Saturday, June 1, 2013

Author Spotlight: Karyn Good



Hi Karyn, please tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up on a farm in the middle of Canada's breadbasket. Under the canopy of crisp blue prairie skies I read books. Lots and lots of books. Occasionally, I picked up a pen and paper or tapped out a few meager pages of a story on a keyboard and dreamed of becoming a writer when I grew up. One day the inevitable happened and I knew without question the time was right. What to write was never the issue - romance and the gut wrenching journey towards forever.


What inspired your current book? 

The manuscript I have out on submission was inspired by a book we read in my book club, The Sanity Seekers. Missing Sarah, A Vancouver Woman Remembers Her Vanished Sister is written by a woman whose sister was the presumed victim of one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers, Robert Pickton. It was the first time this prairie gal had ever heard much about the area known as Canada’s poorest postal code, Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Maggie de Vries’ compassionate but realistic storytelling had a huge effect on me and I knew I wanted to tell a story set in Vancouver’s infamous Downtown Eastside and explore the widening gap between the rich and the poor. 

How do you come up with your book titles? 

I let them come to me probably because I suck at naming things. Out of necessity, I’m not one of those writers who need to have the name of the book nailed down before they can write it. Although it can happen that way. I find it’s easier to come up with a title if it presents the theme of the book. Also, I’m a member of a writing group and they’re always willing to help me if I’m stuck. Likewise, critique partners and beta readers. 

Do you write with music going in the background?  What are some of your favorite types/bands?

Yes. The more stuck I am the louder the music gets. Writing in silence does not work for me. Country is my first choice, but I also listen to alternative and soundtracks. I usually come up with a playlist for each book. Some of the songs from my Backlash playlist are Trail in Life by Dean Brody and Hood of My Car by Chad Brownless. Mud On The Tires by Brad Paisley and The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert. These are the ones I’ve played over and over again to get me in the right mood or to tap into a particular emotion.

What is your favorite book genre? Who are your favorite authors? 

While I’m a fairly eclectic reader my favorite go-to type of book on a rainy day or when I need a book friend is romance. Any sub-genre will do, although I favor romantic suspense or contemporary. Tara Janzen, Suzanne Brockmann, Nora Roberts are three of my favorites. 

Who is the sexiest man/woman alive and why? 

I actually don’t believe any such person exists. Beauty is subjective. As is sexiness. But there are certain qualities I find very sexy. Those are the qualities I look for in my favorite heroes or heroines and hopefully I weave them into my own stories. 

Quick quiz:
·         Favorite food? Pizza
·         Favorite color? Blue? No. Pink. Purple! Or maybe it depends on the day I’m having…
·         Favorite animal? Wolves…or owls. Weird choices, I know. 
·         Biggest pet peeve? Um…good question. Drivers who don’t signal.
·         Dream car? Easy! Banana Yellow BMW Z4
 
Vroom Vroom!



Blurb:

What he’s sworn to protect, she’s willing to sacrifice to save those she loves...

When dedicated teacher Lily Wheeler interrupts a vicious gang attack on one of her students, she vows it won’t happen again. But her rash interference puts her in the path of a cold-blooded killer and the constable tracking him—a man she has little reason to trust, but can never forget.

Constable Chase Porter returned to Aspen Lake to see justice done, not renew old acquaintances. But when he rescues the woman he once loved from a volatile situation, he realizes his feelings for Lily haven’t lessened over the years.

Now, the dangerous killer Chase has sworn to capture has Lily in his sights. Can Chase and Lilly learn to trust each other again before it’s too late—or will old insecurities jeopardize their future?

Excerpt:

“I remember you.” His arms tightened.
Her heart sighed, and the scent of him cast a spell. A trace of soap, a whiff of man, and a fragrance so familiar it made her think of bush parties, bonfires, cheap wine, and the back seat of an ’86 Firebird.
She remembered every little detail.
“What’s this about, Lilypad?”
That he remembered that awful nickname he’d labeled her with when they were kids was a visceral punch to the gut.
She wrinkled her nose. “I hated that name.”
“I know. I’d have been disappointed if you hadn’t.”
“Why ‘Lilypad?’”
“I don’t know. I thought of it one day when a bunch of us were catching frogs.”
“You’re such a sweet talker.”
He hadn’t moved an inch, yet he seemed closer. “You don’t want a sweet talker. Remember?” He ran a finger down the side of her cheek. “You want someone who’s going to let you know exactly what he plans to do to you. And believe me, there won’t be anything sweet about it.”

Backlash can be bought at:
Kobo 

Where to find Karyn Good on the web:
Email: karyngoodauthor@gmail.com


7 comments:

  1. Thanks for having me here today, Melissa. It's always a pleasure to go visiting and spend time in a new space on the web.

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    1. Hi Karyn,

      Thank you so much for being my guest today. Backlash was wonderful. Do you have anything else in the works right now?

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    2. Other than the submission I mentioned above I'm working on Obsession which is another Aspen Lake novel and Kate's story. My writing group is doing a June writing challenge so I hope to finish the first draft before the busy rush of July and August.

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  2. I don't know... I think Ryan Reynolds is pretty damned sexy! :) Great interview!

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    1. Thanks Lisa! And yes Ryan Reynolds is pretty darn sexy!

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  3. Karyn, I spend my summers on my boat in Canadian waters (up/down the Inside Passage). Love Canada and Canadians! Another commonality...I write suspense on the boat; you write it on land! I look forward to reading BACKLASH...the cover is VERY clever. Who is your cover artist?

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    1. Thanks Rolynn. The cover artist is Tina Lynn and I love how she put the lovely couple up in the corner. Ah, a boat person! My Aunt lives on a boat by Vancouver. She also spent lots of the '70's living around what is now known as Haida Gwaii. Are you familiar with that area? My geography is shaky but I think your travels might take you near? I hope you're having or will have a lovely time this summer. It sounds like a wonderful way to spend them!

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