Welcome Karen Malley

It’s great to have you here, Karen. How did you get started in writing?

I actually wrote my first book when I was 6. Granted, it was a 70-word story about my dog, but still, the seed was planted. When I was in high school, I wrote for the school paper and have journaled over the years. I’ve always enjoyed writing, but as a full-time working mom, there was never much time to write for pleasure. As my boys grew older, however, I carved out the time. I carried a notebook with me everywhere I went, and my first book emerged little by little. I connected with Pelican Book Group, and my first book was published in 2020. That book became the first of a three-book series. I’ve written a Christmas novella each of the last three years, and I’m now working on the last book of my next three-book series.

That’s wonderful! Congrats. What do you enjoy most about the writing process?

I love seeing where writing will take me. I have a general idea of where the story will go, but for the most part, the story develops as I write. I believe God has called me to write. The thing I love most about writing is encouraging folks in their Christian walk. I love when a reader tells me a story I wrote spoke to their heart.

I can identify with your process as well as feeling God has called me to write. 🙂 What things do you like to do outside of writing?

I’m fortunate that I enjoy my day job. I’ve always loved science and I work for a pharmaceutical company making new medications, which is quite a rewarding career. My favorite thing to do outside of work is spend time with my family. A perfect weekend would be spent hiking and camping. I love visiting National Parks, and we’ve been able to visit quite a few. At home I love trying new recipes, playing board games, and reading.

Sounds like you enjoy the outdoors. Do you prefer sweet or salty snacks?

Honestly, I like them both together! If I have something sweet, I like to have something salty to balance it out. I always enjoy having a pretzel with my dessert. Maybe it’s a Pennsylvania thing.

Chuckle. I’m the same way, but I also live in PA. Tell us about your recent release.

Moonlight and Mystery is the first book of a three-book series. Each of the books are standalone, but the characters you meet in the first book continue through the other two. It gives the secondary characters a chance to tell their stories. I had a particularly fun time with this story, since the main characters are also actors in a play. I’d never written a mystery before, although there are elements of mystery in most of my books. It took a long time to decide who was the murderer in the murder mystery. Once I figured it out, I had to go back and insert clues into the story. It was fun, but challenging!

Do you have a favorite setting for your books?

All my books start out in Pennsylvania. They say to write what you know, and I’ve spent most of my life here. In Sunflowers and Suspicions, much of the novel is set in New York City, and in this year’s Christmas novella, Cactus for Christmas, the main character travels to Arizona, but Pennsylvania is by far the most common setting. The first series I wrote was set in a fictional town, but the Chester County Couples series takes place here in Chester County PA.

What is the back cover blurb for your new book?

Beth Tarrington has it a gorgeous fiancé, a lucrative career, the latest model car, and a high-priced condo. On top of that, the Tarrington name opens every door in town. So why is she so discontent? When everything falls apart in Beth’ s life, will she finally find the strength to stand on her own two feet?

Is God really willing to stand by her side, even after she’s ignored Him for so long?

When Jason Brooks meets Beth, his head tells him to run in the opposite direction. Beth is a high-society snob engaged to another man, and he’ s not sure where she stands with God.

So why does God keep bringing the two of them together?

Can these two find love, in spite of everything that stands in their way?

Find it online at https://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-Mystery-Chester-County-Couples-ebook/dp/B0CG9TWDS5/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1695602822&refinements=p_27%3AKaren+Malley&s=digital-text&sr=1-2

Where can readers find you online?

The best place to connect with me is my website: www.karenmalley.com. If you sign up for my newsletter, you’ll receive a weekly short story devotional, be the first to hear about new releases, giveaways, and more.