An Interview With Author Chris Karlsen

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An Interview With Author Chris Karlsen

What books did you love as a child? Why?

I had giant picture books with most well known fairy tales. The ones I recall the best, although I wouldn't say I "loved" them, but they stood out: Beauty and the Beast-I remember feeling sad for the beast. Winnie the Pooh-I adored all the little animals and their funny names. Riki Tiki Tavi in The Jungle Book, for the same reason as Winnie the Pooh, he was a cute mongoose with a funny name.

Who are your favorite authors? How did they influence your writing?

John Sandford, Mike Connelly, and Joe Wambaugh because I love their cop characters and the dialogue is crisp and humorous and spot on when it comes to a cop's attitude. I use them as a standard for keeping dialogue uncluttered and to the point. For love scenes, a favorite is Julie Anne Long. Her language is so well crafted throughout her stories, but her love scenes are always beautifully written. She uses the senses to create the atmosphere. I try to emulate that. I also like Julia Quinn for wonderful characterization. Bernard Cornwell is my favorite historical fiction writer and I like to use his style in action scenes, especially battle scenes.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Why did you decide to write?

I knew in my teens that I wanted to write, but by the time I was ready for college I was afraid I'd never make a living at it so I set the dream aside. After I retired from law enforcement, I decided it was time to try and fulfill that teenage dream.

When do you find time to write?

I try to get all my errands and routine jobs done in the morning. I write from around noon or so to about 5 with short breaks. I try to write at least six days a week but I shoot for seven.

What are the joys of writing for you?

I love going deep into my characters thoughts and emotions. They become such a part of me and I love working with them, even if it means I have to make them hurt emotionally.

What are the obstacles of writing? How do you overcome them?

There are times when I just seem to hit a brick wall in the story. I have to be very careful in those times. I have a tendency to start dwelling on the fact I hit a wall and the situation spirals down. I force myself through the problem. I will only let myself fret for a couple of days and then I just write anything. I put some event, some situation into the characters lives. That seems to get the juices going again. I can always delete that part if it doesn't work in a later draft.

What is your favorite genre to read in? Write in? Why?

My favorite to read is a toss-up between romance and thrillers. I prefer to write romance. Romance allows me to flesh out my characters more. That's just me and the way I feel. My favorite thriller authors, like Sandford, Connelly, Stephen Coonts, etc. flesh their characters out well, but for me romance is easier.

How would you describe your writing style? How did you develop it?

I write character driven stories. I read both plot driven and character driven, but I prefer to focus on character when I write. It seemed to occur naturally because my original story ideas centered around two medieval knights. As hero driven novels, it was necessary to create a heroine their equal.

What was the inspiration for your book?

My father was a history professor and I developed a love of history early. I especially enjoy medieval English history. I also have always had a fascination for reincarnation and time travel. The combination of those interests inspired me to write stories incorporating all of them.

What were the challenges of writing your story? The joys?

My heroine, Shakira, in Journey in Time, was a big challenge. I had a good handle on Alex, the hero, as he was a strong support character in my first book, Heroes Live Forever. It took me several drafts to get Shakira where I wanted her. I wanted this strong, intelligent, articulate woman without a lot of emotional baggage but who was still very vulnerable. My joy came from recreating the medieval world and moving Alex and Shakira through it. I got to throw a whole lot of trouble their way, give them humorous moments and some pretty sexy encounters too.

Do you do research for your writing? If so, how do you go about it (Internet, travel, etc.)?

I do quite a lot of research. I start several months in advance and continue as I am writing the story. New information can change a scene or give me the idea for a new scene. I have an extensive personal library on medieval history, from armor, weapons, battles, clothing, architecture and geography. I also go to archived articles in magazines like: Archaeology, Smithsonian, National Geographic, Omni, and Scientific American. I have traveled extensively too and use my experience. I do use the internet but with caution.

Tell us about your book.

Journey in Time is a time travel romance. Shakira is a successful London attorney and Alex is her client. She's not the type to date clients but he eventually charms her into a weekend in the country where he breeds horses. They are out riding when they're caught in a bizarre lightning storm that opens a time portal. They're thrown back to the year 1355. England is preparing for war with France. Alex has a strong connection to the period and he is believed by everyone to be the Baron Guy Guiscard. The baron was killed at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. History can't be changed and history doesn't care which man it takes. If he and Shakira can't find a way back to the modern world, he, as the baron, will sail with the army and die in battle.

As you would expect, Shakira is terrified of being left alone in the medieval world. Everything she knows of the time is from history books. She is confronted with political threats and social threats and must wend her way through a maze of problems. During this time, she misinterprets a situation. Her subsequent actions trigger major trouble for her and Alex, both in the medieval world and modern world.

What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?

That as much as I might like to romanticize the medieval world and fill it with chivalrous knights and castles, it's definitely not a place I'd want to go to in person.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Let the first draft marinate for a few weeks before you start the second draft. Put the first draft away and return to it after you've had time to let the story go and you can come back with fresh eyes.

What do you wish someone had told you about writing that you learned the hard way?

Have other people, people you can trust to be honest read it and give you feedback so you learn what is working and more important what didn't work for them.

What is your next project?

I'm starting book three, Knight Blindness, of my Knights in Time series. Journey in Time is book two of the series.

What are you reading now?

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry and I just ordered How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long.

Anything else you'd like your readers to know?

I hope they'll stop by my website: www.chriskarlsen.com. I have trailers for the books on the site. I had a lot of fun putting together the one for Journey in Time. I'd also love to hear from the readers on what their thoughts are regarding the stories.

Journey in Time

By Chris Karlsen

London attorney, Shakira Constantine, finally agrees to spend the day with her handsome client, Alex Lancaster. While riding in the countryside, the couple finds themselves caught in a time warp and transported back to the 14th Century, and an England preparing for war. Everyone believes Alex is the Baron Guy Guiscard…a baron who died in the upcoming battle.

If they can't find a way to return to the 21st Century, Alex will have to sail with the army to certain death. Shakira will be left alone to survive in the alien and terrifying medieval world.

Excerpt:

"Alex, what is going on?" she asked in a frenzied whisper.

"Shh." After they mounted, Alex sidled over, so close their boots touched. "We're riding into a very perilous situation. I'll explain everything when we're alone. Your life, my life," he stressed, "depends on you being quiet until then."

Confused it took Shakira a few seconds before she nodded yes.

"Remember what I told you," he warned and trotted ahead to chat with the knight he called Simon.

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About the Author:

Chris Karlsen is a retired police detective who spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. Her father was a history professor and her mother an avid reader. She grew up with a love of history and books. She has always loved traveling and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Near East (especially Turkey and the Greek Islands), the Caribbean, and North Africa. Born and raised in Chicago, Chris has also lived in Paris, Los Angeles, and currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four rescue dogs.