To Be and Holding On, will be in an anthology due out in June 2013.

Also coming in 2013, Karen will have two contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing. The first of these, Then, Again is due out on May 23, 2013. Leave The Lights On will be out in November/December 2013. A new erotic romance novella will release from Ellora's Cave in Spring 2013, and Just In Time, a follow-up to Meant To Be and Holding On that will focus on Justine, will release from Turquoise Morning in January 2014.


Connect with Karen:
website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon   

Buy the Book!

Amazon / AllRomance Ebooks /  
Barnes & Noble / 

Turquoise Morning Press

Review of Meant To Be

Marienne and Daniel are meant to be...except they’re already married to other people. The two get to know each other, and their friendship blossoms, as Marienne and her husband, and Daniel and his wife become friends. Ms. Stivali shows the reader how wrong both marriages are, and I found myself asking why didn’t they see it sooner? But it wouldn’t allow for much of a story if they had.

Meant To Be is a love story about two people who became best friends before becoming lovers. I like how Ms. Stivali’s characters are never unfaithful, at least in the physical sense. Emotionally, Marienne and Daniel are closer to each other than to their spouses. But it was a natural progression, and there was never a question of unfaithfulness--except for in their minds. Because they are both married to the wrong people, Marienne and Daniel are able give the other the emotional support that is lacking in their marriages, and the reader cheers them on as they grow closer.

Watching the two people, who were meant to be, fall in love is the heart and soul of this book. As their relationship progresses from friendship to genuine love, their marriages begin to fail. But I like that their marriages don’t fail because Marienne and Daniel find themselves loving one another instead of their spouses; the marriages failed because they simply weren’t meant to be and Marienne and Daniel are. Although it takes them a while to admit that to themselves, much less to each other.

Meant To Be shows the slow, almost torturous path to happily ever after for Marienne and Daniel--two honorable, faithful people with whom the reader becomes friends. It’s a frustrating story, but a good frustrating, because they are so obviously right for each other, and so obviously wrong for their spouses. The reader is dying for Marienne and Daniel to see what we see all along. The attraction is there, the emotional connection is there, and we ache for them to acknowledge it.

If you like sweet romances, stories where you root for the couple to get together and find anticipation is delicious, you’ll like Meant To Be.

About the author:
Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details. 

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, released from Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. Its sequel, Holding On, released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

Coming in 2013 Karen will have several contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press. The first of these, Then, Again will release from Samhain on May 23, 2013.

Buy the book:
Amazon author page
Amazon Meant To Be
Romance Ebooks 
Barnes & Noble

Turquoise Morning Press

It was a pleasure to have Karen here on her CLP blog tour. Click for more links and to read an interview with Karen, to read and excerpt of Meant To Be, and to read Karen's guest post.

Karen Stivali

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details. 

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012), and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, released from Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. Its sequel, Holding On, released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

Coming in 2013, Karen will have several contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press. The first of these, Then Again will release from Samhain on May 23, 2013.

Guest Post by Karen Stivali

When I wrote Meant To Be I saw the whole story in my head, beginning, middle 
and end. I knew what was going to happen to the characters, how they were
 going to grow close as friends, how they'd fall in love without even
 realizing what was happening. The story that plays out between Daniel and
 Marienne is a one of friendship, love, acceptance and longing. It's one long 
prelude to a kiss. 


I knew from the start that they would have a happily ever after ending and 
when I wrote it I felt so relieved. I wanted their happiness. As a writer I 
needed to give it to them. Then I started submitting their story for 
publication. It's a nerve-wracking process, submitting a book to agents and 
publishers. There's a lot of waiting for answers. There are rejection
 letters that don't tell you what you did wrong. Possibly worse, there are 
rejection letters saying how much the reader liked your book but it just 
wasn't what he/she was looking for at that time.


