Book Lovers Inc.
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Interview: Author Karin Harlow + Giveaway
Filed in Giveaways , Interview , Karin Harlow , The Cornered Lover Posted on August 13, 2010 @ 6:00 am
43 comments
Today we are very excited to welcome Karin Harlow Author of the L.O.S.T. Series to Book Lovers, Inc. with her newest release Enemy Lover. You can read my review here. So please join me in giving Karin a warm welcome!
The Cornered Lover: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Karin Harlow: Yes but first I want to say, thank you for inviting me to hang out with you, JoJo!
The Cornered Lover: Your very welcome Karin! We are so happy to have yo here today!
Karin Harlow: Ok, so, a little bit about me: I’ve been happily married to my very own hawt alpha for almost 30 years. We have four grown children. I love my job, I love animals, and I love gardening (it has become an obsession!)
The Cornered Lover: What’s a typical writing day for you like?
Karin Harlow: I’m not much of a morning writer. I belong to several active yahoo loops and chat more than I should, then there is reader email, which I LOVE! I usually get started writing around noon. But my most prolific writing comes at night when the house is quiet and I can safely crank my iPod up.
The Cornered Lover: When and where do you like to write?
Karin Harlow: My office. It’s really the most comfortable place for me.
The Cornered Lover: Do you keep journals, sticky notes, chicken scratch on the back of receipts?
Karin Harlow: No journals, but I’ll write down a line, name or idea down on the closest thing. I’ve even called my house and left the info as a voicemail.
The Cornered Lover: What is the hardest / easiest part of writing for you?
Karin Harlow: The easy part is the writing. The hard part is creating multi-layered, passionate, characters me and my readers will care about.
The Cornered Lover: What’s the best thing about being an author?
Karin Harlow: Being able to create wonderful characters and then tell their story. At heart, I’m a storyteller. I love it.
The Cornered Lover: How long did you write before you became a published author?
Karin Harlow: I’ve written since High School, but actively toward publication about 3 years, with a lot of really bad manuscripts now collecting dust under my bed.
The Cornered Lover: Do you read your own books after they make it to final print?
Karin Harlow: I have been trying to find the time to read ENEMY LOVER! But I’ve been so busy working on L.O.S.T. book two I haven’t had a chance.
The Cornered Lover: How did you get into writing?
Karin Harlow: It all started when I began writing down my daydreams as a teenager. I created my own fantasy land.
The Cornered Lover: Do you set the mood to write? Listen to music, have a favorite chair, pen
coffee mug, etc?
Karin Harlow: I always put the earphones on and crank up my iPod. I like to write to angsty rock and roll ballads. Right now Bryan Adams’ I’ll Run To You is playing. I’ll drink coffee out of anything as long as it’s good and hot. I do like my coffee when I write, but many cups go to waste when the muse takes over.
The Cornered Lover: What are 3 things that are “must haves” for you when you sit down to write?
Karin Harlow: A chair, my desk, and my laptop.
The Cornered Lover: What do you like to Read?
Karin Harlow: I love big fat passionate love stories.
The Cornered Lover: What are some of your favorite Hero / Heroine names?
Karin Harlow: Marcus and Jax! J
The Cornered Lover: Do you have a favorite book /series?
Karin Harlow: I love THE WOLF AND THE DOVE, and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I also started CL Wilson’s Fading Lands series.
The Cornered Lover: What are you reading at the moment?
Karin Harlow: LONE SURVIVOR by Marcus Lutrell.
The Cornered Lover: Is there a questions you have always wanted to be asked in an interview? If so what would it be, and how would you answer it?
Karin Harlow: The question would be: What do you hope to achieve through your stories? My answer would be: To in some way enrich someone’s life whether it be adding a mile, showing them through story that most of what life throws at us is conquerable, but it’s not going to be easy, and lastly, that love can conquer all.
The Cornered Lover: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Karin Harlow: I do. Two things: Get a thick skin if you don’t have one, and don’t give up. Ever. Just don’t. It will happen if you stay in the hunt and work toward honing your craft and writing kick ass stories.
The Cornered Lover: What do you think is the difference between and Reader and a Book Lover?
Karin Harlow: One is passionate about story and the other is not. That said, many readers become booklovers.
