Ask the Author: Karen McQuestion
Answered Questions (30)
Karen McQuestion
Hi Pam, thanks so much for letting me know you enjoy my books! I really appreciate it.
To answer your question, I was raised Catholic, but don't attend church now, for various reasons. Still, I think it sticks to you.
Thanks again for your kind words. It means a lot to me.
To answer your question, I was raised Catholic, but don't attend church now, for various reasons. Still, I think it sticks to you.
Thanks again for your kind words. It means a lot to me.
Karen McQuestion
Hi Carrie! Thanks so much for your interest in my book. I don't have book club questions, but I came up with some talking points that might help:
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A social worker told me that although the protocol was correctly depicted in the book, the outcome for Mia was a best case scenario that they almost never see. Traumatized kids have emotional issues that follow them through life, even with the best care and counseling. As an author, I think I tend to write the world as I’d like it to be. Your group could talk about this topic—what long term repercussions would Mia be likely to face? Also, do they prefer fiction that depicts a more accurate, but harsher version of life?
Older adults having guardianship of their grandchildren is on the rise in the US—do your book club members think they’d be up to raising another generation of children (or one child, in this case)? What hardships would that entail?
Another topic: Suzette clearly is an extreme, narcissistic character, but I’ve had several readers say they knew someone just like her. You could discuss whether they found Suzette’s character believable. Also, has anyone in your group known someone with a narcissistic personality? Do they believe that people are like this due to a genetic component or because of some trauma in their early life (nature versus nurture)?
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A few months ago a reader sent me the book club questions her group came up with. If you're interested in seeing them you can email me at kmcquestion@wi.rr.com and I'll send the your way.
Hope this helps!
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A social worker told me that although the protocol was correctly depicted in the book, the outcome for Mia was a best case scenario that they almost never see. Traumatized kids have emotional issues that follow them through life, even with the best care and counseling. As an author, I think I tend to write the world as I’d like it to be. Your group could talk about this topic—what long term repercussions would Mia be likely to face? Also, do they prefer fiction that depicts a more accurate, but harsher version of life?
Older adults having guardianship of their grandchildren is on the rise in the US—do your book club members think they’d be up to raising another generation of children (or one child, in this case)? What hardships would that entail?
Another topic: Suzette clearly is an extreme, narcissistic character, but I’ve had several readers say they knew someone just like her. You could discuss whether they found Suzette’s character believable. Also, has anyone in your group known someone with a narcissistic personality? Do they believe that people are like this due to a genetic component or because of some trauma in their early life (nature versus nurture)?
~
A few months ago a reader sent me the book club questions her group came up with. If you're interested in seeing them you can email me at kmcquestion@wi.rr.com and I'll send the your way.
Hope this helps!
Karen McQuestion
Hi Lulu,
Thanks for reaching out to me! To answer your question--the reason my books are not currently on Apple is because I have an agreement with Amazon that they're exclusive to Kindle. I hate being exclusionary, but since the Kindle app is free and can be used on any device, readers usually find a work-around.
All the best to you,
Karen
Thanks for reaching out to me! To answer your question--the reason my books are not currently on Apple is because I have an agreement with Amazon that they're exclusive to Kindle. I hate being exclusionary, but since the Kindle app is free and can be used on any device, readers usually find a work-around.
All the best to you,
Karen
Karen McQuestion
Thanks so much--both for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it!
Karen McQuestion
Hi Gail,
Thanks so much for reading The Moonlight Child and for messaging me. I'd love to see your book club questions. If it's no trouble, you can send them to me at kmcquestion@wi.rr.com
Thanks so much for reading The Moonlight Child and for messaging me. I'd love to see your book club questions. If it's no trouble, you can send them to me at kmcquestion@wi.rr.com
Karen McQuestion
Hello Mariia! This is not an easy question to answer. I've always felt like a writer, at least since I was eight or nine-years-old, but identifying myself in that way to the world came much later. When my children were young I worked freelance, writing articles for different publications, but none of it felt personal to me. It wasn't until I had several novels published that I felt confident enough to label myself as an author. It was a long path, but for me, well worth it. Sometimes I still can't believe people are reading my books.
Karen McQuestion
Hi Sarah! I just responded to your email.
Thanks,
Karen
Thanks,
Karen
Karen McQuestion
Hi Doris! Thanks so much for reaching out to me. I'm sorry but I'm not sure which book you're referring to. In general though I never base characters on real people, although I'm sure things from my real life sneak into my fiction. For writers it's almost unavoidable.
Karen McQuestion
Hi Nancy,
How nice of you to take the time to let me know you loved Hello Love! I very much appreciate it and hope you enjoy the others as well.
Thank you,
Karen
How nice of you to take the time to let me know you loved Hello Love! I very much appreciate it and hope you enjoy the others as well.
