KidLit Alert!
Interview with Traditionally Published
Debut Middle-Grade Author of
Miracle
Karen S. Chow
Welcome Readers, Book Lovers, Writers, and Creatives to Writing Teazurs and get ready to meet the newest interviewee - Karen S. Chow! She is a powerhouse and has filled her interview with so much great information for writers - you'll want to save this one.
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Hello, Karen,Thanks for being on the blog...and here we go.
You are a Taiwanese-American author. What does that mean to you, and how has your ethnicity helped or hindered your writing?
When I first started writing, I didn't write Asian-American characters because I read a lot of books, especially as a kid, that didn't have Asian-American characters. I was a HUGE reader. But after I started writing, I read Grace Lin's Year of the Dog, and it resonated so much.
As for finding an agent, I was able to find mine (Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency) eventually through #DVPit, which spotlights writers with diverse backgrounds. I don't know if it was "easier" to be a diverse writer because it was still a struggle to find an agent. My debut, Miracle, is "quiet" and more serious in theme than some of the catchier, fun MG titles. Before getting an agent, I was a mentee in Pitch Wars (a mentorship program) with Miracle. I revised it with my mentors and revised more after the agents from the Pitch Wars showcase told me my book was too sad and had pacing issues. By the end, Miracle had 86 rejections before my agent said, "Yes." 86 feels about average as a writer--diverse or not--querying for agent representation.
I will always promote Own Voices and Diverse Books! I watch my daughter reading books with characters who look like her and/or have similar backgrounds, and it makes me so happy. She shows me parts where the characters do things like us or think like us. It's really heart-warming to see her able to relate to books in a deeper way. I also love that diverse books gives another point of view, which helps readers become sympathetic to real-life people. I hope that diverse books help readers become kinder people themselves.
Did you grow up seeing yourself in main characters, in books, or not so much, and how did this influence your work?
I did not see a lot of Asian-American characters in books when I was young. (Mind you, this was in the 80s-90s.) So when I read Grace Lin’s Year of the Dog, I absolutely loved it, and had the realization that I could write about my own life. That’s when I started to write Taiwanese-American characters.
What do you think of the publishing industry right now? What’s good? Bad? Beautiful and/or ugly?
It’s slow right now! I see movement in more diverse book contracts. So my outlook is hopeful.
How can readers and other writers help support your writing journey?
Who is your biggest cheerleader, and how has she/he helped you?
I have a team of people who cheer me on: my critique group, the Charglings (because we have chargers, not pens), Mary E. Lambert, GF Miller, and Traci Avalos; my author friends from Pitch Wars, Amanda Rawson Hill, Cindy Baldwin, and Remy Lai; and of course, my family.
You are a self-proclaimed band geek - what instrument do you play? What is your favorite music? And do you listen to music while you write?
I am definitely a band geek! I played flute, piccolo, and xylophone/bells in band. I played piano from age 5 all the way up to now (although, I stopped lessons after high school). I love all music. I have a fondness for musicals. When I’m writing, I sometimes play familiar Disney movies in the background.
How has music influenced your writing style?
It definitely did for Miracle, since it’s all about music. The style is more lyrical, and I read sentences aloud to make sure they flow in a certain way.
You were a Pitch Wars Mentee - what was that like? Why did you do it, and what did you learn?
You found your agent by participating in #DVPit - how did you do that? What advice do you have for writers hoping to snag an agent?
I entered #DVPit based on the advice of my Pitch Wars mentors Amanda Rawson Hill and Cindy Baldwin. Cindy had gotten her agent through #DVPit, and she thought my book was a good fit to find an agent through this route. She was right!
You are an award-winning author! Awesome. How did you enter to win these awards? What did winning mean to you? How has it helped your writing goals?
I have no exposure to AI writers, so I can’t form an opinion about AI books. I hope traditional publishing doesn’t go away because I love doing what I do.
You live in Arizona with your family - what do you do for fun? For exercise? For a break from writing?
