10 Questions and More with Author Karen Vaughan

Today on the Fantastic Blog Hop Tour we have a regular on board, Karen Vaughan.  Author of Dead Comic Standing, Over Her Dead Body and Daytona Dead and new pod caster on the Red River Writers Network.  Let’s see if we can find out a little more about this very talented woman.

1073283_10151707685041668_1316799290_o1. Are you a fan of the genre that you write in?

Karen: Yes I grew up reading Hardy boys and Nancy Drew. I love light mystery like what I write and romantic suspense along with thrillers and crime drama.

2. Are you a pen and paper author or do you use a computer to write?

Karen: I go from whats in my head to the laptop. However there are times I do take notes and add them to the story.

3. If you couldn’t write what would you be doing instead?

Karen: Welfare bum with tin cup? No I would probably do some kind of work to help the less fortunate.

4. What about this business surprised you the most?

Karen: How much the authors support each other. I thought it would be more cut-throat and competitive.

5. Do you blog?

Karen: Yes, not religiously but when an idea comes to mind I do blog about it.

6. Are you on social media?

Karen: Do you enjoy it? Yes I live on Facebook, the others not so much.

7. The house is on fire, which do you save, your laptop or your book collection?

Karen: Laptop—I can find other books later

8. The publishing industry is changing, do you think this is good or bad time for authors?

Karen: Yes good for independent authors to forge their own path and not depend on the big houses. We do have to do our own marketing but there is the opportunity to learn so much.

9. How do you promote your books?

Karen: Social media like facebook and Goodreads and word of mouth. I also hired the services of a publicist for 2 months and it’s been helpful.

10. Your editor says you have to kill a character, which one would get the ax? 

Karen: Maybe Gibbons that would create a conflict for Laura as they were good friends and to have to get used to a new detective who might not be so nice.

Daytona Dead Character Interview:

Front cover of daytona deadCHAT WITH DAVE MEECHAM

The cub reporter  for The Daytona Beach News journal Callie Springford sits down with convicted police officer to get the straight skinny on what went down during the Killer T. Ford Roadkill rampage.

WHY ARE YOU IN JAIL?

I let my brother in-law Killer T. Ford talk me into being his eyes and ears at the police station. I was privy to a lot of info that I should have told my supervisors about with regards to his involvement in the identity theft ring and the hit and runs.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO COME CLEAN?

My wife Annabelle made me see that her brother Duane aka Killer T. was nothing but trouble and he could very easily drag me down the same dark path to hell that he was going on. I decided my life with her was more important than keeping that spoiled little prima donna happy. I had tremendous guilt over the whole break in thing at the Fitz hotel room, getting Rueben to nail Cronk, and getting the kid killed by that bastard.  I might be doing time here but I can stand a bit taller having down the right thing.

WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER BEFORE THAT? I was a desk clerk at the local police station as I had been demoted from my job in Forensics up in Dade County.

ARE YOU EASILY INFLUENCED BY OTHERS?

Unfortunately I would have to say yes. Killer T kind of bullied me into doing a lot of dirty things including trashing that nice couples room.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING IN YOUR LIFE WHAT WOULD IT BE? Not be such a wuss.

COUNTRY MUSIC OR ROCK?  Depends on my mood I like either

DO YOU HAVE A NICK NAME? At work they called me Barney Fife now the guys in here call me Dead Meat

FAVORITE COLOUR? Definitely not orange.   Hey do you think this jumpsuit makes me look fat?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU GET OUT?  I am taking computer courses so maybe I can get a job at Best Buy when I get out.

DO YOU HAVE REGRETS?  Yes definitely and if I could I would undo all the things I did to hurt innocent people I would do it in a minute.

IF YOU COULD GIVE A ROOKIE COP ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WHAT WOULD IT BE? Stick with your principles and don’t let the lure of easy money make you do stupid things.

Author Bio

About Karen Vaughan:Author Karen Vaughan

Karen Vaughan lives in Peterborough Ontario with her husband Jim and a four legged off spring named Sugar. She is the mom of a 22 year old daughter and four grown step children and a 2 1/2 year old grandson named Ike. DEAD COMIC STANDING is her second novel. Her first novel DEAD ON ARRIVAL garnered praise from friends, family and online gamers.  She also enjoys doing crafts and other hobbies. Her latest book is called OVER HER DEAD BODY is the second book to DEAD ON ARRIVAL. DAYTONA DEAD is the third in that series which is soon to be released.

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Dharromar Weiss: Anti-hero from The Translations of The Jorthus series.

Character Interview:Convergence Cover

What is your biggest fear?

If this is confession time, I will admit to having an intense dread of a certain underground creature known as a Rokworm.

