About Chris Karlsen:
I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.
My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.
I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters.
I’m currently working on the Bloodstone Series, which is historical suspense with romantic elements. I’m also writing a world war two novella series.
Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.
I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and four wild and crazy rescue dogs.
What inspires you to write?
For most of my stories it has been a character who works their way into my psyche. I rarely can put a fine point on what exactly inspired the character. The characters view of an event or the world around them is something I want to give voice to. They're my vehicle through time and place. Setting is also a major contributor to my inspiration. The Bloodstone series is set in Victorian London and the main character, Rudyard Bloodstone, is a London detective. It was the setting of Victorian London that was the basis for the series. It's a setting that, to me, lends itself perfectly to murder and dark activities. It is romantic, eerie and a wonderful mix of society.
Tell us about your writing process.
I started by outlining my stories. But the last few books I have been writing by the seat of my pants and not outlining first. It can be a struggle for me and it is slower progress as I work through moments and events. That said, I also am enjoying the freedom of writing outside the initial plot ideas and outline.
How do you develop your characters?
Both. I have a general idea how they will develop but many times a new plot idea will come to me and that will often take the characters in a different direction. The overall plan for them remains because I know how I want to end a story before I begin writing it. But when I throw new obstacles or events at them, I do talk to them. In my head I ask them "what are you going to do now?" If I put them in an unusual or difficult scene, their response, if I'm uncertain of it, will have me asking is this something you'd say or do? I believe every character we write is a part of us in some way, miniscule or big. So when I get a sense that I've mishandled the character's response to a person or situation, I listen to that sense. In their own way, they are speaking to me.
Who are your favorite authors?
Bernard Cornwell-The Saxon Tales series. There are too many to list in the series but the lead character is wonderfully candid and crafted.
Joe Wambaugh-and his Hollywood Station series. He writes the best cops having been one himself. There's humor and pathos in the various men and women. I really love book 1 in the series, "Hollywood Station."
Julie Anne Long and her Pennyroyal Green series. She's brilliant at writing strong female and male characters who dominate a scene but not each other.
What genres do you write?: Historical suspense, historical romance
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Audiobook
Where to find out more about the author
Website(s)
Chris Karlsen Home Page Link
Link To Chris Karlsen Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
