Today The Blonde Plotters are having a chat with Karen Clarke, author of the Seashell Cove series.
Thanks for popping by to visit us and tell us a bit about your Christmas novel.
Please can you tell us a bit about your current series
My book is the third in the Seashell Cove series, each of them featuring one of three friends, and the Christmas story is Tilly’s.
And the inspiration behind it.
I liked the idea of a dramatic pivotal moment to ‘wake up’ the main character, and was drawn to a near-drowning as I can’t swim myself and am afraid of the water, so that was quite challenging!
Can you tell us a little about your route to publication?
My route to publication started with short stories for women’s magazines, after joining an online group that gave me the confidence to believe I could do it, and to start submitting my work. Alongside the stories, I began a writing a romantic comedy novel with a paranormal twist which attracted an agent and went to auction in Germany. A few years, and a couple of books later, I was approached by an editor at digital publisher Bookouture, and asked to write a series with a seaside theme, and am now writing my 7th novel for them.
What have you learnt that you wished you’d known when you started writing?
That there is no magical route to publication – you just have to keep writing. I was constantly reading blogs, books, tips and ‘how-to’ articles, looking for that one special piece of advice instead of getting on with it!
What would be your biggest tip for a new writer?
Read a LOT and write something every day.
Thanks very much, Karen.
Bio
Karen lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and three grown-up children where she writes romantic comedy novels. When she’s not writing she reads a lot, enjoys walking – which is good for plot-wrangling and ideas – watching boxsets, baking and eating cakes. And then more walking to work off the cakes.
Book Blurb
Interior designer Tilly Campbell loves being carefree and single. But her latest job is redecorating the cosy local café for a Christmas party, and when her friends confess their plans for the big night – including a proposal, a declaration of love and a pregnancy announcement – Tilly starts to wonder if she might be missing out…
Transforming the café into a winter wonderland is more of a challenge than she thought, so when she bumps into gorgeous newcomer Seth, Tilly welcomes the distraction. Seth is a single father, struggling to settle his son Jack into their new cottage, and Tilly is determined to help them make their house into a home in time for Christmas.
But with the café still in chaos just days before the party it looks like it’s going to be a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons… With friends old and new relying on her, can Tilly save the Christmas party?
And could she finally find love waiting for her under the mistletoe?
BUY The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove
Links
Facebook: www.facebook.com/karen.clarke.5682
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenclarke123?lang=en-gb
Website: https://www.karenclarkewriter.com/