It was November 2010 and after two months of hopeful replies, rejections and 
more waiting ahead, I knew I had to do something or I was going to lose my 
mind. I'd always wanted to try NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, 
which takes place every November and is a group of people who each commit to
 trying to write 50k words of a novel in that one month's time). I had a few 
different ideas in my head but the story that wouldn't stop talking to me 
was Holding On. Even though I'd devoted an entire book to Daniel and 
Marienne, I wasn't done telling their story. So I did the one thing writers 
are told never to do---I wrote a sequel to a book I had yet to place.
 Writing Holding On was exactly what I needed. For the first time in months 
the words were pouring out of me. And, to be, honest, I'd missed Daniel and
 Marienne. I needed to follow them on another journey and take them further 
through their lives. By the end of November I'd written nearly 60k words of
 their story. (As a bit of trivia, Holding On was not the original title of
 this book, the working NaNo title was "The Professor and Marienne." You'll 
see why if you read Meant To Be.)


As luck would have it when I got an offer to contract Meant To Be several
 months later, one of the first things the publisher asked me was "Do you 
ever see yourself writing a sequel to this book?" I was able to say I pretty 
much already had. She asked for the first few chapters, and within a few 
weeks I had a contract on Holding On as well.


So, if any writers out there have characters that they believe they're just
 not done with, my advice is write them. Tell their story. A lot of people 
thought I was crazy to be writing a whole other book about Daniel and 
Marienne while Meant To Be was still just making the rounds, but I'm so glad 
I did it. I stayed true to my characters, and I wrote what I wanted to write. 
I'll forever be thankful to NaNoWriMo for giving me the push I needed to 
accomplish that. And I'm so glad I wrote the rest of Daniel and Marienne's 
story.


Not that that's the end for them. I've had several readers who've asked if
 we'll see more Daniel and Marienne and my answer is two-fold. First, I don't 
know that I'll ever be able to say I'm truly done writing them. They're a
 part of my life, and I adore them both, and they're only in their early
 30s---they have a whole lifetime ahead, and I'm willing to bet some of that
 lifetime will make it onto paper in the future. In addition to that I
 already know for a fact that they'll appear in a related book. Daniel's
 ex-wife, Justine, who is in both Meant To Be and Holding On undergoes a 
rather dramatic life experience at the end of Holding On. Justine will be 
getting a book that tells her story and Daniel and Marienne will most
 definitely be making guest appearances in Just In Time (due out from
 Turquoise Morning Press 1/26/14). 


And, if you've read both of these books and still want more Daniel and
 Marienne, you can read about them in two anthologies. The short story All I
 Need (in the Foreign Affairs Antholoy by Turquoise Morning  Press) tells 
about how a young Daniel wound up marrying Justine in the first place. And a 
second short White Wedding, in an upcoming  wedding anthology will tell the 
tale of Daniel and Marienne's nuptials. That anthology is due to release in
 June 2013 (also from Turquoise Morning Press).

To read an interview with Karen, click here.
To read an excerpt from Meant To Be, click here.

Connect with Karen:
Website 
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon

All Romance Ebooks
Barnes & Noble

Turquoise Morning Press 

Excerpt from Karen Stivali's Meant To Be

Daniel’s hand froze on the page the moment he saw it. It looked more like a candid photo than a drawing.

“That’s amazing,” he said, unable to take his eyes off it. “I can’t believe you drew this from memory.”

“I have a good memory.” She smiled.

“I’m speechless. Well, not literally speechless, as I’m babbling, but I don’t know what to say.” He turned to glance at Marienne and saw that she was blushing. “I had no idea I was this good looking.” He added, and she laughed, which was precisely what he wanted. He didn’t want her to be uncomfortable, at all, ever.

“Well,” she said. “There’s some artistic license.”

“Clearly,” he said. “And thank you, I’ve never looked better. Though I do look awfully sad. Is that how you see me?”

“I was going for introspective, not so much sad, but the night I drew that, yes, you did seem sad.”

“What night was that?” he asked.

“The night you came for dinner while I was baking all the Christmas cookies, the night you told me about your mom.”

“Then I’d say you captured that mood perfectly.” He looked back at the drawing, still amazed by how much it looked like him, only somehow better.

“But that’s not how I always see you. Turn the page.”

He laughed as the next drawing was also of him, this time with his head thrown back, eyes twinkling, mouth wide with laughter, right hand raised and woven through his hair. Once again he felt like he was looking at a photograph rather that a drawing. He looked at his own hand then at the drawing, she had captured it flawlessly. The expression, the pose, it was all unmistakably him. How did she do that without me posing for her?

