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| Kari Lee Townsend, Author |
Please welcome Kari Lee Townsend to today's blog. Kari lives in central New York with her understanding husband, her three busy boys, and her oh-so-dramatic daughter.She is the National Bestselling Author, Agatha and RT Reviewer's Choice Award nominee for her Fortune Teller Mystery series. Kari also writes romance under the name Kari Lee Harmon. Small towns, mystical elements, quirky characters, and a few chuckles along the way are what her books are all about.
Caroline:
Please share something about your childhood.
Kari: I have
an older sister and a younger brother, and we grew up all over the place with a
dad who was in the air force while we were young. Eventually he retired and
became an air traffic controller for the FAA, so most of my older years were
spent in northern New York. I have always loved to read, but I also grew up
playing soccer and being a cheerleader J I am now married for almost 24 years with four fabulous
children of my own: 3 teenage boys and 1 darling diva.
Caroline:
You’re an eclectic writer. Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?
Kari: I write
both mysteries and romance, as well as some YA, so I have a lot of favorite
authors. Basically, I love to try new things in both my reading tastes and with
what I write. Pretty much anything with humor and romance is a must for me,
even in my mysteries. I especially love Janet Evanovich and Donna Andrews.
Caroline:
What’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?
Kari Relax…what’s
that? I repeat, I have 4 kids J When I do have the rare occasion to relax, I love bubble
baths, a great book, candlelight, country music, and Pinot Grigio. As for
hobbies, I am a picture fanatic. So if you’re ever at a conference with me,
look out! Can you say candid camera? Haha.
Caroline:
Do you have a favorite quote that sums up how you feel about life?
Kari: You
know, I love when people actually do have quotes they love, but I really don’t.
I love a lot of quotes, but always forget to write them down and then mess them
up when trying to retell them to someone. Basically, I think life is way too
short to do anything other than live, love, and laugh hard…there’ll be plenty
of time to sleep later. And one of my friends always says, “When life hands you
lemons, reach for the tequila and call me.” I want to enjoy this crazy ride
we’re on to the fullest for as long as I can, and I am always up for trying new
things. Never EVER let fear stand in your way.
Caroline:
Great advice. How long have you been writing?
Kari: A very
long time. It took me 14 years to get published, but then my agent landed me
two 3-book deals within 5 months of each other. All because I finally “got” it,
and quit reworking my baby to death, and tried new things. But I don’t think
those years were a waste. I think everything happens for a reason and makes us
who we are. I probably couldn’t have handled the demands of publishing before
it happened since I was a little busy having babies and getting my bachelors
and then masters. We get what we want when we’re ready for it, and not a second
before J So when success comes your way, enjoy it, people.
Because you never know when it can be taken away just as quickly.
Caroline:
Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?
Kari: For
years, the only time I had free to write was during “nap” time. To this day I
accomplish the most after lunch and before the kids get home from school. I am
not a night owl, so I get up really early to get the kids off to school. During
that time, I check email (have coffee), check social networks (have coffee),
check blogs (have coffee)…you get the picture. And then I am sick of sitting,
so I make myself exercise (most days), then shower, pick up house, figure out
dinner, and finally after lunch, I am ready to write. I need silence, a diet
coke or pepsi ( I actually switch when I’m bored) and my laptop. By 3pm the
kids are home, and I’m ready to play mom, wife, taxi, etc. until 8pm when I’m
ready for that Pinot!
Caroline:
Are you a plotter or a panzer?
Kari: I always
used to be a panzer, but with my mysteries, I find I have to be a plotter. At
least a partial plotter. I love the thrill of writing by the seat of my pants.
But I also know I need suspects and clues and red herrings, and I can get way
off base if I don’t have some overall idea of where I’m going. I tend to figure
out some “main” crucial things that I need to happen, and then I plot as I go.
About 3 chapters at a time, so those crazy twists and turns can still inspire me
and keep me excited as they pop up throughout the book.
Caroline:
I think that makes you a plotzer. Do you use real events or persons in your
stories or as an inspiration for stories?
