Ask the Author: Karen Brough
Answered Questions (8)
Karen Brough
Honestly, I have so many weird, wacky, and wonderful experiences in my life so far - I could choose any of them.
From building houses in PNG to working at a kid's fun park for my first job - any and all of the above! lol.
From building houses in PNG to working at a kid's fun park for my first job - any and all of the above! lol.
Karen Brough
My most recent book, "I Can't Believe They're Gone" (release March 2023) came from a mix of events.
I'd always felt drawn to writing a book about grief.
In Jan 2023 I had an inner prompt to study grief.
As a human who has walked through a LOT of grief, I felt ill-equipped and always felt like 'I am not doing this right.'
So I signed up with a counsellor/pschologist and picked their brain once a fortnight about grief and loss. It was wonderful to ask every question, wrestle with those things we don't dare ask (in normal life), and come to peace about some significant things.
I finally had a scaffolding.
Sadly in November of 2023, a dear friend was involved in a horrific car accident and was killed. This left us all in a place of disbelief and shock. Our whole community was shaken.
As I sat in the sun, griefstricken, asking God what I was supposed to do with all my big feelings - I felt a thought come into my heart. 'Start writing a kids grief story.'
It poured so naturally out of my heart and the first draft was done within an hour. I sat back, read it and it tended to my pain. I helped me in my raw place. It encouraged me. It told me that what I was feeling, and experiencing was okay.
Yes, it came quickly, but I'd inadvertently been writing it in my heart for a year.
I started testing it with friends and family, and counselor. It moved their hearts too.
Professional healthcare professionals offered to endorse it; asking me to publish it so they could share it with their clients.
I feel honored to have had this story in a way, entrusted to me.
Grief stinks, but there is hope even in the pain, when we do it together.
My favorite line from the book is: "Emotions aren't good or bad, or right or wrong, they just are."
I'd always felt drawn to writing a book about grief.
In Jan 2023 I had an inner prompt to study grief.
As a human who has walked through a LOT of grief, I felt ill-equipped and always felt like 'I am not doing this right.'
So I signed up with a counsellor/pschologist and picked their brain once a fortnight about grief and loss. It was wonderful to ask every question, wrestle with those things we don't dare ask (in normal life), and come to peace about some significant things.
I finally had a scaffolding.
Sadly in November of 2023, a dear friend was involved in a horrific car accident and was killed. This left us all in a place of disbelief and shock. Our whole community was shaken.
As I sat in the sun, griefstricken, asking God what I was supposed to do with all my big feelings - I felt a thought come into my heart. 'Start writing a kids grief story.'
It poured so naturally out of my heart and the first draft was done within an hour. I sat back, read it and it tended to my pain. I helped me in my raw place. It encouraged me. It told me that what I was feeling, and experiencing was okay.
Yes, it came quickly, but I'd inadvertently been writing it in my heart for a year.
I started testing it with friends and family, and counselor. It moved their hearts too.
Professional healthcare professionals offered to endorse it; asking me to publish it so they could share it with their clients.
I feel honored to have had this story in a way, entrusted to me.
Grief stinks, but there is hope even in the pain, when we do it together.
My favorite line from the book is: "Emotions aren't good or bad, or right or wrong, they just are."
Karen Brough
It's funny how ideas come - my most common inspiration have come from things happening in life. I see something in nature, my kids say or do something funny, or I am captivated by a single word - which turns into a whole story. When IT happens, that moment is divine!
Karen Brough
I am currently finished up my picture book on grief, 'I Can't Believe They're Gone.' It's proving quite an empowering book for readers, and it still tends to my heart - as we walk through a recent loss.
I am also doing a final edit of, 'Take A Step With Him, - Adventuring with God into Fresh Beginnings.' This is the final book in the 'Be Held By Him' series. I can't wait for this to go off to the editors!!!
And lastly, I am putting together a coffee table book, 'Balm for the Exhausted.' A book for those who find themselves in a state of fatigue, and weariness and need some encouragement and strategies to move forward.
This was something we wrote about 8 years ago when I was getting my head around having an autoimmune disease.
I needed to revisit the material for myself, when the idea came, 'maybe others might be helped by it too.' It has been a fun and empowering project to enjoy over the summer holidays.
I am also doing a final edit of, 'Take A Step With Him, - Adventuring with God into Fresh Beginnings.' This is the final book in the 'Be Held By Him' series. I can't wait for this to go off to the editors!!!
And lastly, I am putting together a coffee table book, 'Balm for the Exhausted.' A book for those who find themselves in a state of fatigue, and weariness and need some encouragement and strategies to move forward.
This was something we wrote about 8 years ago when I was getting my head around having an autoimmune disease.
I needed to revisit the material for myself, when the idea came, 'maybe others might be helped by it too.' It has been a fun and empowering project to enjoy over the summer holidays.
Karen Brough
1. Your voice is worthy of being heard - dive in - what have you go to lose?
2. If you have a story in your heart, that just won't go away, now might be the time for you to tell it.
3. Writers are a friendly bunch, and most will be willing to give you advice and encouragement - being teachable in this area will help you go farther than if you do it alone.
4. The best piece of advice I was given was - 'it's better to have a good something out there, than a perfect nothing.'
2. If you have a story in your heart, that just won't go away, now might be the time for you to tell it.
3. Writers are a friendly bunch, and most will be willing to give you advice and encouragement - being teachable in this area will help you go farther than if you do it alone.
4. The best piece of advice I was given was - 'it's better to have a good something out there, than a perfect nothing.'
Karen Brough
It's an introverts dream!!!
I love it when story and characters come together and it jus works - not too much of a fan when it doesn't - but the wrestle is what makes writing worth it sometimes.
With my Non-fiction books, my favourite thing about writing, is to spend time with God - and bring Him my hurdles, then listen for how He wants to broach it. We write together in most of my writing, so for me, writing is place of prayer, of rest, of peace, of communing.
I love it when story and characters come together and it jus works - not too much of a fan when it doesn't - but the wrestle is what makes writing worth it sometimes.
With my Non-fiction books, my favourite thing about writing, is to spend time with God - and bring Him my hurdles, then listen for how He wants to broach it. We write together in most of my writing, so for me, writing is place of prayer, of rest, of peace, of communing.
Karen Brough
hmmm...I think I get outside into my garden, start doing puzzles, people watch and see what comes.
I generally write as I find my heart moved or inspired - when an idea can't help but be written.
I generally write as I find my heart moved or inspired - when an idea can't help but be written.
Karen Brough
I would love to go and visit with Jane Austen for a time...Meet Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth, and tea with them. lol.
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