Good question! I think my background influences Amie’s journey. My dad passed away when I was young (not as young as Amie), and her Taiwanese-American-ness is similar to mine. She has other aspects of me in her: we both love the Harry Potter series, we’re both Slytherins, we both love music. I’m also in Amie’s mom, in the way that she deals with her emotions; I tend to shove them away and concentrate on what I can control.
Your main character in Miracle loses her father and her ability to play music - how did you weave the emotions of playing music and experiencing death into a beautiful story of healing?
Actually, the book used to be less hopeful. My editor suggested a change in theme that focused on Amie’s healing and her relationships with her mom and friends. I kept the emotion, but the trajectory of the story changed. And now that it’s written, I really like the direction my editor suggested! It feels more organic and true to life: your family and friends are the ones who are here for you.
Where do your book ideas come from? Do you get them in dreams? Meditation? Near water? While you are reading other books?
LOL. Anywhere, really. Most of the time, the main character comes to me with a line or an idea. And then I build the story around that character.
If you could go back to your younger self - what advice would you give her about writing and the journey to publication?
Oh thank you! I love the cover, too. It’s so representative of the book! The melding of the colors and the bright hope behind Amie. It’s by artist Olga Lee. I don’t know what Amie’s playing…maybe “Rivers”, maybe “Simple Gifts”. Whatever it is, she’s immersed. I did not get to choose the cover. My publisher hired Olga Lee and directed her artistically. I had input on the length of Amie’s hair, and I also made a correction to her arm positions. But that was it.
What one word describes you?
Why do you think we humans alienate friends and family when we go through traumas - like the death of a parent? And what do you think is the healthy way to move through these intense emotions?
Alienating friends and family is the natural reaction. I think we try to shut down to mute the pain. And shutting down usually means shutting people out because they are reminders of the pain. I think the healthier way to deal is to talk about it. But it takes time and practice to be able to do that.
How did you know your agent was the one for you? Any tips for new writers trying to find an agent?
2. Make sure to revise that query letter! I think all of my agented friends have SEVERAL drafts—like over a dozen versions—of their successful query letter.
3. Make sure to research the agent to see if they want your type of novel. And there are schmagents out there, so be careful. Ask author friends about that agent, and ask the agent a lot of questions if you get a chance to schedule a call. (http://www.totheshelves.com/preparing-call-ace-agent-interviews/)
What are you reading right now? Who is your favorite author, and why?
I’m currently reading Lei and the Fire Goddess by my fellow MGin23 debut author Malia Maunakea.
Favorite author is TOO HARD! Instead, I’ll name some books that changed and influenced my writing: The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin, The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak, This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
While writing your book - what did you use for support? Any plotting books or templates? Any critique groups? What do you suggest to newbie writers?
I wrote Miracle during National Novel Writing Month. So, I had the anonymous support of thousands of other writers fueling the frenzy to write. Normally, I write much slower, but I’ve used both NaNoWriMo and Camp Nano as motivation to write and to revise. As for plot, I used the three-act structure (and later, my editor’s revision notes), but I’ve transitioned to the Save the Cat template since then, which is working for me. I’ve also learned to embrace the pre-writing synopsis, and that has helped to minimize huge rewrites. But I’m a plotter, so it makes sense for me.
I’m in a critique group, the Charglings, and we meet every 2-3 weeks. We submit material (up to 20 pages) before we meet and discuss our comments in person. It’s a great motivator to get something written before a meetup. I was in other critique groups, but this one has worked best for me. We have members who have published more than one book and members who aren’t agented. It’s nice to be in the middle.
For newbie writers: Keep writing! I wrote for 17 years, experimenting with all sorts of styles and voices and genres before I wrote Miracle. (I realize that’s longer than most writers, but for me, it’s what I needed to develop my writing.) And now I really like my style.
