Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Karen Botha was born in Lincolnshire England where her father was in the royal air force. As a young girl she always had a passion for reading and writing. Working most of her adult life in digital marketing didn’t leave her much time to pursue her passion for stories. At the age of 36 she retrained as a reflexologist and started working for herself. This helped her free up more than enough time to enjoy a re-found passion for writing.
Her first novel was inspired by true life experiences and tales from clients, although you shouldn’t’ believe everything you read. She has since written 20 novels which she is currently in the process of publishing.
She enjoys traveling rugby and motor sport, this gives her inspiration and ideas for her books.
Her new lgbt series is a mm romance novel about a racecar driver and his mechanic and she has some plans to publish a series about hot rugby players soon.
She currently lives in London with her husband and rescue dog called Shadow.
Karen is currently kept busy with several romance series. As well as the MM romance, she also has two romantic suspense series, one urban romance and a sweet and clean series coming out just before Christmas 2018.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is one I’m finishing today. It’s called Cassius and is the third in the Love series which is an interracial romantic suspense series. I love it, because I get to write happy ever afters for hardened criminals. Where else does that ever happen?
It was inspired by nothing more than my imagination. There is not a single piece of that book that is part of my real life, it’s where my imagination has been allowed to go wild and it’s really quite scary what comes out!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Other than the insomnia?
No, seriously, I don’t have any writing habits because as well as writing I am on call as a massage therapist and reflexologist. I’m always getting last minute phone calls from my clients who are having bad days and need a pick-me-up so my writing fits around them and their needs.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
It’s difficult to say, because like my writing, my reading is eclectic. I’ve read since I was a little girl with the door closed on my bedroom. I’d get home from school and spend hours reading, and then when I was told to go to bed, I’d read again under the bed covers. I guess those formative years have influenced me the most because without them, I really wouldn’t be where I am now.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the middle of a fast release schedule at the moment. From September 3rd, I’m launching one book a week until Christmas. It’s pretty full on and means that while I’m writing one book, I’m editing another and promoting up to three others.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not experienced enough to say yet, because as I’m in the middle of a fairly heavy launch plan, it’s impossible to pull out one site over another. I like my newsletter the most though as my readers communicate back to me via that.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write from your heart and you will always have something unique.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up.
What are you reading now?
I have three books on the go now. One on audio by Sandra Owens, Someone Like Her. Then I’m reading Amber by Theodora Taylor and Miami’s Superstar by Diamond Johnson.
What’s next for you as a writer?
After Christmas, I have some more romantic suspense planned out, but I also have a few characters in my MM romance, Commitment, which are burning plots in my brain driving me mad to get their stories written. I’m going to be busy, that’s for sure.
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?
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is my all time favourite, partly because I spent time in India and adore the country and people.
Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay because my friend is a doctor and trained with him and she says it’s all true!
Me Before You, Jo Jo Moyes because it just stays with you, it’s one of those books which doesn’t need to be great literature to hit the right chord.
Author Websites and Profiles
Karen Botha Website
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