Ask the Author: Karen GoatKeeper
Answered Questions (13)
Karen GoatKeeper
Many fictional worlds sound tempting. Still, I think I would choose Aurora from Isaac Asimov's robot series. It blends technology with being personally responsible.
What I would do is farm or work with native plants and animals much as I do now.
What I would do is farm or work with native plants and animals much as I do now.
Karen GoatKeeper
Blissfully asleep until grating, growling roars send you straight into the air, then fleeing for your life. Someone is watching an animal video.
Karen GoatKeeper
I have more of a list for the year. This year I am participating in the 2017 Popsugar Challenge in the Coffee and Books Group and tailored my list for the challenge.
Still, I generally read a nonfiction book during the day and a novel at night.
Some of the books I hope to read this year: The Secret Garden [again-favorite book]; The Lesser Beasts; new releases by Anne Hillerman and Rita Mae Brown; another book by Annette Drake; Watership Down; The Willows in Winter; Children of the Storm. More will be added as book sales and new releases appear. I do try to read picture books as well. Some of these are really beautiful.
Still, I generally read a nonfiction book during the day and a novel at night.
Some of the books I hope to read this year: The Secret Garden [again-favorite book]; The Lesser Beasts; new releases by Anne Hillerman and Rita Mae Brown; another book by Annette Drake; Watership Down; The Willows in Winter; Children of the Storm. More will be added as book sales and new releases appear. I do try to read picture books as well. Some of these are really beautiful.
Karen GoatKeeper
At the moment my life has only one mystery: how to stretch 24 hours to accomplish all the spring tasks needing attention, keep writing and stay sane. I hadn't really considered using this as a plot, but the idea is suddenly intriguing.
Lately my writing interests have leaned toward nonfiction. My ongoing plant project keeps me busy. It has spawned several other ideas but they are still nebulous.
Lately my writing interests have leaned toward nonfiction. My ongoing plant project keeps me busy. It has spawned several other ideas but they are still nebulous.
Karen GoatKeeper
Most of the books I read don't have couples in them so this was difficult to answer. For some reason mysteries use single and widowed main characters a lot. Young adult books are about one main character.
After much mulling this over I realized there is one set of books I enjoy by Margaret Truman with a couple: the Smiths.
Why do I like them? They are older. They are successful. They are devoted to each other yet each has their own life. They are interested in the things the other is doing. The two are smart and think about what is going on. Even without the mystery they get embroiled in I would enjoy reading about these people.
After much mulling this over I realized there is one set of books I enjoy by Margaret Truman with a couple: the Smiths.
Why do I like them? They are older. They are successful. They are devoted to each other yet each has their own life. They are interested in the things the other is doing. The two are smart and think about what is going on. Even without the mystery they get embroiled in I would enjoy reading about these people.
Karen GoatKeeper
I realize people read books in many formats now so I try to have my books available in those formats. My novels are available on Amazon in print or on Kindle. My novels are also in other ebook formats at various retailers. The nonfiction are available in print through Amazon.
Which one should you read first? For most people I would recommend Capri Capers first as it is a fun romp of a book. Dora's Story is very much about goats. The two Hazel Whitmore books are aimed for young adults and deal with serious topics. The fun part is how a city girl copes with living without cell phones or internet. The third in this series is in draft form and should be out early next year.
Which one should you read first? For most people I would recommend Capri Capers first as it is a fun romp of a book. Dora's Story is very much about goats. The two Hazel Whitmore books are aimed for young adults and deal with serious topics. The fun part is how a city girl copes with living without cell phones or internet. The third in this series is in draft form and should be out early next year.
Karen GoatKeeper
If you read ebooks, sign up for a free copy through my website. Only a couple people have signed up there for one of the five copies offered. I hope you signed up for the Good reads giveaway although the competition seems to be fierce. Best of luck.
I do post weekly country living commentaries on the website. Many of them do talk about my goats. Gardening is getting going now too.
I do post weekly country living commentaries on the website. Many of them do talk about my goats. Gardening is getting going now too.
Karen GoatKeeper
For me the best thing about being a writer is being able to escape into another world. It is like having a short vacation. The visit can be serious as for nonfiction or exciting with thrills or fun with humorous things happening.
Karen GoatKeeper
There are different kinds of writer's block. The simplest is just not feeling like writing. I generally make myself do some writing anyway. Time away doing some chore or going for a walk can help if I think about what I am trying to do. This lets me get back into the writing project so I can sit down and write.