Each of the characters in Miracle have a little bit of me in them. Amie’s quietness was me in elementary school. Her mom is me now (and somewhat my mom, too). Her BFF Bella is my outgoing part (and somewhat my younger sister) and Rio is my musical part. Mr. Hua, Baba’s BFF, is based my dad’s friend Hank Huang. Baba is basically my dad.
How did you overcome doubt in yourself as a writer and push through to getting published?
What was it like working with an editor, and how does that look once the agent sells your book to a publishing house?
Miracle was in a different format than it is now, so when my agent subbed to publishers, my editor gave me an R&R (revise and resubmit) with an edit letter. She wanted a different timeline and different themes. I had gotten 16 other editor rejections, so I decided to do the R&R (plus, there’d been a lot of distance from the book at the time, and I wasn’t as attached to it as before). I rewrote the whole thing (not under contract). After my editor read the R&R, she made an offer.
After that, it was a waiting game because my editor is BUSY, plus the pandemic, and she moved her imprint to another publishing group. So, it was quite some time before I got 2nd developmental edits. I had a 5-week deadline for those edits. Then, 2-3 weeks for line edits. After that, things moved quickly: acceptance, copy edits, pass pages, 2nd pass pages.
Where will you be next so readers may connect with you in person?
October 4, 4-5pm, author talk at Oro Valley Public Library in Oro Valley, AZ
October 16, 10:30-11:30am, writing workshop at Himmel Public Library in Tucson, AZ
October 28, 10:30-11:30am, writing workshop at South Mandarin Public Library in Jacksonville, FL
Thank you! Websy Daisy designed it. I was probably a nightmare client because I didn’t quite know what I wanted and was super picky. Jenny did a brilliant job. She sends a questionnaire ahead of time and has you compile all your ideas and pages into a Dropbox that you do before she designs. Then, she spends one week on the design. The first two days are figuring out the aesthetic, home page, and one of the other pages. The rest of the week, she’s designing the rest of the pages. The last days, she sent the full website for review, and we made tweaks. It’s Wordpress-based, so she gives all the login info and editing tips in document afterward. Great experience. I’d definitely recommend her.
As for the website format, I researched a lot of author websites and noted what I liked.
How many rejections did you receive before you got that YES? And how did you stay positive?
86 agent rejections. 16 editor rejections and 1 R&R. It comes down to motivation and perseverance. Why do you want it? Will you do what it takes? I wanted it enough. I wanted to share my dad and his hope with the world.
I’m also really busy. I’m a single mom with three kids (that I share 50/50). I have a day job. So I don’t have a lot of time to dwell on rejection for very long. My life forces me to do other things.
Where is the best place to promote your books? What works? What hasn’t?
For middle-grade, it’s all about school visits. I know I’m pretty new (my book came out in March 2023), but I’m pretty connected to the author community, so I volunteered a lot of my time over the years before Miracle was published. Library writing workshops and talks, Read Across America, World Read Aloud Day, creative writing club help, leading author meetups.
And as always, if you'd like to be interviewed, reach out.
When I first started writing, I didn't write Asian-American characters because I read a lot of books, especially as a kid, that didn't have Asian-American characters. I was a HUGE reader. But after I started writing, I read Grace Lin's Year of the Dog, and it resonated so much.
It opened my eyes and my heart!
Grace's experiences and mine are similar: growing up in a mostly-Caucasian community and trying to reconcile the Taiwanese part of me with the American part. I realized I could write about my experiences, too! I could infuse my characters with that strange balance of being Taiwanese and growing up in America. Once I started writing Taiwanese/Asian-American characters, I felt so joyful. I'm so happy I'm able to put a part of me into each book.
As for finding an agent, I was able to find mine (Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Agency) eventually through #DVPit, which spotlights writers with diverse backgrounds. I don't know if it was "easier" to be a diverse writer because it was still a struggle to find an agent. My debut, Miracle, is "quiet" and more serious in theme than some of the catchier, fun MG titles. Before getting an agent, I was a mentee in Pitch Wars (a mentorship program) with Miracle. I revised it with my mentors and revised more after the agents from the Pitch Wars showcase told me my book was too sad and had pacing issues. By the end, Miracle had 86 rejections before my agent said, "Yes." 86 feels about average as a writer--diverse or not--querying for agent representation.