“You’re amazing.” He was in awe, not only of her ability to put his image on paper with such beauty, but to see him with such clarity.

For an interview with Karen Stivali, and to find out where to connect with her, scroll down, go to the home page, or click here. Come back tomorrow to read a guest post by Karen.

Talking with Karen Stivali

I'm happy to have Karen Stivali here as part of her Chick Lit Plus Blog tour. Karen is talking about her novel, Meant To Be, which was released in August.
 

About the book:

Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

When NYU professor Daniel Gardner’s career-obsessed wife convinces him to move to the suburbs, he hopes it’s a first step toward starting the family he longs to have. Instead of domestic bliss he finds his neighbor, Marienne Valeti. She loves her freelance design job, but must contend with a growing sense of isolation created by her husband’s indifference. A penchant for good books, bad movies, and Marienne’s to-die-for brownies sparks a powerful bond between them. Passion simmers, but they resist its lure, surrendering only in the seclusion of their minds. Their friendship helps them weather every hardship, from divorce to widowhood, leaving them both secretly wondering if it can survive a first kiss.

Hi, Karen. Can you tell us how you came up with the title of your book?

I tossed around a bunch of different titles when I was trying to name this book and I kept coming back to Meant To Be. The title not only seemed to perfectly suit the book, which is about destiny and fate, but so many of my experiences while writing it seemed to echo the same sentiment. Things don’t always work out the way you expect them to, or the way you planned for them to---they work out the way they’re supposed to. They’re simply meant to be.

How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)

Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

Only 99 characters. Excellent! Did you have any say in your cover art? What do you think of it?

Yes, I did. My publisher, Turquoise Morning Press, allows authors to have a bit of input regarding their cover art. It was very important to me that the friendship and closeness between Daniel and Marienne be portrayed on the cover. I love that the couple pictured is just walking through a park together, talking, not touching, yet their body language shows that they’re focused on one another and drawn together. It has the perfect feel for how I imagine them, and I like the fact that the image has more significance after you’ve read the book and understand their relationship.

How do you get to know your characters?

I think about them all the time. When I first come up with new characters I watch them in my head, like I’m spying on them or eavesdropping at a coffee shop. Once I see their story more clearly, I usually find that the characters start talking more and more. By the time I hear them chattering all the time I know it’s time to start writing down what they’re saying. If I need to know more about a character I’ll have them recall a memory and tell it to me. Imagining them in different scenarios, even if those aren’t things that will play out in the story, helps me to understand who they are and how they’ll act and react in any situation. I need to know all of that before I can really write about them. I need to be able to say with absolute certainty “that’s how he would react” or “oh, she’d never, ever do that.”

Sophie’s choice: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

It’s silly that I need to preface this answer by saying this, but I actually feel compelled to state that I really love all of my characters. That said, Daniel is my favorite character. He has starred in Meant To Be, its sequel Holding On, and the short stories All I Need (a prequel to Meant To Be) and White Wedding (a short in an upcoming anthology). I’ve written him more than any other character I’ve ever created, and he hasn’t stopped talking to me yet. There is nothing I don’t know about Daniel. All his faults. All his strengths. All his weaknesses. I adore writing him and will probably never be able to say with certainty that I’m done writing his stories.

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?
Yes. I have to see an entire story play out in my head like a movie before I write it, so I always see the entire cast. Sometimes a scene with a bit character will actually come to me fairly early on in the process. I love seeing how my characters interact with people other than the main cast members. I think it’s very telling to watch people interact with co-workers or random people they might encounter in the course of a day.

I’m constantly on the lookout for new names. How do you name your characters?

I don’t have a particular method for choosing character names, but I do have a quirky rule. I can’t personally know anyone with that name. If I know someone with the name, I associate the name with the real person and that doesn’t work for me. I have to have names that belong strictly to my characters. The funny thing is that while I was writing several of my last few books I met people with the name of the main characters I was writing. That amused me, because it’s happened about five times now, but it didn’t interfere with the writing because my character had the name first.

What would your main character say about you?

He’d say, “Why must you torture me?” Then he’d forgive me because I let him have awesome sex, and I always laugh at his jokes.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? Who?