Kari: I am a
people watcher. I love to study dialogue, looks, quirks, etc. So bits of those
always go into my books. Sometimes news clips or articles in a newspaper will
make me think, “Wow, what a great idea!” And still, other times I actually
model a character after a real life person on purpose. Take Granny Gert for
instance. She is modeled after my late Grandmother Gertrude in her looks, but a
lot of her funny actions are so my mom! I love the idea of immortalizing them,
and plan to do that with my husband’s Grandma Tootsie in the next book. She is
98, lives alone, and is a total spitfire. I think Granny Gert needs a new
friend!
Caroline:
I’ve used my mom and her sister in a few of my books. Do you set daily writing
goals?
Kari: A long
time ago I learned to figure out exactly how fast I write, and then figure out
a schedule that worked for me. I write 4 pages an hour for about 3 hours a day.
In a perfect world, that would be 12 pages a day. I am realistic and know that
really means about 10, which in my mysteries is one chapter. I write Mon
through Fri 5 days a week, so that’s 50 pages a week, or 5 chapters. I take the
evenings and weekends off because, I repeat again, I have 4 children. When I’m
being good, I follow this schedule, so it really only takes me about 6 to 8
weeks to write a book, and then another month to polish. When I’m not being
good, I go on writing marathons and finish a book in 3 weeks. So not pretty,
people! Not to mention I am getting way too old for that, so you can probably
guess what this new year’s resolution was…stick to the damn schedule!
Caroline:
That should be all writers’ resolution. What do you hope your writing brings to
readers?
Kari: If my
readers walk away saying, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming,” then I have done my
job. I want to keep them guessing. If my readers walk away also saying on a
dreamy sigh, “Awww, Sunny and Mitch are so cute together. I really hope they
make it,” then I am pleased. If my readers walk away saying all of that with a
smile on their face and a chuckle as they add, “That scene about (fill in the
blank) was sooo funny,” then I am tickled pink. I love a great mystery, a bit
of romance, and a chuckle or two along the way.
Caroline:
That’s my idea of a great book. What long-term plans do you have for your
career?
Kari: The
market is crazy right now. Scary, yet so exciting. I plan to be everywhere. I
think it’s important to take risks, try new things, and diversify yourself. I
want to continue to write traditional books like my cozy mysteries,
self-publish books like my romances that I’ve poured my heart and soul into,
and be with more than one publisher at a time. It took me way too long to get
published to ever put all my eggs in one basket. Cliché yes, but oh so true.
Caroline: Would you like to tell us what you’re working
on now?
Kari: I am
working on my next Fortune Teller Mystery, PERIL IN THE PALM, as well as my
next self-pubbed romance, book 2 of the Comfort Club Series, and yes, book
three of my YA Digital Diva series. And I’m having a ball every step of the
way.
Caroline:
What advice would you give to unpublished authors?
Kari: Never
EVER give up! But…don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try
something new. You never know what you might be good at unless you give it a
try. And never spend all your time trying to “fix” your baby. Have something
else in case an editor says they love your writing but what else do you have.
You always want to have “something else.” And finally, figure out realistically
how many pages you can write a week so you won’t agree to something you can’t
produce. Be honest with yourself, and then stick to whatever you set aside as
your writing time. The only people who don’t get published are the ones who
quit. If you want it badly enough, it WILL happen. You just have to keep at it
and pay attention.
Caroline:
What’s a fun fact readers wouldn’t know about you?
Kari: My hubby
is this totally fit body builder guy, yet I am the adrenaline junkie of the
family and will try anything dare devilish like sky diving, hang gliding, zip
lining, scuba diving, bungee jumping, etc. Yet I am scared to death of rodents.
Can’t even look at a dead mouse or rat. Truly petrified. Love country music,
yet love hard rock, too. And LOVE to read Scottish Historicals, but don’t have
what it takes to write them.
Caroline:
What’s something about you that would surprise or shock readers?