I will always promote Own Voices and Diverse Books! I watch my daughter reading books with characters who look like her and/or have similar backgrounds, and it makes me so happy. She shows me parts where the characters do things like us or think like us. It's really heart-warming to see her able to relate to books in a deeper way. I also love that diverse books gives another point of view, which helps readers become sympathetic to real-life people. I hope that diverse books help readers become kinder people themselves.
I did not see a lot of Asian-American characters in books when I was young. (Mind you, this was in the 80s-90s.) So when I read Grace Lin’s Year of the Dog, I absolutely loved it, and had the realization that I could write about my own life. That’s when I started to write Taiwanese-American characters.
What do you think of the publishing industry right now? What’s good? Bad? Beautiful and/or ugly?
It’s slow right now! I see movement in more diverse book contracts. So my outlook is hopeful.
How can readers and other writers help support your writing journey?
Word-of-mouth recommendations are huge!
Social media posts. Buying the book in your indie bookstore. Checking the book out at the library. Inviting me for school visits and book club talks.
If I gave you a megaphone and the whole world would listen: What one sentence would you shout?
If I gave you a megaphone and the whole world would listen: What one sentence would you shout?
Find joy and be kind!
Who is your biggest cheerleader, and how has she/he helped you?
I have a team of people who cheer me on: my critique group, the Charglings (because we have chargers, not pens), Mary E. Lambert, GF Miller, and Traci Avalos; my author friends from Pitch Wars, Amanda Rawson Hill, Cindy Baldwin, and Remy Lai; and of course, my family.
I am definitely a band geek! I played flute, piccolo, and xylophone/bells in band. I played piano from age 5 all the way up to now (although, I stopped lessons after high school). I love all music. I have a fondness for musicals. When I’m writing, I sometimes play familiar Disney movies in the background.
How has music influenced your writing style?
It definitely did for Miracle, since it’s all about music. The style is more lyrical, and I read sentences aloud to make sure they flow in a certain way.
Pitch Wars was a great experience. It was hard but worth every minute. I entered because one of my critique partners had heard about it on Twitter, and I thought it sounded amazing (authors mentoring aspiring authors for a 2-month intensive on one manuscript with an agent showcase at the end, yes, please). At that point, I was ready to try to be published. I was eager to learn, eager to edit, eager to try to find an agent. During Pitch Wars, I learned how to edit on a grand scale. I learned how to plot better (although I still struggle with this). I also learned that I could revise in a short amount of time! That confidence has helped me meet deadlines and write and edit more books.
I entered #DVPit based on the advice of my Pitch Wars mentors Amanda Rawson Hill and Cindy Baldwin. Cindy had gotten her agent through #DVPit, and she thought my book was a good fit to find an agent through this route. She was right!
Advice for writers querying agents: perseverance!
Sometimes it takes a long time.
Keep writing, keep revising.
Lol, I never thought of myself as “award-winning”. I’m a part of SCBWI, and they have scholarships. I decided to enter the Out of the Margins Scholarship on a whim, so winning was quite a surprise! It’s made me feel less like an imposter. But mostly, it’s connected me to more people, which has been priceless.
You are traditionally published, but the industry is changing with the emerging AI writers - do you think traditional publishing routes are going to become history?
You are traditionally published, but the industry is changing with the emerging AI writers - do you think traditional publishing routes are going to become history?
I have no exposure to AI writers, so I can’t form an opinion about AI books. I hope traditional publishing doesn’t go away because I love doing what I do.
You live in Arizona with your family - what do you do for fun? For exercise? For a break from writing?
A while ago, an author told me that if writing is your hobby and it becomes your job, you have to replace the hobby with something else to stay sane. My something else is hiking. I LOVE hiking. In Arizona, eight months of the year are pleasant enough for hiking, and there are mountains all around the valley. Two of my kids love hiking, too, and we drag the third one along. I also love going to new bubble tea places, that’s another “hobby.”