The Cornered Lover: Twitter question (answer as you would on twitter / 140 characters restriction)
~summarize Enemy Lover in 140 characters
Karin Harlow: High-octane paranormal romantic suspense urban fantasy action adventure political thriller
~Summarize Jax/Marcus in 140 Characters
Karin Harlow: Individually, Jax and Marcus are like a force of nature – together they can become unstoppable. They discover that what they want most in this world is each other – but it may already be too late.
The Cornered Lover: Can you tell us a little bit about Enemy Lover?
Karin Harlow: From a reviewer “it’s much more than simply a vampire story. It’s like paranormal romance meets romantic suspense meets kick ass action-adventure.”
The Cornered Lover: How did you come up with the idea for the series? From a dream, from watching tv, while reading another book?
Karin Harlow: TV Dirty Dozen meets Mission Impossible w/a Paranormal twist.
The Cornered Lover: Can you tell us a little bit about when and where the story takes place?
Karin Harlow: Contemporary set in Balto/DC/San Francisco.
The Cornered Lover: If you could meet any of your characters face to face, which one would you most like to meet, and what would you say to him/her?
Karin Harlow: Since Marcus belongs to Jax, I’d want to meet Jax. I’d ask for her # in case I got into trouble.
The Cornered Lover: Who’s your favorite character and why?
Karin Harlow: Ugh, hard one. I respect and love Jax, I’m in lust with Marcus…
The Cornered Lover: Are any of your characters based on people in your life?
Karin Harlow: I’m married to a retired cop who is the epitome of alpha, hence my alpha heroes.
The Cornered Lover: Was there any part of Enemy Lover that was harder for you to write than the others?
Karin Harlow: The high-powered action scenes take a lot of brain energy. The love scenes and angsty emotional scenes are easiest.
The Cornered Lover: If you could pick anyone to play Jax and Marcus in a Movie version of Enemy Lover, who would you pick?
Karin Harlow: Jax would be Kate Beckinsale as she was in the Underworld movies but sexier, and that hunk on the cover of ENEMY LOVER would work as Marcus for me!
The Cornered Lover: Is there anything you wanted to put in Enemy Lover, but just couldn’t seem to fit it in?
Karin Harlow: As it was, the book went over 7,000 words. And that was after cutting a bunch of scenes, which in hindsight would have dragged the pacing down. So, no, I’m very happy with how the story worked out.
The Cornered Lover: If you had to change your identity, what would your new name be?
Karin Harlow: Lol, I would not be Karin that’s for sure. I like strong yet feminine names. Alexandra. Isabel.
The Cornered Lover: Do you know how many books will be in the LOST Series?
Karin Harlow: I’m working on L.O.S.T. book two right now. Since publishing is all about numbers it depends on how well ENEMY LOVER does to warrant my editor wanting to spend more money on more books. I’m hopeful we’ll see more of L.O.S.T.!
Karin Harlow: JoJo, thank you for spending so much time with me! I have a signed copy of ENEMY LOVER and a coffee mug I’d love to give to a random commenter, but they have to ask me an industry/writing related question to be eligible!
The Cornered Lover: Thank you so much for being here today Karin! It has been my pleasure getting to know a little bit more about you. And I sooooooo can’t wait to read book 2 in your L.O.S.T. Series!!!
Be sure to thank Karin for telling us so much about herself!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway~*~*~
Karin is giving away a signed copy of ENEMY LOVER and a coffee mug.
All you have to do is leave a comment asking Karin an industry and/or writing related question to be eligible!
Please leave us a way to contact you (Email in blogger profile or twitter name works for us).
Karin will be stopping by over the next couple days to answer you questions! So make sure you come back to see her responses!
Open World Wide!!
Please leave us a way to contact you (Email in blogger profile or twitter name works for us).
Karin will be stopping by over the next couple days to answer you questions! So make sure you come back to see her responses!
Open World Wide!!
Ends Saturday August 21st
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Hi Karin!
My question to you is: is there any step of the whole process of "making a book", not related to the actual writing, you would thankfully skip ahead? (if there are such steps…see, I don't know)
forgot the email: jen7waters (at) gmail (dot) com
Hi Karin,
JoJo did an excellent interview of you. Lots of great info. I always wonder with authors if they set out to write a story with it just flowing through their heads or if they plan it out with charts and cards and such. How do you go about writing? My other Q I'm asking everyone is e-reader or book? Tomorrow is my birthday and hubby is getting me a Kindle and I'm not sure how I feel about not having pages in my hands…thoughts?
