Author interview with Karen J Mossman

Today, it’s my pleasure to have Karen Mossman on my blog.  Welcome!   

What inspired you to start writing?

My parents always fostered children. Mum preferred the under five age group. We took on a child long term, who effectively became my sibling too. In those days, the 60s and 70s, carers could have up to four children under the age of 5, not including their own. So regularly there was five of us, up to four foster children, plus the dogs and cats my mother liked to collect.

The first children came when I was two, so I grew up always having them there. When I got older, I entertained them by telling stories, usually making them up as I went along. By the time I reached my early teens, it was my escape to write stories for myself. To be away from the bedlam and noise of downstairs I took to my bedroom to write. There I could be anyone I wanted and go where ever my imagination took me

So, the inspiration to write came from the need to escape.

What’s your favorite book you’ve written and why?

At the time of writing, I love every book. When I look back at them, it is always with fondness and its hard to choose just one. I’ll go for Behind Closed Doors, solely because I set it in the 70s. I drew on my own teenage years and feelings for the main character. I also gave her an enhanced version of my first boyfriend. She lived in the area I lived in. She experienced all the fashion and the music from that era. It was such fun to write as I immersed myself back in time. At the moment I am rewriting it changing the viewpoint from first to third person.

What are the best and worst aspects of writing?

The best is the writing, pure writing, letting my fingers walk across the keyboard spilling out the story as it tumbles from my head. The worst is the editing. Having to analyse every single word, to break everything down, and read it as a reader would. Then having an editor point out the flaws! Ugh! They are usually right, but it hurts.

How do you balance marketing one book and writing the next?

Not very well!

Are you an Indie Author or are you part of a publishing house?

I’m proud to say I am both now. My new publisher has agreed to take my four novels, and my five novellas.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

It seems everyone writes a book these days. I know many writers and feel just one little person in a crowd. Yet, in the real world I feel unique. When people find out I’m an author, they are impressed, and want to know more about what I do. I love that part. Some I feel like a celebratory.

Do you read books in the genre you write?

I’m a multi genre writer, so I try to write everything. However, I don’t like reading science fiction or horror. The latter because I’m a wimp, and sci/fi tend to have too many unpronounceable names for characters and places. This makes it hard to read when you can’t even say the main characters name!

When you’re not writing, what do you do to recharge?

Crafting! I love crafting and like my writing, I like to try a bit of everything. At the moment, I am really into crochet. I’ve been making hand bags and purses of late.

Besides being an author, do you have a second job?

No, I am happily retired.

What makes you laugh?

Not much really. I’ve never been into ‘modern comedy’ although I used to like the old time comics. What makes me laugh, almost always, is probably not very nice. Seeing someone trip up or stumble makes me giggle. I suppose its because I spent my life being clumsy, although I’m not so much anymore. To see someone else do it instead of me makes me laugh out loud.

What (not who) would you take to a lonely island?

My Kindle.

Who would you like to invite for dinner?

My Mum and Dad. They are not here any more and I’d love to talk about all the things we used to. I never wanted to ask a celeb to dinner, like most people say. I couldn’t think of anything worse.

Now, it’s time to meet one of your characters. Which book is your character from?

Definitely Joanna from Joanna’s Journey and Joanna’s Destiny.

Who are you and what is your name?

My name is Joanna Nelson. Everyone tells me I’m a fiery character but I’m just a girl who just wants to love and be loved back. Instead I’m always fighting someone.

Are you a fictional or historical figure?

Fictional.

What should we know about you?

After going through such a lot in my life, I finally get the man of my dreams. Even though he is every other girl’s dream too, he belongs to me.

Tell us about your story. When and where is your tale set?

In eighties Manchester, where me, and my sister Sandie, grew up. She lives in London now. It was when I was going to visit her on the train that I first met Niko. He didn’t tell me who he was initially and I was really mad at him for letting me find out the way I did. But I soon forgave him. He was always the love of my life – elusive, and gorgeous!

What is your personal goal? What do you ultimately want?

In the eighties I thought I knew what I wanted, but I got let down very badly and then made bad choices. I didn’t handle it very well and let people down.

What is standing in your way? What conflict(s) do your face?

By the time the nineties came along, I knew I’d made a big mistake. The answer to your question is my boyfriend, he’s my biggest conflict. Our friendship goes back long before we became a couple. I knew I had to leave him but it had to be amicably. Trouble was, he found it hard to forgive me. He felt betrayed and I know I let him down. I hurt a lot of people just to get what I wanted.

Karen, thank you so much for taking to time to answer my questions.  How do my readers connect you?