What odd or funny things are on your writing desk? Example: I have a tiny singing bowl that I love to ding between chapters.
What odd or funny things are on your writing desk? Example: I have a tiny singing bowl that I love to ding between chapters.
That is so cute! I have a time-turner shaped clock on my desk (from Harry Potter). And a list of first names from each of my kids’ kindergarten classes on the bulletin board (for names to use in my writing).
What’s the funniest thing a kid has said or asked you about your books or characters?
What’s the funniest thing a kid has said or asked you about your books or characters?
I had a question about how to say “ice cream” in Mandarin, which is bing-chi-ling, and the students went into an uproar. I have no idea why. They also ask me why Amie plays the violin, and I don’t have a good answer for that: just that she came into my head playing the violin.
Why were you the perfect person to write your novels? Where are you in them?
Why were you the perfect person to write your novels? Where are you in them?
Good question! I think my background influences Amie’s journey. My dad passed away when I was young (not as young as Amie), and her Taiwanese-American-ness is similar to mine. She has other aspects of me in her: we both love the Harry Potter series, we’re both Slytherins, we both love music. I’m also in Amie’s mom, in the way that she deals with her emotions; I tend to shove them away and concentrate on what I can control.
Your main character in Miracle loses her father and her ability to play music - how did you weave the emotions of playing music and experiencing death into a beautiful story of healing?
Actually, the book used to be less hopeful. My editor suggested a change in theme that focused on Amie’s healing and her relationships with her mom and friends. I kept the emotion, but the trajectory of the story changed. And now that it’s written, I really like the direction my editor suggested! It feels more organic and true to life: your family and friends are the ones who are here for you.
LOL. Anywhere, really. Most of the time, the main character comes to me with a line or an idea. And then I build the story around that character.
If you could go back to your younger self - what advice would you give her about writing and the journey to publication?
Lots of things! Not to take feedback so personally. Be patient, especially with finding an agent (I self-published over 15 years ago because I didn’t find an agent within one month, which is not a lot of time). Read books on plot and character. Take advantage of all the free time and write!
Why do you write?
Why do you write?
I enjoy it. I love drafting and putting together words. I love when characters come alive. It’s also very therapeutic.
The cover of Miracle is intriguing - I keep staring at it and wishing I could hear the music. What song is she playing? Did you get to help choose the cover?
The cover of Miracle is intriguing - I keep staring at it and wishing I could hear the music. What song is she playing? Did you get to help choose the cover?
Oh thank you! I love the cover, too. It’s so representative of the book! The melding of the colors and the bright hope behind Amie. It’s by artist Olga Lee. I don’t know what Amie’s playing…maybe “Rivers”, maybe “Simple Gifts”. Whatever it is, she’s immersed. I did not get to choose the cover. My publisher hired Olga Lee and directed her artistically. I had input on the length of Amie’s hair, and I also made a correction to her arm positions. But that was it.
What one word describes you?
Hmmm…joyful.
Why do you think we humans alienate friends and family when we go through traumas - like the death of a parent? And what do you think is the healthy way to move through these intense emotions?
Alienating friends and family is the natural reaction. I think we try to shut down to mute the pain. And shutting down usually means shutting people out because they are reminders of the pain. I think the healthier way to deal is to talk about it. But it takes time and practice to be able to do that.
How did you know your agent was the one for you? Any tips for new writers trying to find an agent?
I was lucky I was in Pitch Wars with mentors who told me what an agent’s history was and equipped me with the right questions to ask. I think talking with agents on the phone is helpful in figuring out their style of agenting. My agent is very professional and straight-to-the-point—I mean, most of our calls are 15 minutes or less—which is awesome (especially for me, as an engineer). So my agent relationship works for me, but might not for someone else.
As for tips on finding an agent, hmmm.