Hi Karin!!! *waves* Ooooh I really like this post!! Don't enter me in the contest, you know I already have my worn out copy LOL
Thanks Jojo *wink*
And Victoria – I always thought I wouldn't like e-books because I'm not just a "Reader" I'm a "Book Lover" LOL but the hubby got me a Sony reader for Valentine's Day this year, and I'm HOOKED!! I don't think e-publishing will ever replace books, but it's REALLY nice to have one small item to carry that can include hundreds of books when you are on the go. IMO
Do you have a crit-partner or beta-reader and if so how did you find him/her?
Hi, Jen! Thank you for your question. My answer is hands down, promo. And while I say that, it's not entirely true. There are aspects of promoting a book that I don't care for, mostly the time and money investment, but there are other aspects of promoting that I love, and today is a perfect example of what I love about promoting: I get to hang out at new places and meet new faces. I've met many great people by way of promoting, people I consider friends. So, it's all good.
Oh, JoJO, thank you again for the invite!
Victoria, thank you for asking! I'm a panster through and through. That said, I must know who my protags are, and why I'm writing their story. I also must know who my bad guy is an what motivates him or her. Once I have those ingredients, then it's fly by the seat of my pants 🙂
As to your second question, I'm a book girl, but, I think I could get used to a kindle or nook. Happy Birthday!
Hey, Bonnie girl! 😉
Hi, Sullivan,
I do have a CP, who thank God does not run away when I send rough drafts her way. My CP has been a friend for a long time. We kind of just fell into it. Finding and keeping a good CP is priceless. And, yes I do have beta readers. My agent for one and another dear friend who is way smarter than the average reading bear when it comes to story, and characterization. I value her opinion just as much as my CP's.
Great interview. 🙂
My question is this:
Karin, do you have an idea for the book cover in mind – and how much input do you have on the final product?
Michelle
kweenmg at yahoo dot com
Hi, Michelle!
Great question. I usually have a kernel of an idea, but it's my editor who was the brains and brawn behind the ENEMY LOVER cover. She knew exactly what she wanted. We discussed and I was blown away when I saw it for the first time.
Hi Karin, I love this blog post and especially your twitter blurbs. Your stories, words, characters etc jump off the page becz they embody your own energy and lust for life. The mug pic looks so cool next to your hot cover!
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Virna}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Hi Karin!!! I was wondering, what do you do when you get stuck while writing?
lilazncutie1215[at]yahoo[dot]com
I hang out at blogs…
If your editor gave you the go-ahead to do as many books as you want, do you have any inkling as to how many books your L.O.S.T. series would have? or how many little notes with ideas do you have just hanging and waiting?
meredithfl at gmail dot com
Hi Karin, I'd like to know if you write whit the end in mind, I mean, do you know how it is going to end and you go back developing the story or you start witout knowing what is going to hapen at the end?
This may seem a silly question, but do writers need to bone up on their grammar and spelling before writing a book? Is to OK to just wing it and have an editor fix it? I have always been curious to how this works since I have forgotten almost everything I learned in grade school! 🙂
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
Hi Karin – You mentioned that you listen to your iPod while you are writing. Do you change the type of music you are listening to depending on what's happening in the book, or do you have a particular type of music you like and you just listen to it, no matter what you are currently writing.
I read a sample of Enemy Lover on my Kindle and it really hooked me. Looking forward to reading the whole book.
jen at delux dot com
Oh, Meredith that would be music to my ears! I have a half dozen L.O.S.T. operatives already sketched out. In book two that I'm writing, a sexy as hell and very bad vampire made an unexpected appearance, he *must* have his own story with a female L.O.S.T. operative, or maybe Godfather's daughter we have yet to meet… oh the possibilities are endless!
Great question, Susan and thank you for asking. All I know when I begin a story is that the h/h will end up together and the bad guy will get what's coming. My characters drive the story so I go where they take me.
Robin not a stupid question at all. The answer is a resounding, yes! Grammar and spelling matter!!! If you don't have a command of grammar and spelling you'll never get past the query stage. It drives me crazy when I judge contest entries. To me it's being lazy. To an editor who lives and dies by words it's practically sacrilegious not to have a command of every facet of writing. That said, once you are contracted, copy editors catch all of the stuff that slips between the cracks, and I for one make those ce's earn their money!
