For many years, I loved going to writer conferences and reader events, looking to make connections with others book lovers like me. Obviously, that has been stalled for the past year. But this weekend, I have the chance to get back in the saddle, so to speak.
In the colder months, I live in the beautiful town of St.
Augustine in Florida. My husband and I fell in love with the place a few years
ago during a six-month RV trip down the east coast. And right here in my
glorious town is the Book Obsessed Babes Author Signing Event on March 19 and
20. I don’t even have to get a hotel room as a few of the events are right in
downtown. Walkable from where I live.
There’re a few fun social events, and I’ve already got my
mask so people will know who I am.
Many years ago, before I was anywhere near publishing my
books, I was on a forum for romance writers set up by Harlequin. Here I met
some of my closest writer friends. My critique partner, MA Grant, was found on
this site. It’s interesting because she writes paranormal and fantasy and often
m/m while I write contemporary and suspense and write m/f. Yet, even though I
don’t normally read her subgenre, I LOVE everything she’s written (because she’s
the most excellent writer ever). We complement each other when we critique each
other’s early drafts. We each have strengths and weaknesses and help the other
with them.
Two other friends I found online are Kris (Kickstand) and
Emily (Firedew). These ladies started as fan fiction writers like me. I had
written over a million and a half words of fanfiction before moving onto original
work. (I wrote under the names kariesue and darker works under karasel)
Kris is a voracious reader of many genres and is essential in letting me know
when I need to add something to a book or when characters need tweaking. Emily
has been promoted to my editor and is so amazing in suggesting new words or changing
the order of sentences and paragraphs to make them flow better. And she adds in
all the commas that I forget (probably millions!)
I have another small group of ladies we call The Fab Four. We roomed together at one of the RWA conferences and have remained friends, supporting each other. Each week, MA Grant, Carrie Nichols, Brynn Kelly, and I provide motivation and assistance in whatever we need. It’s so great having these women be available for support and suggestions.
For the past two years, I’ve had another group who all support each other. This is the fabulous Romance Gems and this blog. A few of the Gems are good friends and writers from local events (Peggy Jaeger, Kathy Hills, and Nora LeDuc!!) I get to see these women in person when there are reader and writer events set in New England. I love touching base with them and hope to do so again soon (Fall in Love New England, here we come!!). And so many other non-Gems that I've connected with!!
The rest of the Gems have become good friends and part of my stalwart support system. I’m very excited to be a part of a new ‘world’ being created by them. The Last Chance Beach World. The first book releases in May and I will be book 5 coming out early November. Stay tuned to this blog because I’m sure there’ll be lots of information in the next few months about this new endeavor.
I believe all these people have been brought into my life
for a reason. Serendipity. They have been essential in getting me to where I am
today with the books I currently have published. Take a peek at my website and
other social media to find out about my small-town contemporary series, The
Storms of New England. As well as my romantic
suspense lite series, Love on the Line.
Until I ‘see’ you
again,
Happy Reading!
Kari
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