Garden Interview with Karen Hulene Bartell

Welcome Karen

Tell us about you and your books.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Always—I have to be careful not to preach. For instance, in The Keys: Voice of the Turtle, the underlying message was the plight of the sea turtles—and I had to be careful not to list dos and don’ts. In Wild Rose Pass, I wanted to show the resilient frontier spirit through the dreams and actions of the characters—the mavericks, outsiders, free-spirited nonconformists, and marginalized. But the main job of these characters is to tell the story as they entertain the reader.

What are your current projects?

I currently have a manuscript with my wonderful editor, Dianne Rich, entitled Kyoto: Tale of the Fox. It’s a supernatural story based on the Japanese version of the werewolf—kitsune, which might be described as werefox.

I’ve also begun working on a sequel to Wild Rose Pass, tentatively entitled, Paisano Pass.

Do you have to travel researching your book(s)?

YES! For me, travel sparks inspiration. When I visit provocative places, encounter new experiences, sample different ethnic foods, and chance upon stimulating people, I’m inspired. Ideas flow. (I should’ve been a travel correspondent.) There’s something about traveling that takes me out of my rut and propels me into new realms of possibility.

I’ve written some of my best concepts sitting in airports or hotel bathrooms at midnight (so I don’t wake my husband with the light). Being out of my element and in new environments stimulates my imagination. Traveling inspires me and infuses me with innovative ideas.

What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

Marketing—pure and simple.

When you wrote this book, did you have an idea of how it would end at the beginning?

Partially—since I believe in HEAs, I knew boy would meet girl and boy would marry girl. But beyond that, I hadn’t a clue what would happen. My characters had to tell me as the story unfolded.

and for something personal...

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an archaeologist—specifically an Egyptologist. I wanted to explore the pyramids and discover all the mysteries of the ancient world. Am sure Boris Karloff’s The Mummy was part of the inspiration for that career choice, along with the Chicago Field Museum’s mummies, which fascinated me.

Do you laugh at your own jokes?

I do. When I speak publicly or present writing seminars, my husband accuses me of laughing at my own jokes. (Videos confirm his accusations.) Not sure of the psychology behind it, but guessing at the reasoning, I wouldn’t tell a joke if I didn’t already think it was funny. And if my timing is right when I tell the joke, I hear it as if for the first time, so I laugh along with my audience 😉

Writing this made me Google the pop psychology behind stand-up comics laughing at their own jokes. The reason, I learned, is they laugh to manipulate the audience. Apparently, laughter from the presenter (be it during a comic routine or classroom presentation) cues the audience that their laughter is not only allowed but elicited.

Are you fun to go on vacation with?

*I* think I’m a lot of fun to go on vacation with because I like to fill every moment with something to see or do. I don’t want to “waste” time, so I plan the itinerary to the nth degree, figuring we can rest after we get back home.

However, people who’ve accompanied me say my vacations are exhausting—that they need another vacation after the vacation to recover.

Have you ever found true love?

Twice—I found true love with my first husband, who passed away, and  found it again with my husband of thirty years (to date).

If you came with a warning label, what would it say? 

Beware: Junkyard Dog!

Where can we find you online?

http://www.karenhulenebartell.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KarenHuleneBartell

https://twitter.com/KarenHuleneBart

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/611950.Karen_Hulene_Bartell

Download Wild Rose Pass on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2vQP41r

and other online retailers