Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen K Brees
Hi Karen K, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
There’s never enough time, it seems. We’re busy from the moment we wake until we fall back into bed at night. Our days are filled with families, work, chores—and there’s precious little time left over for the extras. And that’s what writing can seem like when you’re just starting out. It’s an extra. It’s frivolous. Nobody makes any money at writing. Well, some do, but not most people. But one day, you slow down, look around, and finally say, “It’s time. If I don’t get started now, I never will.” And so, you do. You buy a small notepad, start making random notes. You eavesdrop on conversations at the coffee shop, in line at the grocery store, and while getting your mail at the post office. And suddenly, you ask yourself the one question that takes you to the next level: “What if?”
What if are just two words, but they’re the cornerstone of plot. For me, it happened as I was driving home on 280 from San Francisco. I saw a tarp at the side of the road and wondered, “What if there’s a body underneath that?” When I got home, I outlined the plot for The Esposito Caper.
Capers are fun to write. All the characters are flawed, but there’s a semi-noble goal that motivates them. The adage “Write what you know” is true. So, since our infamous local Mafioso had brought his dog to our veterinary clinic, I figured, why not write about the Mob, throw in a spoiled poodle, a missing diary, and make it a story of redemption. Of a sort. Once I got started, everything came together, and I was hooked. Writing is a great deal like eating pistachios. Once you get going, you can’t stop.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There aren’t any smooth roads. If you find yourself on one, you should bail as fast as you can. You’ve probably wandered onto a runway at the airport and are about to get creamed by a jet. Seriously, it’s the bumps in the road that give us our stories. The career setbacks, the broken relationships, the bad news at the doctor’s office. This is where the writer finds material.
Getting your family to understand that writing requires alone time and finding a time to write every day are essential, but it’s not easy when you’ve got a family. I tried closing the door to my office, but my husband came in and asked, “Did you know your door was closed?” I banged my forehead on the keyboard as the stray filament of an idea slipped away into the ethernet. Establishing boundaries is essential, and being firm about them is critical.
The path to publication has more potholes than smooth asphalt. I was fortunate to get a great non-fiction agent, Andrea Hurst, but finding one for my fiction was much tougher. Ultimately, I skipped the agent step and went straight to a publishing house and found an ideal fit with Black Rose Writing, an indie house in Texas. Best move of my writing career.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
History fascinates me, and doing the research for the MI6 Agent Katrin Nissen WWII series is challenging. Melding reality with fiction to create an engaging historical fiction plot is a challenge. When all the pieces come together, however, it’s incredibly satisfying. I’m extremely proud of this series and currently working on the fourth installment i, Westwind. Release date is November 2026 from Black Rose Writing..
My heroine is a professor of botany at Yale. She’s in her late thirties, has a sardonic sense of humor, and usually finds herself in some situations that are difficult to negotiate. She’s smart, resourceful, and deadly with her stiletto. She’s great fun to write. So, I guess I’m most proud of her. I named her for my grandmother.
Alternating between two quite different series probably sets me apart from the majority of writers, but it’s a way to cover all the bases. One is set in WWII and the other, The Esposito Family Chronicles is contemporary.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Chair Yoga is my current obsession. I’ve downloaded the Reverse Health app and try to get my fifteen minute workout each morning. I’m working on flexibility and strength, and it’s a challenge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karenkbrees.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenk.brees
Image Credits
David King, Black Rose Writing