Guest Blog: Karen Martin on Modogamous!!

Karen Martin’s here, celebrating the release of her latest book: Modogomous…

So, It’s Really You, Isn’t It?

One question a lot of people ask me a lot is, “How much is your main character like you?” In one way, we are very alike:  we both have a rather snarky sense of humor that tends to come out when we write. Kate writes a blog in the book, so we get to hear the inside scoop on what’s going on straight from the horse’s mouth. And on the surface, we do share many interests. I am definitely an archaeology buff, and especially love all things ancient Greek and Roman. Kate and I both enjoy writing poetry and blogging, and we both think that Mae West is one sassy lady.

But in terms of writing Kate’s personality, she is definitely different from me in many ways. I spent a lot of time rewriting scenes where Kate was initially too much like me and enough like her own unique character. One big difference between us is the way we approach our careers and goals. Kate struggles to figure out what she wants in life, and doesn’t have a clue about how to get it. She does have goals, but she tends to get sidetracked from them, or let them go too easily. I was never that way. I’ve always had “the next goal” in mind, and I’m pretty tenacious at going after things. My progression has been anything but linear (going from Peace Corps volunteer to teacher to school director to teacher-trainer to editor to freelance writer), but each bounce to a new line of work was the right step for me, and it’s all brought me to where I am today (which is a pretty awesome place to be). I can’t say I knew where it was all leading necessarily, but for me, I know the right next job when I see it. Kate doesn’t have that lucky foresight.

What’s Your Secret Weapon When it Comes to Writing Books?

Hands down, the Internet. Just a few examples of details that I wrote after a good bout of surfing the Web:

Chinese takeout – one scene has Kate arriving at Mitch’s place with a bag loaded with goodies from a dim sum restaurant. I actually don’t know much about dim sum (except that it has a cool name), so I googled menus from a few big cities, then chose the “best of” to make a real feast!

Victorian Christmas ornaments – Pinterest boards have been fantastic when it comes to looking for objects. I discovered that many ornaments in the Victorian era were cone-shaped, and I liked the uniqueness of that, so that’s what made it into the book.

Ask The Audience – I did a lot of this while writing the book, actually! When I was stumped for creative ideas, I would poll the folks on my Facebook fan page. I got the name of the town in the book this way, the song Kate sings at karaoke, and even a more polite way to say that one of the male characters was, ahem, “excited,” shall we say…Lol! I got such great suggestions from my friends and fans, and it really spurred me on to be even more creative.

What would YOU like to know? Leave me a question and I’ll be glad to answer it!

Modogamous Blurb:

Kate Adams has it all figured out. Five years out of college, she’s got a steady job, a home she loves in the big city, and good friends who always keep her laughing:  her stylish but nosy roommate Evette, happily-married Cecie, and of course, good old Mitch, her seriously cute co-worker who’s been stuck in the Friend Zone since the day they met.

Everything is going just fine—until the night Kate crosses the line with Mitch, and the boundaries between friendship and love begin to blur. Things get even more complicated when hunky JP enters the scene. What’s a girl to do? Add to the mix a spunky little pug Kate never expected to fall for, and her neatly-ordered life is starting to look more like a dog’s dinner.  Maybe her roommate has the right idea after all:  forget the men, and stick with a canine companion instead.

It’s time for Kate to figure out what she really wants in life. But can she dig her way out of the mess she’s created before she ends up permanently in the doghouse?

Contact Karen on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, GoodReads, and on her blog about writing, publishing, and literature.

https://www.facebook.com/karenmartinauthor

https://twitter.com/KarenEMartin1

http://www.pinterest.com/karenemartin1/karen-e-martin-author/

http://www.karenemartin.com/blog/

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/17856555-karen-e-martin

http://www.amazon.com/Karen-E.-Martin/e/B00GL664QG/

ABOUT KAREN:

Karen E. Martin, M.Ed. is a full-time freelance writer/editor. She has been in the publishing business since 2004, working on books and publications for major and independent publishers, universities, businesses, and private individuals. Prior to entering the field of publishing, Ms. Martin worked as a Senior EFL Fellow (English as a Foreign Language) for the U.S. Department of State in Romania, a Junior EFL Fellow for the U.S. Department of State in Jordan, and a teacher-trainer for the U.S Peace Corps in Mauritania, Jordan, Romania, and Morocco. Ms. Martin served as a Peace Corps volunteer for two years, teaching English in the Errachidia Province of Morocco.

This is Ms. Martin’s first novel.

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/qesto7k

Smashwords: http://tinyurl.com/psvecy5

Giveaway!

Join the Modogamous Holiday Hop Giveaway to win a fabulous Swag Pack full of prizes! The Swag Pack winner will receive a signed copy of the paperback, tote bag, coffee mug, Christmas ornament, and more! Additional prizes include a copy of the e-book, a signed paperback, and a limited edition, signed art print of the book’s cover art. 

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