As for tips on finding an agent, hmmm.
1. Make sure the book is polished. (And revise if you receive similar feedback from more than one agent.)
2. Make sure to revise that query letter! I think all of my agented friends have SEVERAL drafts—like over a dozen versions—of their successful query letter.
3. Make sure to research the agent to see if they want your type of novel. And there are schmagents out there, so be careful. Ask author friends about that agent, and ask the agent a lot of questions if you get a chance to schedule a call. (http://www.totheshelves.com/preparing-call-ace-agent-interviews/)
What are you reading right now? Who is your favorite author, and why?
I’m currently reading Lei and the Fire Goddess by my fellow MGin23 debut author Malia Maunakea.
Favorite author is TOO HARD! Instead, I’ll name some books that changed and influenced my writing: The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin, The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak, This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
I wrote Miracle during National Novel Writing Month. So, I had the anonymous support of thousands of other writers fueling the frenzy to write. Normally, I write much slower, but I’ve used both NaNoWriMo and Camp Nano as motivation to write and to revise. As for plot, I used the three-act structure (and later, my editor’s revision notes), but I’ve transitioned to the Save the Cat template since then, which is working for me. I’ve also learned to embrace the pre-writing synopsis, and that has helped to minimize huge rewrites. But I’m a plotter, so it makes sense for me.
I’m in a critique group, the Charglings, and we meet every 2-3 weeks. We submit material (up to 20 pages) before we meet and discuss our comments in person. It’s a great motivator to get something written before a meetup. I was in other critique groups, but this one has worked best for me. We have members who have published more than one book and members who aren’t agented. It’s nice to be in the middle.
For newbie writers: Keep writing! I wrote for 17 years, experimenting with all sorts of styles and voices and genres before I wrote Miracle. (I realize that’s longer than most writers, but for me, it’s what I needed to develop my writing.) And now I really like my style.
Developing your voice takes time.
And keep reading in your genre! You’ll start to recognize what the author is trying to do and hone your own craft.
Who are the characters in your book based on?
Who are the characters in your book based on?
Each of the characters in Miracle have a little bit of me in them. Amie’s quietness was me in elementary school. Her mom is me now (and somewhat my mom, too). Her BFF Bella is my outgoing part (and somewhat my younger sister) and Rio is my musical part. Mr. Hua, Baba’s BFF, is based my dad’s friend Hank Huang. Baba is basically my dad.
How did you overcome doubt in yourself as a writer and push through to getting published?
So after writing and being in critique groups for over 20 years, it helps you develop a filter. You learn to recognize people who are helping you and who are trying to tear you down. And then, you listen to and trust the ones who are trying to help. You learn to separate the criticism from your person. They’re not saying you’re a bad writer. They’re saying something in your writing didn’t work for them. That’s fixable!
As for pushing through, I guess it comes down to motivation. How much are you willing to do to reach the goal? I wanted to be published, so I kept going. Sit with the rejection because rejection sucks, but then take the parts you can control and do something about it. (It’s like learning a new skill. You always pick yourself up and keep going, if you’re motivated to learn.)
As for pushing through, I guess it comes down to motivation. How much are you willing to do to reach the goal? I wanted to be published, so I kept going. Sit with the rejection because rejection sucks, but then take the parts you can control and do something about it. (It’s like learning a new skill. You always pick yourself up and keep going, if you’re motivated to learn.)
What was it like working with an editor, and how does that look once the agent sells your book to a publishing house?
Miracle was in a different format than it is now, so when my agent subbed to publishers, my editor gave me an R&R (revise and resubmit) with an edit letter. She wanted a different timeline and different themes. I had gotten 16 other editor rejections, so I decided to do the R&R (plus, there’d been a lot of distance from the book at the time, and I wasn’t as attached to it as before). I rewrote the whole thing (not under contract). After my editor read the R&R, she made an offer.
