Karly Lane is the best selling author of North Star and more recently the May release Morgan’s Law which I read and loved. So much so that I accidentally ran out of book while stranded in the car waiting for an appointment – I had to write the review in longhand until I could get home to my computer.
I was able to question Karly about herself and her writing so come with me and lets get to know her a little better…
Can you tell us a little about how you got started as a writer?
I’ve always love reading-I’d hibernate in my bedroom with my nose buried in a book and I was always dreaming up stories even as a kid. I think it was just a natural progression to start writing my own stories. Especially when I’d find myself frustrated that I couldn’t find enough of the kind of stories I wanted to read.
How did you choose the genre you write?
I started writing romantic suspense- because it was a genre I loved to read- however I also adore Australian stories and when there weren’t enough rural Australian titles coming out- I decided that’s what I wanted to write as well.
I also read that you write under a pseudonym, can you tell us a bit about why that is?
Basically, I guess I never expected to actually get published! I had no plan as to what to do about writing names if I ever made it and when I submitted my first romantic suspense and it was accepted-I’d used my married name.
When I had North Star accepted with Allen & Unwin I wanted to keep my Australian published rural stuff separate to my Romantic suspense stuff overseas so I went back to my maiden name for those.
Do the places you set your books actually exist?
The towns are usually fictional- but in my head I often use places I’ve been to as locations and landscapes.
Morgan’s Law has just been released, can you tell us a little about the book?
Morgan’s Law is about a woman who discovers she didn’t know as much about her Gran as she thought she did, when after she passes away she asks for her ashes to be taken to a small town no one in the family has ever heard of before.
Out of all the characters you have created have you got a favourite?
So far I think my favourite character would be Kate from North Star. I think Kate and I share so many of the same characteristics and life experiences that it feels as though she’s a real person.
Are you working on something new you can tell us a bit about?
As I mentioned before, I’m writing a story that has become extremely close to my heart. I think because I’ve used an actual event in my book and researched so much about my town and these characters I have a real affection for them. One of the characters in my book was a returned World War 1 hero and while researching him I actually came across real letters written by him while he was in France during the war. I still have to pinch myself sometimes to realise I have actual letters in my possession, written by a soldier in a trench while a war raged all around almost a hundred years ago. I can’t tell you how much of a crush I have on this guy!
How do you manage to juggle writing with all of your other commitments?
It’s a lot easier now days as I have been able to give up part time work and my youngest child started school this year, but before that I just made time to write. I got up before everyone else so I could write and I often stayed up late after everyone else went to bed. Now days I’m very lucky that I can treat this as my day job and do as much through the day as I can- which means my family can actually talk to me now and I can actually give them my full attention!
What do you do to relax and unwind?
We’re very lucky to live in such a beautiful area of Australia. My husband has just bought a little tinny and we are now ‘boaties’. We spend lovely days out on the river-they fish and I read- it’s the perfect arrangement! OK, I also spend a bit of time updating Facebook while I’m out there .. but it’s not an addiction or anything…
Can you tell us what would be your ideal Sunday afternoon?
A nice sunny spot with a good book, a glass of wine and a foot rub…. I actually have never had the foot rub while reading a book because to do that I would have to threaten and maim my children or husband to actually sit there and touch my feet…but in an ideal world–I’d have someone to rub my feet (without complaining) while I read a book.
What does being a woman mean to you?
I’m not sure if this is being a woman or just a person… but being brave enough to face your fears and do what needs to be done in order to make the changes and become the person you’d be proud to be best friends with.
Thanks so much for your time Karly and thank you for the brilliant read that is Morgan’s Law.
Thank you for having me.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
Great interview, ladies!
Karly, I can identify with you–from head-in-a-book to boating to wine! And to Facebook, ahem. 😉
Looking forward to reading your books.
Em.
Thanks Em! Clearly you are a woman with excellent taste!!!! 😀