I recently returned from the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Annual Conference. Close to 600 attended this year, beginning writers all the way up to multi-published, best-selling authors. As far as writers conferences go, this had to be one of my all-time best experiences, partially because it was an opportunity to celebrate the release of … Read More
Author: Karen Barnett
Fantastic 1920s Launch Party for Mistaken
On July 16th, we celebrated the launch of my debut novel, Mistaken, with a huge 1920s party. It took quite a bit of planning and preparation, and I must confess–I did much of my research on the internet. From Pinterest, to blogs, to Google… the ideas were out there! Now, in homage of all those … Read More
Friday Book Pick: BURNING SKY by Lori Benton
“What I have seen, what I have done, it has changed me. I am the place where two rivers meet, silted with upheaval and loss.” The opening prologue of Burning Sky sets the tone for this beautiful frontier novel by debut author, Lori Benton. I was instantly captured by the truth of these words. What we … Read More
Visiting the setting of Mistaken
We traveled north to Port Angeles, Washington this week for a family reunion, and I had the opportunity to revisit some of the locations I used in MISTAKEN. For those of you who have read the book, I thought you might enjoy seeing how these places look today. Above, I’m posing on the lovely walkway … Read More
Old-Time Soda Fountain Drinks @Home: Strawberry Ice Cream Soda
While writing my Prohibition-era romance novel, Mistaken, I did plenty of research on 1920s soda fountains. And tasty research it was, too! After some trial & error, I’ve collected some basic recipes so we can make them at home. Today we’re looking at one of my favorites, the strawberry ice cream soda. The drink is similar … Read More
Old-Time Soda Fountain Drinks @Home: The Brown Cow
While writing my Prohibition-era novel, Mistaken, I did plenty of research on 1920s soda fountains. And tasty research it was, too! If you’ve always wanted to sample some of these old favorites, you’re in luck. I’m going to be running a series of posts on old-time soda fountain recipes you can make @home. Just so … Read More
5 Ways to Help an Author
A lot of friends have asked, “How can I help you get the word out about Mistaken?”With millions of books being published (as many as 3,000,000 in 2012 according to one source), “disoverability” is key. How does a new author hope to get their book into the hands of readers? To help an author you admire, … Read More
Happy Birthday, MISTAKEN!
Happy Birthday, MISTAKEN! Today is the official release day for my debut novel, Mistaken. It’s a bit surreal walking into a bookstore and seeing my novel sitting on the shelf. When you first start writing, you dream about this moment, but the rest of the process seems very private. You sit and daydream the story, … Read More
The Great Gatsby, Mistaken, and Hope
“…It was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again.” The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Gatsby–a man of hope? I walked out of the theater feeling anything but hopeful. A verse of scripture … Read More
Friday Book Pick (and bonus interview!): THE HEART STONE by Sherry Kyle
I love reading novels that feel like they reflect the seasons, and as summer begins, my thoughts always turns to the beach. I recently finished reading The Heart Stone by author Sherry Kyle, and this lovely California novel was as pleasant as a walk on the shore. Sherry Kyle is a friend of mine, so as … Read More