After that, it was a waiting game because my editor is BUSY, plus the pandemic, and she moved her imprint to another publishing group. So, it was quite some time before I got 2nd developmental edits. I had a 5-week deadline for those edits. Then, 2-3 weeks for line edits. After that, things moved quickly: acceptance, copy edits, pass pages, 2nd pass pages.
I have a few events scheduled (and more to come). Up-to-date info is on my Instagram @kchowrites or on my website www.kchowrites.com.
Meet the Author Events:
September 23, 1:30-3:30pm, book signing at Barnes & Noble Chandler, AZ
September 23, 1:30-3:30pm, book signing at Barnes & Noble Chandler, AZ
October 4, 4-5pm, author talk at Oro Valley Public Library in Oro Valley, AZ
October 16, 10:30-11:30am, writing workshop at Himmel Public Library in Tucson, AZ
October 28, 10:30-11:30am, writing workshop at South Mandarin Public Library in Jacksonville, FL
November 11, 1-3pm, book signing at Barnes & Noble Dana Park in Mesa, AZ
I’m also scheduling school visits, so hop onto my website to contact me!
Your website is awesome. Did you create it, or did you have someone do it? What was that experience like?
I’m also scheduling school visits, so hop onto my website to contact me!
Your website is awesome. Did you create it, or did you have someone do it? What was that experience like?
Thank you! Websy Daisy designed it. I was probably a nightmare client because I didn’t quite know what I wanted and was super picky. Jenny did a brilliant job. She sends a questionnaire ahead of time and has you compile all your ideas and pages into a Dropbox that you do before she designs. Then, she spends one week on the design. The first two days are figuring out the aesthetic, home page, and one of the other pages. The rest of the week, she’s designing the rest of the pages. The last days, she sent the full website for review, and we made tweaks. It’s Wordpress-based, so she gives all the login info and editing tips in document afterward. Great experience. I’d definitely recommend her.
As for the website format, I researched a lot of author websites and noted what I liked.
How many rejections did you receive before you got that YES? And how did you stay positive?
86 agent rejections. 16 editor rejections and 1 R&R. It comes down to motivation and perseverance. Why do you want it? Will you do what it takes? I wanted it enough. I wanted to share my dad and his hope with the world.
I’m also really busy. I’m a single mom with three kids (that I share 50/50). I have a day job. So I don’t have a lot of time to dwell on rejection for very long. My life forces me to do other things.
Where is the best place to promote your books? What works? What hasn’t?
For middle-grade, it’s all about school visits. I know I’m pretty new (my book came out in March 2023), but I’m pretty connected to the author community, so I volunteered a lot of my time over the years before Miracle was published. Library writing workshops and talks, Read Across America, World Read Aloud Day, creative writing club help, leading author meetups.
And after publication, bookstore signings in person, author panels online, blog interviews, social media, and all of the above. I will say that going into your local bookstores and talking with the salespeople works well. They can look up your book in their system and order copies right there (esp. at B&N). If you’re talking about maximum connections with readers (and sales), it’s the school visits.
You have tips for writers and resources on your website - do you help new writers? Do you teach or critique?
You have tips for writers and resources on your website - do you help new writers? Do you teach or critique?
Yes to all! I don’t do as much anymore because four jobs (engineering, writing, momming, and book promo) are A LOT. But I help and read/critique and teach when I can. I enjoy helping new writers.
What is the one question no one has asked you and you want to answer for yourself?
What’s your favorite food? Answer: dumplings.
________________________
Awesome, Karen!
I am so honored to have you on the blog. Thanks for sharing so much great information for newbie writers and those of us on the path toward publication. You rock!
And as busy as you are, you have carved out a fabulous writing life for yourself - bravo!
Keep going! And let's all help Karen continue on her writing journey with our support.
If you'd like to reach out to here please visit:
Karen on Instagram @ Kchowrites
Karen's Website
Karen on Facebook @ Kchowrites
____________________________________
angazur @ gmail. com
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Great interview. Love your perseverance. I'm a 20+ year writer too. :)
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