Actin' Up with Books: Author Interview and Giveaway: Karen Rock

Today I am hosting Karen Rock on the blog in celebration of her latest book, A League of Her Own, published by Harlequin Heartwarming. I've read A League of Her Own and am looking forward to sharing my thoughts. You can check out my review later this week.

For my stop on the ALoHO tour, I've asked Karen to share her thoughts on reading and writing.

Welcome Karen!!

Have you always been a writer? Did you keep a journal or write stories when you were younger?

I kept a journal since I was around nine until into my late twenties! Journals are such great places to express yourself and try out ideas without any fear that people will judge you or think you’re crazy… I always loved telling stories. Even before I could read or write, I used to make up stories and make my younger sister act out the parts with me as we recorded them into a tape recorder (anyone remember that technology?!). I would give ANYTHING to have those tapes. I would laugh hysterically and feel so lucky that the love I always had for creating stories has finally come true.

How long do you think about a story or characters until you finally decide what you want to write about it/them?

Ideas come to me fairly quickly. The characters… that takes a lot more time and thought. They have to be the kinds of people that I can relate to, who have flaws and imperfections- fears and insecurities- like the rest of us. I’m not a big fan of the perfect vampire, Viking, pirate, sheik, millionaire, (not to say there’s anything wrong with those men… I just can’t feel close to them). I want characters that have something to learn and overcome in the book. People who deserve love but have too much against them, at first, to see how that is possible. So… finding the right man, the right woman and seeing if they would make a couple with strong chemistry definitely is something that I takes lots of care to create. Once I do, however, I usually fall madly in love with my hero! Occupational hazard, I guess J

What is the best piece of writing advice you've received?

Stephen King said in his memoir, write the first draft of your novel for yourself, as if no one else will read it. That way, you’ll feel free and willing to take chances you wouldn’t take if you thought anyone would actually read this draft. I love that advice because I would inhibit myself if I obsessed over questions like what will this person think… or am I going too far? Stuff like that. The parts of my stories I love the most are when I “write out of the margins” and do things that are unexpected. I need that freedom to have the emotional depth, the plot twists that come out of left field, and the quirky elements that make a story mine.

What one piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

I would encourage them to write what they know and enjoy reading yourself. What speaks to them. If you love imagining worlds… write fantasy. If you adore supernatural creatures… write paranormal. Most of all, don’t follow trends- follow what you love. You’ll never get frustrated with your career if you are always immersed in stories you love to tell.

Tell me five random things about yourself.

Both of my arms are double jointed and were an awesome gross-out move to get rid of annoying guys in clubs J
I’m obsessed with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and at Easter, I get at least two of those huge (I’m talking foot long) Jumbo Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs and will eat at least half of one or even all of one while reading. I really need to enter a food-eating contest, don’t you think?
I’m addicted to Reality TV… even The People’s Couch where I watch other people watching TV… so pathetic… but I just can’t stop.
I once saved a blue jay by ordering a cat to drop it. Poor bird. Actually I’ve saved a few birds from my neighbors cats… they are incredible hunters, but they’re still more afraid of crazy me, lol.
I’m a terrible singer… like my husband turns up the radio when I open my mouth to sing along to anything… but for some strange reason I can sing Stevie Nick’s LANDSLIDE perfectly and trot it out at karaoke sometimes though I can never- ever- do an encore!

A League of Her Own

By Karen Rock

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age category: Adult

Published: December 1, 2014

Blurb:
He was attractive, talented…and way off limits.

Heather Gadway may have been a world-class college pitcher and a top university coach, but she's a rank amateur when it comes to managing the Falcons, her father's struggling minor league team. And when it comes to managing her aggravating attraction to Garrett Wolf, their talented new pitcher. It's going to be difficult enough to make it as the first female manager in the league and prove to her overly critical father she's worthy. No distractions. No missteps. And certainly no romances with players. Everything stands between them—including their troubled pasts—even as Heather's world falls apart and Garrett's the one who's there to catch her…

You can find A League of Her Own on Goodreads.

You can buy A League of Her Own here:

- Amazon (Kindle)

- Barnes & Noble

- Kobo

- eHarlequin

About the Author:
Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary romance author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time writer. Currently she writes for Harlequin Heartwarming and her first novel for the line, WISH ME TOMORROW, has won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2014 Golden Quill Contest and a finalist in the Published Maggie Awards. The first novel in her co-authored YA series, CAMP BOYFRIEND, has been a finalist in the Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards.

You can find and connect with Karen here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Tumblr
- Quarterly Newsletter

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of A League of Her Own.

These are the prizes you can win:

- a 100$ Amazon gift card (INT)

- a set of signed paperback of Wish Me Tomorrow, His Hometown Girl, Someone Like You and A League of Her Own (US only)