Karen Charles is a children’s book author and educator. She lives with her husband on a beautiful bay in Washington State. Her latest book is the thriller, Fateful Connections.
Website: https://karenrabe18.wixsite.com/my-site-2
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenra24229683
Thanks for this interview, Karen.Would you say it’s been a rocky road for you in regards to getting your book written and published or pretty much smooth sailing? Can you tell us about your journey?
Once I began writing, the story came together pretty smoothly. At a
Christmas brunch a friend of mine, Sandy, told a story of what happened
to her brother when he was attending a CEO conference on 9/11. I was so
intrigued by the bazaar events that I developed it into a thriller. It
took a year and a half of thinking about it before I started putting
anything down on paper.
When not writing, what do you like to do for relaxation and/or fun?
I own and manage an Airbnb on a bay in Washington State. The down time, when I have guests, gives me the time to write. I love to be outdoors, garden, hike, watch the sunrise, and travel.
What makes your book stand out from the rest?
I grew up in West Africa and have traveled to nineteen foreign
countries. I believe this gives my writing a depth and authenticity,
drawing from my experiences living in other cultures. Being a global
citizen gives me a world view, respecting, understanding, and
celebrating the differences in people, realizing we are all humans.
Can you give us the very first page of your book so that we can get a glimpse inside?
PART ONE
DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS
Chapter One
Everyone was stunned. The conference room was hushed except for a gasp here and there. The gigantic screen above the stage had lit up with the news that the North Tower of the New York Trade Center had been impaled by a massive jet liner. Fire was pouring from the eightieth-story windows. Was this a terrible accident? Eyes were glued to the report as first responders rushed to the horrific scene.
A round-table group of four looked at each other in disbelief. They watched, mesmerized by the enormity of the implications. Only eighteen minutes had gone by when a second Boeing 767 appeared, turning sharply toward the World Trade Center, and slicing into the seventy-fifth through the eighty-fifth floors of the South Tower. The massive explosion rained down burning debris. Not accidents! America was under attack.
Planned closing conference speeches were immediately canceled. They were dismissed. Henry, the group’s leader, suggested they all meet in the hotel bar. In quick agreement, they found a table where they could continue to watch the news. No one wanted to hang out in his room alone. They somberly ordered drinks as they listened to President Bush call the events a terrorist attack on our country. Six minutes later, Flight 77 crashed into the western façade of the Pentagon. At 9:37 in the morning, the building would be full of military and civilian personnel.
The traumatized, conference group sipped their drinks in shock. The sudden collapse of the South Tower was too much to take in for Harper. Her big, brown eyes filled with tears as she tightly hugged herself.
If your book was put in the holiday section of the store, what holiday would that be and why?
I would put it in the Fourth of July holiday section of the store. It reminds us of our freedom and patriotism.
Would you consider turning your book into a series or has that already been done?
The book consists of two parts, part two being the sequel.
When you were young, did you ever see writing as a career or full-time profession?
Yes. When I was eight years old, we moved to Nigeria, West Africa. I was so intrigued by the African crown bird that I wrote a poem about the cranes. My mom sent it in to Jack and Jill children’s magazine and they published it. I had a children’s book that was published but as an educator, most of my writing was professional.
What’s next for you?
I have begun another thriller based on a true story of a family caught in catastrophic events.
Karen Charles
BookBaby
Thriller
Fateful Connections tells the story of four people brought together by the tragic events of 9/11 in the United States. These four individuals were attending a conference in Seattle, Washington, and found it nearly impossible to make it back to their homes, which were scattered across the country. They decide to rent a car and drive together, as they cannot get any flights home. As rental cars are also impossible to come upon, they find a friend who has access to a repossessed car, which he is willing to rent out. Unbeknownst to the friends, the rightful owner of the car wants his car back, and as they find out, hidden inside the car are drugs and guns. What ensues is a dangerous journey which impacts the four friends’ lives forever. The story follows them on their harrowing journey home, then one and two years later as they meet up for an annual reunion.
The strengths of this story are the easy-to-read narrative and compelling plot. The author introduces four intriguing main characters, as well as a number of antagonists, who hunt down the friends and engage in dangerous and illegal plans to not only recapture their guns and drugs, but also kill the friends so there are no witnesses to their illegal activities. The reader is instantly drawn into the storyline, and moves along with the characters as they experience fear, joy, love, and relief. The plot is compelling, and the reader cannot help but become invested in the lives of these four main characters.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/41WDECT
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