Today I’m talking to Karen McAtlin on our Member Spotlight.

Minerva Spencer: Before we start talking about your writing, tell us a little about yourself and what you write.

My name is Karen McAtlin. I was born and raised in Colorado. I now live in rural Iowa with my third husband and three cats. I have two children, a son and a daughter. I have seven grandchildren, two in Minnesota, two in North Dakota, two in Colorado, and one who was called to Heaven when she was three. I did medical transcription for about 20 years. I had my own transcription business for most of those years.

I started writing at a young age and wrote my first manuscript, a contemporary romantic suspense, when my kids were little. After that, life interfered and I didn’t write again until 2016.

I just finished the first draft of a manuscript that I started in 2016, a historical romance that takes place in 1918. I also finished a historical romance short story that goes along with the novel. I have a series planned with several more books to go along with those, and ideas for more after that series.

I chose to write historical romance because I love history and would love to time travel. Since that isn’t an option yet, I time travel through my writing. My writing tends to have a tragic element to it along with the romance.

MS: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

KM: I first realized I wanted to be a writer when I first learned to read, I think. It was very early. I loved to read from a young age. I especially loved Nancy Drew books. I was very young when I started writing my own stories. I wrote stories all through the years while growing up.

MS: What drew you to write in the historical romance genre?

KM: I love history and love to research so it was the logical choice. I would love to time travel to the past and experience it firsthand.

MS: If could meet anyone in history, who would it be?

KM: That’s a hard question. There are many people I would like to meet. Probably top on the list would be Abraham Lincoln, as well as Chief Ouray and Chipeta. I would also like to meet James Reese Europe and so many others.

MS: If you could time travel, what era would you visit?

KM: That also is hard to pick just one. I would like anywhere from 1860 through the 1960’s, all of them if possible. If I had to pick just one, it would be the 1870s or 1880s.

MS: What are your goals or plans for publication? 

KM: I originally wanted to go with a traditional publisher, but now I’m thinking more along the lines of self-publishing, mainly because you have more control over everything in Indie publishing and I’m used to being my own boss.

MS: What are you working on now?

KM: I’m working on a short story that is kind of a prequel to my series, and also book 2 in my series. I’m about ready to start editing the first short story I wrote, as well as book 1 in my series.

Thanks for joining us, Karen! And below are a few photos of Karen’s writing muses….

Here are a couple of ways you can reach out and connect with HHRW member Karen McAtlin: 

https://twitter.com/klickersue2

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012744452138