Author Bio:
Karina Bartow grew up and still lives in Northern Ohio. Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never allowed her disability to define her. Rather, she’s used her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want. Her debut novel, “Husband in Hiding”, was released in 2015 and was well-received by readers. She’s excited about her upcoming love story, “Forgetting My Way Back to You”, to be released by Vinspire Publishing October 15, 2018. She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart!
What inspires you to write?
Writing's always come naturally to me, and when I met an author as a kid, that was the starting point of my aspirations for sure. What's kept me writing, though, is my love of being able to take charge of every twist, turn and outcome, and there’s no right or wrong–just room for improvement. No one has that in everyday life, especially if you have a handicap.
Tell us about your writing process.
I enjoyed improv in high school drama class, and that's how I write. It's all extemporaneous. I think on where I am in the story throughout my day and sit down with a generic idea of where I want to go, but I never know the details until I'm in the moment.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
At any story's beginning, I'd say I direct them for the most part, but as they develop, they take over! In my upcoming novel, "Forgetting My Way Back to You", I intended to write a classic wedding scene, but once
I started it, Hunter, the protagonist, said, "Nope, I'll handle this!" It became my favorite scene.
Who are your favorite authors?
Nicholas Sparks is my favorite author. I love how simple his style is, yet how it stirs your emotion. My favorite is "A Walk to Remember".
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I did a lot of research, which showed me the risk self-publishing is. Because I have limited income, I knew I couldn't go that route. While looking for a publisher, I used Writer's Market, where I found my first publisher, Authors Publish, and a variety of other websites that list publishers and agents. I found my current one, Vinspire, through a simple search engine!
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
E-books have caught on fast, but I hope hard copies stick around. Nothing beats holding a book and turning a page!
What genres do you write?
Mystery and Romance
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Website(s)
Karina Bartow Home Page Link
Follow Karina Bartow On Amazon
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