When I got serious about writing toward publication my grammar and punctuation sucked. I took many on line grammar and punctuation classes. It's really important to have a command of the English language. Grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, vocabulary etc.
Hi, Jen! When I write my historicals I listen to big sweeping emotional instrumentals. But for everything else, it's hard hitting angsty rock and roll ballads.
I hope you download the rest of ENEMY LOVER. I promise you won't be didpaointed!
Hello!
Q: Did you cold-call publishing houses, or did you get published via a literary agent? As an author, which method do you recommend to aspiring writers?
danielle_binks@hotmail.com
Danielle, I actually sold my first book w/o the aid of an agent. It was a novella. (and no cold calling, I’d been stalking the editor ) But the editor also wanted two single titles, and there was no way I was going to go into any contact w/o an agent. I had my top three picks and luckily my top pick loved my work and snatched me up. She not only said no way were we selling two single titles to that particular publisher but she negotiated a deal at one of the big New York houses for ten times the amount of what the first pub was offering. And she kept world rights, which have proven to be very lucrative.
I cannot stress enough the importance of an agent, especially in these trying times where the industry is in such a flux. There are going to be more casualties in New York and downsizing. Having an advocate who knows the ins and outs and who has a finger on the pulse of the current industry is paramount to an author's chances of success.
my question is what is ur all-time favorite writer and why ?
meandi09@yahoo.com
Hi, Jennifer,
My fave all time writer? I'd have to say Linda Howard. I love her heroes, and her writing always blows me away.
you say your a pantser. Just wondering how long it takes to write a book from start to final edits.
How did you get discovered as a writer and what influenced you to keep continuing?
What other writers (if any) do you look up to and why?
@underhero
What in god's name is a "chicken scratch"!?! …well, I could fairly surmise what you meant in the context of the sentence, but that is the first time I've ever heard the term 🙂
Being comment #31, all the questions has been asked already! *sigh* But I want my chance at that Enemy Lover *%&$#*…. right here goes nothing:
You said that you're married to a retired cop thus the alpha heroes in your books… how about mother-in-laws in bad guys?!?
I know, I know, I'm naughty… and nosey…
Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/08/win-enemy-lover-at-book-lovers-inc.html
Twitted: http://twitter.com/cherrymischivus/status/21231104006
Cherry Mischievous
mischivus101-warrior [at] yahoo [dot] com
Hi Karin! Sounds like a really awesome book! And I loove the cover.
Q: Which part of a book is the hardest for you to write? Beginning, middle or end?
Res498(AT)aol.com
Hi Karin I have heard so many good things about your books. I love the cover.
My question is what was your favorite part of your book Enemy Lover?
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Karin, I love the spelling of your name. So original. Question, What made you finally decide to pursue writing as a career? or full time?
This series sounds like a winner. I have not read any of your books but do have on my wish list.
Thanks for stopping by to chat.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
I enjoyed the interview and learning more about you.
How much do you ususally write in a day?
You and I have the same taste in coffee. It's got to be good & hot or I don't want it.
Great interview! I absolutely love the cover of this book. How much input did you have in the cover?
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Loved the interview. Although, I have a hard time imagining sexier than Kate Beckinsale from Underworld. I look forward to reading your description of Jax for sure.
What is your book/movie/tv show in the paranormal/urban fantasy genre? Besides your own of course. 🙂
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
My question is "how do you come up with book covers" ??
Blog Follwer
vidishamun@gmail.com
Are your favorite genres to read related to the genres you write about? Do they help inspire your own characters?
juliecookies(at)gmail.com
Which have been your favourite books of 2010 so far?
spav05(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Karin! 😀
I wanted to ask… has an author the final word on the book cover? Or if an author wants to do the cover, is that possible? I don't know if these are stupid questions, but I'm quite interested in the topic.
Thank you for this chance!
Giada M.
fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com
Thank you so much for sharing with us Karin!I can't wait to read book 2 in your L.O.S.T. Series!
This was a wonderful Interview!
JoJo
Lovely interview! Can't wait to get my hands on L.O.S.T. series! 🙂
You can reach me at luvpinkapnther@gmail.com