Kari: I’m not
really shocking, sad to say. I was pretty much the boring, ultimate good girl,
but I have the exact life I’ve always wanted and couldn’t be happier. I have
been with my husband since I was 18. We didn’t marry until 21, and no, we
didn’t have our oldest child until we were 26 J He just makes me laugh and still does. And he and all
our children are Catholic, but I am Methodist. Gasp…shocking! That’s about it,
folks.
Caroline:
Is your book a series?
Kari: This is
the 3rd book in the Fortune Teller Mystery series, and I have at
least 3 more planned. Hey, you never know. I guess I’ll wait and see what the
characters tell me they want. When they say they’re done, then they’re pretty
much done. Then again, readers are very persuasive people. And I love making
sure my characters grow and develop. I know the mystery is the focal point, but
I hate it when the leads act exactly the same in every book. Oh, and all of my
Fortune Teller books focus on a different psychic tool, which keeps things
interesting and gives me something new to research and learn about. Not to
mention an immortal cat that adds a lot of mystery and fun in every book.
Caroline:
Can you give readers a blurb about your book?
Kari: Here’s
the blurb for TROUBLE IN THE TAROT
For psychic
Sunshine Meadows, sometimes fortunes can be deceiving…
Lately Sunny
has been experiencing a period of big opportunity: her business in Divinity,
New York, is thriving, and Detective Mitch Stone has finally agreed to take
Sunny on a date. But thanks to her clairvoyant abilities, Sunny knows better
than anyone that life deals out bad cards along with the good. When Sunny
agrees to read tarot cards at the annual summer Solstice Carnival, she meets
her Granny Gert’s “arch nemesis” Fiona Atwater, and is overcome by a vision of
Fiona in a violent argument. Sunny knows trouble is brewing when Granny and
Fiona start having squabbles all over town. But the fighting comes to a head
when a local baker gets run over by a big white Cadillac—and Granny and Fiona
are found at the crime scene. Sunny knows she should step aside and let Mitch
handle the investigating, but she’s not about to ignore her visions and leave
her granny’s life in fate’s hands…
Caroline:
Sounds like fun. How about an excerpt?
Kari:
Here’s the excerpt for TROUBLE IN THE TAROT:
“The cards predict a very
long week ahead of us, Morty,” I said as I laid out my fortune-telling supplies
on a table inside the gazebo in Mini Central Park.
My big, white, beautiful,
arrogant cat scowled and gave me a look—as much as a feline can give a look—that
said, Duh! Ya think?
“How
did I let her talk me into this?” I asked.
Cat or no cat, his scowl
deepened, and I swore I could see the brow he didn’t have arch sky-high.
“Fine. Not me, us,” I added, making a set of air quotes. “And don’t give me
that look, mister. You can’t say no to her any more than I can.”
I shook my head at the
ridiculous traditional, turban-style fortune-teller hat she’d tied to his head
because I’d refused to wear one. I was a real psychic and simply used
fortune-telling tools to help interpret my visions. I didn’t care to add to the
stigma already attached to my profession.
As usual, Granny was
clueless and made it clear she thought I was being silly. She thought Morty
looked adorable and that his attire added to our authenticity. I didn’t have
the energy to argue, so I’d let it go. At least it was an improvement over the
god-awful bow ties she usually dressed him up in.
Morty rolled his jet black
eyes, leapt onto the railing, and stretched out in the early morning sunshine.
I could see he would be absolutely no help whatsoever.
Just peachy.
Caroline:
Where can readers find your books?
Kari: If you
go to my website, I have a book page for my mysteries with all the buy links
for the latest book here http://www.karileetownsend.com/10.html
Caroline:
How can readers learn more about you?
Kari: I can be
found at my website www.karileetownsend.com and my blog www.mysteriesandmargaritasblogspot.com
or www.killercharacters.com
and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/karileetownsendAUTHOR or Twitter http://twitter.com/karileetownsend
Caroline:
Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about you?
Kari: Just
that I love to hear from new readers, so drop me a line at karileetownsend@gmail.com
and I promise I’ll get back to you. Also that I wish you the best of luck in
whatever your endeavors might be. Happy reading J
