Interview With Author Karen A. Wyle
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a lifelong reader who decided around age six or seven to be a novelist. When I was ten, I wrote what I considered my first novel — a picaresque “biography” of a dragon and his boy, full of bizarre twists, with fifty pages more or less plagiarized from CALL OF THE WILD but with a dragon substituted in. I tried again at age 14, with what we would now call YA, but gave up around forty pages in. That was the last time I attempted a novel until my elder offspring participated in National Novel Writing Month twice in high school. The second time, I joined her — and the rest may or may not be history, but it amounts to fourteen novels (SF, fantasy, and historical romance) as well as a couple of short stories, picture books (in collaboration with illustrators), and one nonfiction book. Five of the novels, including my most recent one, draw on my experience and expertise as a lawyer, which also inspired the nonfiction book, a guide to American law and lawyers originally written for novelists’ use.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
FAR FROM MORTAL REALMS came out of the ever-bubbling stew in my brain, which bubbled up “Fair Folk” and “lawyers” at the same time. I quickly realized that the combination made sense: if you’re so bold as to try to make a bargain with the Fair Folk, who are notorious for mischievous use of loopholes, you would be far better off with a lawyer by your side. Of course, there are risks for the lawyer . . . .
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure it’s unusual, but when I’m writing (as opposed to editing, or letting an idea lie fallow), I write on and off all day and evening, for anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or so at a time. I also have a waterproof pad and pencil (AquaNotes) in the shower, for the ideas that pop up under the influence of flowing hot water.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Have mercy! I’ve been reading for more than sixty years, and haven’t kept a tally. A few of the authors: Jane Austen, George Eliot, Clifford Simak, Ray Bradbury, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Frederik Pohl, Dorothy Sayers, Mary Doria Russell, Lois McMaster Bujold, M.C.A. Hogarth, Grace Burrowes. As for books, Russell’s THE SPARROW amazed and inspired me years before I attempted my own science fiction (the first genre in which I wrote).
What are you working on now?
I’m orchestrating the release of my latest novel (see above) and my upcoming picture book, WHERE FIREFLIES SLEEP. I’m also shivering in both fear and excitement about my planned change in writing process. After all this time of being mostly a pantser (as in, writing by the seat of my pants), I’m planning to plan! I’ll outline or at least come close to it, and I’ve collected and may consult several books about three-act structure, story beats, et cetera.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a combination of methods and am not sure which has been most productive. I post on appropriate Goodreads groups, post excerpts and announcements on my blog (Looking Around), post the links to the blog posts on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and make other posts on those social media sites as well.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My overarching general advice is not to treat anyone’s advice as gospel! In particular, ignore any claims that a particular process — whether it be writing every day, outlining, not outlining, belonging to a critique group, or whatever — is essential for every author. Find the process that works for you — and if it stops working for you, try another. I owe that last piece to Chuck Wendig’s book GENTLE WRITING ADVICE: HOW TO BE A WRITER WITHOUT DESTROYING YOURSELF.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See above.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading an alternate history by Harry Turtledove, AGENT OF BYZANTIUM, which presumes that Mohammed converted to Christianity rather than founding Islam. I’m also rereading ATLAS SHRUGGED. (Yes, I know that’s a divisive book, but there are aspects of it that I like, and I just skip over or speed-read through the parts I find annoying or upsetting.) I intend to read to a certain point and then switch to WEST WITH GIRAFFES by Lynda Rutledge.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on my next picture book, a biography of composer Joaquin Rodrigo, and expect it to come out late this year or early in 2024. (It may take longer to arrange for a Braille and/or tactile edition.) I’ll be spending some time this fall planning two novels, one World War II story based on my family history and the other the fifth book in my COWBIRD CREEK historical romance series.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oy vey! If I can only take three or four, they’d have to be “comfort reads” I’ve reread often. I can’t promise I’d pick the same ones tomorrow or next week, but at the moment, I’ll pick these:
— Lois McMaster Bujold’s KOMARR/A CIVIL CAMPAIGN (for this purpose, I’ll argue they’re one novel in two parts)
— Dorothy Sayers’ BUSMAN’S HONEYMOON
— Naomi Novik’s SPINNING SILVER
— Something by M.C.A. Hogarth that I’d grab at the last moment
Author Websites and Profiles
Karen A. Wyle Author Profile on Smashwords
Karen A. Wyle’s Social Media Links