5 Questions for Karen Whiddon

Welcome to our continuing feature here at Sizzling Pens,
"5 QUESTIONS FOR..." It's a mini-interview with some of your favorite authors, and today, we're thrilled to introduce bestselling author, Karen Whiddon.

Karen spun fanciful tales for her younger brothers as early as the age of eleven. Growing up in the Catskill Mountains of New York, then the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, she found enough magic in the rugged peaks to keep her imagination fueled for years.
Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and three doting dogs. She has published five short contemporaries for Kensington Books Precious Gems and five long paranormals for Leisure Lovespell. She also writes paranormal contemporarys for Silhouette Nocturne and romantic suspense for Silhouette Romantic Suspense.

1) How many manuscripts did you write before you sold one?

I wrote several - maybe four our five. The first one I wrote in 1988 while home for six weeks recuperating from surgery. I typed it on an electric typewriter, single spaced, and it was 147 pages. I sent it to Harlequin. After that, I joined RWA, went to conferences, and learned a bit more about submission guidelines. I wrote two really long historicals (500+ pages). However, I knew nothing about plot. I still had a lot to learn. I finally sold in 1997, nine years later. I wrote a lot in those nine years, but sporadically.

2) Which book was your hardest to write and why?

Whatever book I'm working on is the most difficult to write . I very rarely have a book that just jumps from my brain on to paper. My first paranormal for Dorchester, Powerful Magic, was perhaps the easiest to write, but then I wrote it on spec and wasn't under deadline.

3) What do you think is the most difficult thing about being an author?

Deadlines. I never seem to have enough time to write, work the day job, and have a life. Like right now, I have a book due in one month and I'm not even halfway done. And I have to go to the day job, so I can't sit down and write for two weeks non-stop and finish it - though I wish I could. That kind of stuff drives me insane.


4) What authors have most inspired your work

LaVryle Spencer, first and foremost. Though she's retired now, I have every book she ever wrote. Judith McNaught, Kristin Hannah, Barbara Samuel, all authors who I adore. I love them for their character creating skills. Amazing.


5) What are you working on now?

As mentioned, I'm on deadline for a Silhouette Nocturne. It's complicated, involving a shapeshifter and a vampire, and it has been very difficult to write. Maybe because there are so many threads I have to weave into a story. But it will get done (most likely not on time) and revised and then I have to work on a Silhouette Romantic Suspense. I'm contracted for 6 books with them, so I'm employed for another year or so.

Karen has 2 books out this month: The Perfect Soldier - a Silhouette Romantic Suspense, and Midnight Cravings - Mate of the Wolf (Anthology) You can visit Karen's web site www.karenwhiddon.com or email Karen at KWhiddon1@aol.com