Interview With Author Katlyn S. Coen
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The age of the Vikings (late 800s) has always been a magnet for me. Accompanied by my husband and our three children, I traveled extensively through northwestern Europe, learning about the local history. There, I explored the footsteps of my characters and of my Norwegian grandfather, whom I never knew. In 2015, I published her my medieval romance novel in Germany. Since then, I have published thirteen romance novels, including time travel novels and contemporary novels under the pen name Katlyn S. Coen. I was born in Heidelberg, Germany, the world’s capital of romance. With my family and five exceptionally perfect Norwegian forest cats, I live in a small town nearby. In the summertime, you can catch me writing at the seaside in the Netherlands.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, TATTOOED SWEETNESS, was inspired when I was grocery shopping at the local discount store and spotted a couple who were a perfect match: she the incarnation of a young successful businesswoman – he a full-body tattooed hunk of a man.
While still putting away the groceries at the checkout, my mental cinema jumped into action, formulating the scene of these two meeting in my book
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually dream the scenes before I write them down. And, as mentioned above, in summer I prefer to write on the shore of the Dutch IJsselmeer.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Unfortunately, you will not know most of the authors and books because they are German or European:
Erich Kästner, Astrid Lindgren, Rita Falk, Henning Mankell.
The roots of my ambition to write historical novels that combine authenticity and a love story are rooted in the fact that when I was 13 I read first Frans G. Bengtsson’s Röde Orm and then Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’ Shanna.
My current favorite authors are Sandra DelPopolo, Sandra Pulletz, and Cleo Lavalle. (all German/Austrian)
What are you working on now?
Something completely new for me: a dystopia
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
If only I knew that!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read as much as you can. Live! Observe people.
When you start writing, find other novice writers and proofread your writing for reciprocity.
You learn so much when you edit other people’s texts.Write the same chapter from different perspectives, Write the same chapter in different PoVs (first person, third person, omniscient narrator), in different tenses, through the eyes of different characters, sometimes closer, sometimes farther from the narrating protagonist.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you want to make money, get a job as a grocery store cashier – don’t write.
What are you reading now?
Unfortunately, a lot of (bad) news in our newspapers.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Who knows?
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?
I’d bring my laptop and solar charging. *smile*
Author Websites and Profiles
Katlyn S. Coen’s Social Media Links