Thank you,
Karen
Karen McQuestion
Hi Kristin,
To answer your question:
I always think it's important for characters (and people in general) to be the hero of their own story. In Emma's case, she made a choice not to listen to everyone around her, but instead to go with her gut, which was telling her something about Lucas wasn't right. This led her to figure out what had actually happened to Lucas, which resulted in the road trip that set them on the path to a resolution. Of course, she got some help along the way, notably from Eric, who gave them the use of his car, but overall, Emma was the driving factor in the plot. Ultimately her choice(s) brought Lucas back to her and his family.
As for motivation, I'd say it was love, IMO, the best motivation of them all.
I hope this helps!
To answer your question:
I always think it's important for characters (and people in general) to be the hero of their own story. In Emma's case, she made a choice not to listen to everyone around her, but instead to go with her gut, which was telling her something about Lucas wasn't right. This led her to figure out what had actually happened to Lucas, which resulted in the road trip that set them on the path to a resolution. Of course, she got some help along the way, notably from Eric, who gave them the use of his car, but overall, Emma was the driving factor in the plot. Ultimately her choice(s) brought Lucas back to her and his family.
As for motivation, I'd say it was love, IMO, the best motivation of them all.
I hope this helps!
Karen McQuestion
I'd be happy to answer your question, Kristin! You can either ask it here or email me at kmcquestion@wi.rr.com
Just one thing, I'm leaving on Tuesday for a trip overseas, so I might not be on top of things. Asking sooner is better than later. :-)
Just one thing, I'm leaving on Tuesday for a trip overseas, so I might not be on top of things. Asking sooner is better than later. :-)
Karen McQuestion
Oh man, I totally hate these questions because they make me choose just one answer. The truth of it is that I travel to every fictional book world in every book I read and I enter the story through the words. Real life never quite measures up.
Karen McQuestion
Hi Lilyn,
I read your wonderful, detailed review--thank you so much! You have a definite way with words and I loved hearing your thoughts on the story.
To answer your question--I never heard of the movie, but based on your comment, I just put it on my Netflix queue. It sounds like something I'd enjoy.
Thanks,
Karen
I read your wonderful, detailed review--thank you so much! You have a definite way with words and I loved hearing your thoughts on the story.
To answer your question--I never heard of the movie, but based on your comment, I just put it on my Netflix queue. It sounds like something I'd enjoy.
Thanks,
Karen
Karen McQuestion
Don't make me pick! I can't do it...
Karen McQuestion
Hi Lenora,
Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed the series. Right now the books are only available in Kindle for the ebook format. You can read it on nearly any device using the free Kindle app. If that doesn't work for you, email me at kmcquestion@wi.rr.com and I'll see if I can make it happen for you. :-)
Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed the series. Right now the books are only available in Kindle for the ebook format. You can read it on nearly any device using the free Kindle app. If that doesn't work for you, email me at kmcquestion@wi.rr.com and I'll see if I can make it happen for you. :-)
Karen McQuestion
Hi Carl,
Thanks so much for reaching out to me re the 4th book. I have finished the book and am revising it right now. I'm sorry to say I don't have a firm release date, but it's safe to say it will happen before the end of the year. If you'd like to be notified when the book comes out, sign up on my website.
Thank you!
Karen
Thanks so much for reaching out to me re the 4th book. I have finished the book and am revising it right now. I'm sorry to say I don't have a firm release date, but it's safe to say it will happen before the end of the year. If you'd like to be notified when the book comes out, sign up on my website.
Thank you!
Karen
Karen McQuestion
I wish I could, Heer, but Goodreads picks the winners! I hope you win. :-)
Karen McQuestion
Hi Liam, Your message is the type authors love to get!! :) Thanks for taking the time to message me and for inquiring about book 4. It's still in progress, but we're/I'm hoping for a release date around March of next year. If you sign up on my website, you'll be notified ahead of time. And I'd love to have you review it--I'll make a note to contact you when the time comes, but I've been known to miss things, so feel free to message again.
Oh, and Edgewood is also free on iBooks, so if you have any friends who read on their phones, feel free to let them know.
Later,
Karen
Oh, and Edgewood is also free on iBooks, so if you have any friends who read on their phones, feel free to let them know.
Later,
Karen
Karen McQuestion
Hi Kellie, I just sent you a direct message. Thanks for your interest in the book!
Karen McQuestion
Hi Johnson Mugambi! To answer your question--I don't honestly know. Some wonderful books don't take off at all and the opposite is true as well. Just write the best book you can, do your research for marketing, and wish for the best. I found the Writer's Café at kboards.com to be really helpful. I also have links for writers on the FAQ page of my website. Good luck!
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