Welcome Students!
Thanks for taking a few minutes to explore Karen's books and her work as America's favorite inspirational novelist. Many students are choosing to feature Karen and her work for a book report, essay, or class project.Karen has six children, all of whom are students. For that reason, she wants to help you quickly and easily find the material you need to write a report, essay, or do a class project on her or her work.
If you don't find everything you need on the following links, please write to Karen or Karen's assistant, Tricia Kingsbury.
Special Student Tip
Karen is often asked, "What is the best college major for an aspiring author?"
Her answer, Journalism. Most of the top novelists in her circle of friends have degrees in journalism, a field that teaches students to write clearly, concisely, and on deadline. It also gives you a certain way to start your professional writing career!
Something else that helps: Read. Read, read, read, read, read.
- Q. How old were you when you started writing?
- A. I was 5 years old when I started putting books together. I've always loved writing. My first book (written that year) was titled, "The Horse", and the lines all slanted downward, the words were in crayon, and most of them were spelled wrong. Still it was my pride and joy that year.
- Q. Did you write through school?
- A. Yes, I wrote for the elementary school creative newsletter, the middle school newspaper, the high school newspaper, and the California State University Northridge newspaper.
- Q. What high school did you graduate from?
- A. Canoga Park High School in 1981. I wrote for the Hunter's Call during my high school years, and also for the yearbook.
- Q. What did you major in for college, and what college did you attend?
- A. I earned my degree in journalism from California State University Northridge in 1986.
- Q. What was your first professional writing job?
- A. During my senior year in college, I earned an internship at the Los Angeles Times as a sports writer. I continued that position until after I earned my degree. Then I was hired by the Los Angeles Daily News where I worked in their sports department. I enjoyed sports writing, and had the chance to meet and interview many famous athletes and coaches of that period, Magic Johnson, Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Tony Dorsett, Danny White, Howie Long, etc. Two years later I was promoted to the front page, where I was in charge of writing emotional feature stories for the front page Sunday paper.
- Q. How did you get into writing books?
- A. I wrote a story for People Magazine, a sad story about a high school girl killed by her best friends. It was a macabre story, where the killers hid the murder for three years. I broke the story open, wrote it for the Daily News, and then for People. An agent in New York saw the story, contacted me, and asked me to write a proposal for a book. I was on maternity leave at the time, pregnant with our first baby. My husband and I were praying for a way that I could write at home, so I wouldn't have to leave our baby. I decided to write the proposal, and six weeks later, after our first child, Kelsey, was born, the agent called back. He told me he'd gotten an amazing deal for the proposal. The first check, for signing the contract, was just a few dollars more than I made a year. This was a huge answer to prayer, and the next day I went into work and quit my job. I've been home writing books ever since.
- Q. What was the name of your first book?
- A. It was called Missy's Murder, and it was followed by three other true crime books, Final Vows, Deadly Pretender, and Snake and the Spider. Deadly Pretender was the basis for a CBS Movie-of-the-Week called, "Every Woman's Dream." Next I wrote four books on true miracles and answered prayers. After that I wrote my first novel.
- Q. What was the name of your first novel?
- A. My first novel was called Where Yesterday Lives. I've since written many more novels, including the Redemption Series.
- Q. How many children do you have?
- A. We have six children, three biological kids, and three boys adopted from Haiti. Our kids range in age from 8 to 16.
- Q. How do you find time to write?
- A. I write when the kids are at school, and sometimes on a weekend if I'm behind on deadline.
- Q. Why do you write Christian fiction?
- A. I write books that God places on my heart. Christian fiction is more powerful than other fiction because it deals with four aspects of a character, physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. Secular novelists can write about the first three, but they are at a loss when it comes to things of the spirit.
- Q. Why do you call your fiction Life-Changing Fiction?
- A. I receive hundreds of letters each week. Most of them tell me that my novels have changed their lives. I know the truth. God is the one changing their lives, of course. But it's a privilege to know that He is using my novels, in many cases, to bring about the changes.
- Q. What are you working on now?
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A. More novels, some of them are series and some are stand-alone books. I can't give away too many details, but I'm very, very excited about
what's coming up . - Q. Do you ever get writer's block?
- A. No, not really. The main thing that slows me down is when I don't make time to sit down and actually write. Once I set apart the time, the words come easily. It's all a gift from God.
- Q. Will there be more movies made on your books?
- A. I hope so. Right now we're in the process of seeing Gideon's Gift made into a major motion picture. I believe there will be other movies made on my books, as well.
- Q. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
- A. I would suggest a journalism degree, most authors I know have this type of degree. Also, keep writing. If you have a story in your heart, write it, no matter how long it takes. Finally, I have ten tips for writers.