No. No. No. People ask me that question all the time. I never ever base my characters on anyone---not on people I know personally and not even on movie stars or models. I take the word fiction very seriously, and when I create a character, it is someone I’ve completely formed in my mind, not someone I’ve imagined based on a real person.

Are you like any of your characters? How so?

There are bits and pieces of me in several of my characters. I bake compulsively like Marienne. I’m an insomniac and a worrier like Daniel. I attended NYU like several of my characters. Those are just tiny facets of who they are, though, they’re not based on me, they just have characteristics and experiences I’m familiar with so I know I’m getting those aspects right. For the most part my characters have habits/quirks/features/personalities that are nothing like me. I love writing characters who do and say things I never would because then I get to live vicariously through them. It’s one of the perks of being a writer. You can have your characters do or say whatever you want. 

I totally agree.

Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning?
I write off and on all day long, but I work best late at night. I’ve always been a night owl and I find my mind is sharpest and my head the clearest in the late evening or wee hours of the morning. I’m also an insomniac so this is a convenient combo and happens to be the only time my house is quiet, so it all works out well.

Where’s home for you?

Northern New England.

I love New England. Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

Weird thing: The name of my town is actually spelled wrong. Two hundred years ago when they were having the name carved into a stone it was spelled incorrectly and rather than pay to have it redone they just went with the wrong spelling.
Nice thing: It’s a mountaintop town that’s mostly wooded, has a waterfall and a scenic overlook where you can see for miles. And the people who live here are awesome. (Okay that’s two nice things---what can I say? I love where I live.)
Factual thing: The highest point in town is 1015 feet above sea level.

Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow? Music? Acting out the scene? Long showers?

Long showers. Oh God, yes. I don’t know what it is about the shower that makes ideas come to me. Maybe because it’s the only place in the house where someone’s not likely to be talking to me or popping in with a question (although my cat does often stick his head into the shower and lick the wall---eww---he’s a weird kitten). Maybe it’s because I’m busy doing things that don’t require thought, like shampooing, so my mind is free to wander. Maybe it’s just the steam. Or maybe it’s that it’s the one place where I’m guaranteed not to have a pen and paper so I have to just let the story keep playing over and over in my head until I can get out and write it down. Whatever it is, I can say I’ve definitely come up with some of my very best scenes and ideas while showering. I really need to buy one of those waterproof shower notepad thingies. In fact, I think I’ll add that to my Christmas wishlist right now!

Attention Karen’s family! Did you take note? Only fourteen more shopping days left! Karen, what three books have you read recently and would recommend?

I have read and adored the three books in Tiffany Reisz’s Original Sinners series: The Siren, The Angel and The Prince. They’re all completely different and totally amazing. Detailed characters, intricately interwoven plots, heartbreakingly sad at times, laugh out loud funny other times. Beautiful prose with sharp, witty dialogue---I highly recommend them.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
In the rare moments when I’m not writing, I love to spend time with friends (in person or online), and I truly enjoy cooking and baking. Luckily I do all my writing at my kitchen desk, on my laptop, so I’m often cooking/baking, writing and online chatting all at once. I’m an excellent multi-tasker!

Last question that I'm sure your fans want to know: What are you working on now?

At the moment I’m working on four different projects. One is a contemporary romance with a tragic virgin hero---it’s a friends to lovers story with a very atypical path to romance. Another is a women’s fiction/contemporary romance starring Justine, one of the secondary characters in Meant To Be and Holding On. Justine isn’t the focus of either of those books, and I thought she deserved to have her story told.  The third is an erotic romance featuring a married couple trying to keep the spark alive in their marriage. The fourth is a super sekrit, so I can’t tell you more than the fact that it exists. I have about eight more ideas in my to-be-written notebook, I just have to find the time to write them.

Great. And I hope you'll come back soon and talk to us about Meant To Be's sequel Holding On.
About the author:

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details. 

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, was released from Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. Its sequel, Holding On, was released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

Coming in 2013 Karen will have several contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press. The first of these, THEN, AGAIN will release from Samhain on May 23, 2013.


Connect with Karen:
Website   
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon author page
Amazon book page
RomanceEbooks

Barnes & Noble

Turquoise Morning Press

To read an excerpt of Meant To Be, click here.
To read a guest post by Karen, click here.