Another kind of writer's block is more serious. This one arrives when a book seems to fall apart. The story becomes unworkable. The plot blows up.
This is the hardest one to deal with. Each writing project has emotional ties. Some of the writing even in a disaster has appeal. It is hard to walk away admitting the project is done even if unfinished.
When this happens, I fight for a time but find it gets more frustrating each time I try to write on the project. The best cure is to go on to a different project. If the original idea has merit, the difficulties will start straightening out, the disastrous parts will drop away, the project will start to gel in a new form as the idea plays around in the mind at odd moments. Then it is time to tackle the project again.
Another kind of writer's block is more serious. This one arrives when a book seems to fall apart. The story becomes unworkable. The plot blows up.
This is the hardest one to deal with. Each writing project has emotional ties. Some of the writing even in a disaster has appeal. It is hard to walk away admitting the project is done even if unfinished.
When this happens, I fight for a time but find it gets more frustrating each time I try to write on the project. The best cure is to go on to a different project. If the original idea has merit, the difficulties will start straightening out, the disastrous parts will drop away, the project will start to gel in a new form as the idea plays around in the mind at odd moments. Then it is time to tackle the project again.
Karen GoatKeeper
To me the most important thing for a writer is to know yourself. What interests you? How do you think? Do you pay attention to detail or slip by? This affects what you write.
Know about what you are writing about. You don't have to experience everything but you need to do thorough research. Talk to people who have done whatever or something similar.
Establish a routine. Have a regular time everyday to sit down and write. Set goals to reach. Use deadlines, if you need them. Make sure you write something during that time even if it is only a descriptive essay you will never use. All writing is practice. Every effort is discipline so you can complete a project.
Know about what you are writing about. You don't have to experience everything but you need to do thorough research. Talk to people who have done whatever or something similar.
Establish a routine. Have a regular time everyday to sit down and write. Set goals to reach. Use deadlines, if you need them. Make sure you write something during that time even if it is only a descriptive essay you will never use. All writing is practice. Every effort is discipline so you can complete a project.
Karen GoatKeeper
Not all writing is done from inspiration. Magazine articles are done on given topics. It helps if you are interested and knowledgeable on the topic.
Stories and books may start with an inspiration. I find I will be thinking along a subject bouncing from idea to idea. One or two will catch my attention.
Turning those over in my mind lets me enlarge them, find related ideas until a story or article seems possible.
At other times those bits of inspiration are outgrowths from pure work. A plot needs an incident. What incidents are there? What circumstances lend themselves to something happening? What could happen? Which would fit into the plot? Which would the characters do? Then develop it.
It is very important to be able to generate those bits of inspiration yourself. Waiting for one to just occur may leave you with nothing to write.
Stories and books may start with an inspiration. I find I will be thinking along a subject bouncing from idea to idea. One or two will catch my attention.
Turning those over in my mind lets me enlarge them, find related ideas until a story or article seems possible.
At other times those bits of inspiration are outgrowths from pure work. A plot needs an incident. What incidents are there? What circumstances lend themselves to something happening? What could happen? Which would fit into the plot? Which would the characters do? Then develop it.
It is very important to be able to generate those bits of inspiration yourself. Waiting for one to just occur may leave you with nothing to write.
Karen GoatKeeper
I am torn between two projects. Dora's Story is almost done. I want so much to finish the final editing.
Yet I am half way through a first draft for the third book in the Hazel Whitmore series. I hope to finish it this month. At this point she is the victim of bullying which turned her friends and teachers against her.
Yet I am half way through a first draft for the third book in the Hazel Whitmore series. I hope to finish it this month. At this point she is the victim of bullying which turned her friends and teachers against her.
Karen GoatKeeper
My two books in the Hazel Whitmore series began with a theme of a city girl moving to the country, something I did many years ago. This theme still runs through these books.
Broken Promises has a plot based on the death of my nephew in Iraq. Each person who knew Brandon dealt with this tragedy in their own way. Some of these are reflected in the book.
Old Promises is based on a true event in Dover, Arkansas, many years ago. The true case was much sadder than what I adapted for the book. This man murdered his wife, children and grandchildren one Christmas.
Broken Promises has a plot based on the death of my nephew in Iraq. Each person who knew Brandon dealt with this tragedy in their own way. Some of these are reflected in the book.
Old Promises is based on a true event in Dover, Arkansas, many years ago. The true case was much sadder than what I adapted for the book. This man murdered his wife, children and grandchildren one Christmas.
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