Ask the Author: Karen Nappa
Answered Questions (9)
Karen Nappa
Hi Jean, Sorry to take so long to get back to you. We are just starting a newsletter and hope to have the first issue out in the next couple of weeks. To subscribe, go to https://www.subscribepage.com/authorKarenNappa
Karen Nappa
By now you probably know how our journey started – with a text message. It’s a testament about what inspires us; random things, normal everyday events or maybe not so normal, since a lot of people won’t visit BDSM clubs very often. It’s important to both of us to write about ordinary people. We write the kinds of books we like to read (or that we wanted to read but weren’t finding very many of).
Other sources of inspiration are our characters. They actually have minds of their own and storylines arise around them forming new books. Sometimes we need a minor character for something in a story and we have to hunt around for a name. Other times, the name just comes and the next thing you know the character is clearly going to be one who will get their own book at some point. They seem to arrive with full personalities.
Other sources of inspiration are our characters. They actually have minds of their own and storylines arise around them forming new books. Sometimes we need a minor character for something in a story and we have to hunt around for a name. Other times, the name just comes and the next thing you know the character is clearly going to be one who will get their own book at some point. They seem to arrive with full personalities.
Karen Nappa
We’re almost done with our third Club Indigo book (working title Appreciated) featuring Paula and Jim. We’re also preparing for two Facebook events, where we’re going to interact with readers. Once this book is done, we have ideas for several more in the pipeline.
Karen Nappa
Don’t self-publish! We know some people have been successful by doing so, but as a beginning author you benefit from a publisher’s network and experience. When we submitted our manuscript for Trapped to Blushing Books and we got accepted their letter said, ‘welcome to the family’ and it really feels that way. Not only are the staff, the editors and the cover artist we work with wonderful and supportive, but also the other authors in their ‘stable’ have been welcoming and helpful.
Do your research and submit to a publisher that has similar work published. This will not just increase your chance of being accepted, it will also make sure your book will reach readers, who will like your kind of books.
About the only circumstances, I could see where self-publishing will be more successful is if you already have a following. Self-promotion is a lot of work and it’s much easier with a publisher behind you. Sure, you don’t have to share the royalties, but you still have expenses for cover art and editing and paying distributors whatever they charge. We’re happy to let the publisher deal with that end of the stick and make the rest of the writing experience easier.
Do your research and submit to a publisher that has similar work published. This will not just increase your chance of being accepted, it will also make sure your book will reach readers, who will like your kind of books.
About the only circumstances, I could see where self-publishing will be more successful is if you already have a following. Self-promotion is a lot of work and it’s much easier with a publisher behind you. Sure, you don’t have to share the royalties, but you still have expenses for cover art and editing and paying distributors whatever they charge. We’re happy to let the publisher deal with that end of the stick and make the rest of the writing experience easier.
Karen Nappa
Karen: Knowing that other people like the stories we have to tell may be the best part, but neck and neck with that is the connection with Nappa. We started off writing as almost a joke, and then we were just going to see if we could write the book. Then we got as far as we’ll see if a publisher likes it and along that road somewhere came characters and ideas for other books. Now we’re finishing our third book and we know each other better than ever. We met in person for the first time on release day for the first book. We write truly long distance. We keep our work in the cloud so we can each add to it and comment on what the other has done and then we Skype chat to decide how to make things better. I couldn’t do this without her. I’d be still sitting and looking at a blank screen or a blank page. It takes both of us to be one writer.
Nappa: I love the bond I have with my co-writer. I’m invested in our characters and they feel real to me, through them and with them I experience wonderful things. I love writing about BDSM and showing readers these things exist and happen to real normal people. And speaking of readers, the most rewarding about being a writer to me is the feedback we get from our readers.
Nappa: I love the bond I have with my co-writer. I’m invested in our characters and they feel real to me, through them and with them I experience wonderful things. I love writing about BDSM and showing readers these things exist and happen to real normal people. And speaking of readers, the most rewarding about being a writer to me is the feedback we get from our readers.
Karen Nappa
One of the good things about being a writing duo is that we complement each other. So, when one of us doesn’t know how to continue or is having a bad day, the other can take the lead.
But it happens and we’re different people, so we react differently.
Karen: I haven’t had too many issues with writer’s block so far. I have more problems with procrastination. I do most of my writing longhand, so I can get a chunk of stuff done, but then have trouble getting it into the computer so Nappa can see it. My best strategy so far is not to do too much at once, so the pieces are manageable. But the blank page is scary. That’s why it’s great to have a partner. When I start a section, I usually have some notion of where it’s going because we’ve discussed it in advance.
Nappa: For me, it helps to concentrate on something else. Writing isn’t just about putting words on paper. There’s also promotion and new stories to come up with. If I don’t have any inspiration, I’ll either cook, draw or go for a run to clear my mind.
But it happens and we’re different people, so we react differently.
Karen: I haven’t had too many issues with writer’s block so far. I have more problems with procrastination. I do most of my writing longhand, so I can get a chunk of stuff done, but then have trouble getting it into the computer so Nappa can see it. My best strategy so far is not to do too much at once, so the pieces are manageable. But the blank page is scary. That’s why it’s great to have a partner. When I start a section, I usually have some notion of where it’s going because we’ve discussed it in advance.
Nappa: For me, it helps to concentrate on something else. Writing isn’t just about putting words on paper. There’s also promotion and new stories to come up with. If I don’t have any inspiration, I’ll either cook, draw or go for a run to clear my mind.
Karen Nappa
We would like to do that eventually, but the book is currently on Kindle Unlimited and it cannot be offered for sale anywhere else. We don't know how long it will be on KU.
Karen Nappa
You come up with great questions, Cécile!
The time zones don't bother us much in the writing process, actually.
When writing we just write the scenes we've come up with and we'll know the other will read it eventually.
It can be a pain when we need to make decisions, though. We do message each other frequently, so we make the best of it.
The time zones don't bother us much in the writing process, actually.
When writing we just write the scenes we've come up with and we'll know the other will read it eventually.
It can be a pain when we need to make decisions, though. We do message each other frequently, so we make the best of it.
Karen Nappa
Thanks for the great question, Cecile. We have at least four more planned, assuming the first one does well, of course.
We usually outline the story at some point. Trapped came more organically. The second and third books are more planned out, but we don't decide who is going to write what until we're in the middle of things. Some scenes just naturally come to one or the other of us and some we have to work harder at and do more together. We have regular chats on Skype twice about the story we're working on where we make decisions and discuss other of the publishing process.
We usually outline the story at some point. Trapped came more organically. The second and third books are more planned out, but we don't decide who is going to write what until we're in the middle of things. Some scenes just naturally come to one or the other of us and some we have to work harder at and do more together. We have regular chats on Skype twice about the story we're working on where we make decisions and discuss other of the publishing process.
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