Author of the Month - Karen White-Owens

karen's writing now...until forever

by Wayne Jordan

& Tell us a little about yourself:

I was born and raised in Detroit. I attended Cass Technical High School and graduated from Wayne State University. Over the years, I've worked in a variety of educational institutions, including a middle and high school, community college and university. I finally settled into a position at Mount Clemens Public Library as a librarian and I'm loving it. I've got a great husband, Gary, that doesn't get upset when I say I have to write. We've been married 17 years.

& Have you always wanted to write Romance?

No. Writing was not on my agenda. I wanted to rule the world. Be the president of a major corporation. Writing emerged during a family tragedy and my mother's death.

& Describe a typical day in the life of “Karen White-Owens” the author.

Karen, the author gets up at 4am. It's a great time to work because my home is quiet and so is my neighborhood. We have a small house and I write in my living room. So, I slip out of bed and pull my little TV table with my laptop on it close to my chair and work. I write until about 5:30a and then I take a nap. At 7, I get up to get dressed to go to my day job at the library.

& What would you consider to be the difficult part of being a published author?

Deadlines cause a lot of drama in my house. When you have a regular job, family, and responsibilities, deadlines are hard to maintain. Getting a manuscript completed on time takes a lot of time and discipline.

& What would you consider to be the most rewarding (besides the money J)?

I think I'm a bit of a ham. When I was a little girl, I use to make up stories to entertain my brother and sister. I'm still telling stories, only now I get paid and I have a larger audience. Plus, I'm pretty sure my brother and sister are very grateful that I have someone else to listen to my tales.

& Tell us a bit about your December 2006 release, NOW UNTIL FOREVER.

NOW UNTIL FOREVER is a story I always wanted to write. I woke up one morning with the plot in my head and I'm really thrilled to see it in print. It's about a widow who finds herself falling in love with her boss. Once she decides to take the plunge and lets herself get involved with him, she has to make a place for herself in his life and figure out a way to get his children to accept her.

& What quality sets your books apart from other romance novels?

Another published author recently told me that I write very pretty. That just tickled me. I never thought of myself as a "pretty" writer. Seriously, I like to address issues that concern all of us. For example, I wrote about adoption and finding your parents in CIRCLES OF LOVE. In LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING, I dealt with issues in today's high schools. And in Now Until Forever, I discuss blended families.

& What advice would you give new authors who are trying to get published?
Don't stop writing. Learn as much about the business as you can and find a critique group. Your family and friends will tell you what you want to hear. A critique group will tell you the truth and what you need to know to improve your writing.

& Are you a member of any writing organizations? How has this helped your career?

Yes, I'm a member of Romance Writers of America and our local Detroit area chapter, Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America. Through the RWA conferences I found my agent and my critique group.

& Who are some of your favorite authors and books?

Tess Gerritsen - THE APPRENTICE. Local Detroit area author Natalie Dunbar's books are on my book shelf. I like all of the books from her Silhouette Bombshell series and Elaine Overton - FEVER and DEJA VU and Phyllis Bourne Williams - A MOMENT ON THE LIPS.

& What do you do when you’re not writing?
Spending time with my husband tops my list. I've become addicted to the television program, Heroes. I'm a movie goer. I love anything Denzel Washington stars in. I like to read. I don't have as much time as I use to, but I still love to curl up in my bed with a good book. And I love to sew. Until writing consumed me, I was a pretty good seamstress.

& What’s next for Karen White-Owens ?
In September 2007, I have another release. The book is tentatively titled, GEEKS NEED LOVE TOO. In addition, I want to branch out and try my hand at something different. I'm working on an erotica and I've written approximately 200 pages of a thriller.

& How can your readers stay in touch with you?

I love to hear from my reading audience. E-mail me at karenwhiteowens@yahoo.com or at Karen White-Owens, P.O. Box 40366, Redford, MI 48240. I answer all messages.