What would you give up everything to have?

Haven’t I already given up everything? Wait, perhaps the answer to that would be – vindication. That would be a worthy last request.

What is the biggest mistake you’ve ever made and are you going to be able to rectify it?

Betraying someone who trusted me. That remains to be seen.

What food would you never eat?

I think I already ate it. One does do strange things in order to survive.

You’ve dressed to impress. What are you wearing?

The garments typical of Culetan, a human city on the western side of the continent Verdaillia.  A loose sleeved tunic, jerkin, and leggings. I prefer riding boots, and my cape is a necessity. Of course, I keep my sword close at hand. One never knows what will happen.

What one thing have you found unattainable thus far in your life?

Validation for being alive.

What is about to change for you?

I may loose my freedom or my life at any moment. Circumstances have ripped me from a well plotted life, and I smell chaos on the wind.

Where do you live?

I reside, for the most part, in a transdimensional manor house with an anchored door on Jorthus, in Byton Grove. It is my area of safety; untouchable by the uninvited.

Who are you? (ie: warrior, demon, doctor, mechanic)

That’s a tricky question. I could say that I am a lord. Or I could say that I am a bastard. Both would be accurate. Some call me daemon. Others call me changeling. I am fae. That is all I will attest to at this time.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? (more than physical description, please)

I see what I was taught to see by “loved ones”:  unworthiness and disappointment.

Who do you hate and why?

Everyone. Not all for the same reasons.

Gods below, this conversation took a turn for the morose, didn’t it? Forgive me. Questions about myself inevitably lead to dark places.

Character Interview: Daytona Dead By Karen Vaughan

For those of you not keeping up, I’ve been participating in the Fantastic Blog Hop Tour and have been featuring this week author, Karen Vaughan author of Daytona Dead, Dead Comic Standing and Dead on Arrival.  Today, we’re gonna have a little fun and talk to one of her characters to see just how she feels about her circumstances in crime/murder mystery.  Enjoy!

Character Interview: Daytona Dead By Karen Vaughan

Interview with Laura Hamilton-Fitz

What is your biggest fear?Daytona Dead By Karen Vaughan

LHF: I fear that one day all my amateur sleuthing is going to catch up with me. Gerry or I could get really hurt or Gerry could get sick of me playing Nancy Drew and leave.

What would you give up everything to have?

LHF: Children

What is the biggest mistake you’ve ever made and are you going to be able to rectify it?

LHF: Hmm that’s a hard one but getting to involved in the Leena situation in OVER HER DEAD BODY. I could have been Killed and it nearly ended me and Gerry.  I tried to lay off but again death found is in DAYTONA DEAD.
What food would you never eat?

LHF:  Entrails- I don’t do liver, tripe, tongue or kidney –makes me want to yack!

You’ve dressed to impress. What are you wearing?

LHF:  Me a fashion maven? I am most comfortable in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt.

What one thing have you found unattainable thus far in your life?

LHF:  Motherhood and a winning lottery ticket.

What is about to change for you?

LHF:  I am not sure but Gerry and I are trying for that all important baby. The clock is ticking.

Where do you live? (and is this your only life?—for para stories only)

LHF:  We live in the north end of Toronto in Canada. We just moved from Scarborough.

When did you live?

LHF:  Why did your writer pick this time in history? (if this is not a contemporary story)

Who are you? (ie: warrior, demon, doctor, mechanic):

LHF:  Building superintendant for a high rise building  and amateur sleuth as it turns out. Some even call me a corpse magnet.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? (more than physical description, please)

LHF:  Someone who is trying to find herself and who is insecure.

Who do you hate and why?

LHF: Not really hate but I do have a few people I would be happy not to see again.  Tiny Todd Crawford(DEAD ON ARRIVAL), Leena Dubois Brown(OVER HER DEAD BODY) and Killer T. Ford (DAYTONA DEAD)

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Previously posted articles about Karen and Daytona Dead:

https://rachelrueben.com/2013/04/01/karen-vaughan-breakout-star/

https://rachelrueben.com/2013/04/02/an-excerpt-from-daytona-dead-by-karen-vaughan/

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About Karen Vaughan:Author Karen Vaughan

Karen Vaughan lives in Peterborough Ontario with her husband Jim and a four legged off spring named Sugar. She is the mom of a 22 year old daughter and four grown step children and a 2 1/2 year old grandson named Ike. DEAD COMIC STANDING is her second novel. Her first novel DEAD ON ARRIVAL garnered praise from friends, family and online gamers.  She also enjoys doing crafts and other hobbies. Her latest book is called OVER HER DEAD BODY is the second book to DEAD ON ARRIVAL. DAYTONA DEAD is the third in that series which is soon to be released.