Blog guest– Q&A from Karen McQuestion
And now, my second blog guest– Karen McQuestion– self-published Kindle author who defied all odds and now has multiple book deals and a film option!
Karen was kind enough to answer a few questions about her books, her newfound success, and what’s next!
Of all the different types of writing you’ve done– essays, short stories, articles– which do you enjoy the most?
If I had to pick, I’d say that writing novels is my absolute first love. I enjoy sinking into the pages and seeing where the characters and storyline take me. My second choice would be the personal essay. When I give workshops on essay writing, I tell the attendees that a personal essay has great value because it’s a written record of your life and a gift to future generations.
Have any of your readers asked you to write a sequel to any of your books?
Several kids who have read Celia and the Fairies have asked if the book is the first in a series, and I was happy to tell them yes, that I have several more in mind. A few adult readers have suggested they’d love to hear more about the nosy neighbors in Easily Amused. I’m not opposed to the idea, but I haven’t come up with a compelling storyline yet.
What has been your family’s reaction to your successes?
The adults—my husband, mom, and other relatives—are elated for me. My kids are proud, but honestly, if the subject doesn’t come up, I think they almost forget about it. Nothing has really changed for them except I’m in a much better mood lately.
Which of your many characters in any of your books most closely resembles or is most like you?
Any of them who are phobic and insecure. The ones who aren’t are the way I’d like to be!
Are you working on any new projects?
Right now I’m finishing up a companion book to Celia and the Fairies. I also have two other books partially written, a YA and an adult novel, one of which I’ll be getting back to at the beginning of the new year.
Karen McQuestion‘s essays have appeared in Newsweek, Chicago Tribune, Denver Post, Christian Science Monitor and several anthologies. She is the author of six books self-published on Amazon’s Kindle, one of which, the novel, A Scattered Life, caught the attention of an L.A. based production company and became the first self-published Kindle book to be optioned for film. Five of her previously self-published books will now be published by AmazonEncore. McQuestion lives with her family in Hartland, Wisconsin.
