Interview: Karen Metcalf

About Karen

Tell us (the readers) a little about yourself and how you started writing?

I’ve always loved to write. I was big on poetry when I was younger, and had a few published in anthologies. As I grew older I dabbled in short stories, but nothing big.  In the Storm was my first attempt at real writing.

Who are some of your favorite authors? Favorite Genres?

I love horror and sci-fi, which of course means Stephen King. I’ve been reading him for as long as I can remember. I fell in love with Richard Matheson’s I am Legend when I was thirteen, and it is easily the book I reread most often. I also really enjoyed Joe Haldeman’s The Forever War.

What is you favorite thing about writing or being a writer?

I think I started to write because it was so cathartic. Then I realized I could make other people cry, and I think that was my goal for a long time. Now it is about creating a journey and dragging the reader with me. I want a reader to walk away with just a few of my words stuck in their head, or a new idea. As a reader there is nothing better than a book that stays with you, and that is my goal as a writer.

About the Book

One of my favorite things about the book is the concept of the storm world and your explanation of deja vu ( which I tend to get alot) ... is there any part of you that really believes that it can be true?

I guess I believe it could be possible. I was a very imaginative child, and like to think just about anything could happen. I certainly don’t think we’ve got it all figured out.

Also, I loved Carly! She is one of the strongest female protagonist I have ever read about. Is she based on you or someone you know?

Thank you! Parts of Carly are based on me as a child, like her anger. But I really wanted to create a strong character; I don’t very much like whiney protagonists who just sit idly and let the world screw them over.  And we don’t always get handed the world on a silver platter. Though we can’t always change things I believe we should at least try.

Is there any chance in the future there will be a sequel?? I would love to here more about the storm world and how it came to be... Also some more Carly Morgan wouldn't be a bad thing either =)

I haven’t taken that off the table, but I am working on a separate piece right now.  I don’t yet know what the future holds for Carly and Morgan, but am just as excited to find out!

So Whats next??

I don’t want to say too much about my next project
just yet but it will be in the same genre and longer.

Thanks for telling us a more about yourself and how In the Storm came to be, I really hope to see more from you in the future!

            Thanks so much for the wonderful interview!

Enter the Giveaway for In the Storm Here

Review: In the Storm

Book: In the Storm
Author: Karen Metcalf
Publisher: Vagabondage Press
Release Date: February 15, 2011
Pages: 88
Source: Author... Thanks Karen!
Date Read: March 19, 2011

Summary:

Abandoned by the world around her, Carly believes she is fated to a life of torment at the hands of her stepfather and is desperate for an escape. When she can bear the abuse no longer and gives in to a thunderous rage, she suddenly finds herself in an unfamiliar, yet beautiful, storm world. This limbo between dimensions appears to be her private sanctuary, but it may just be her purgatory.

No one escapes fate without sacrifice, but is the price more than Carly is willing to pay?

Yani's Analysis:
This is one short story that packs a lot of punch! Karen was nice enough to send me a copy ages ago, but with all these hyped up books coming out recently I didn't get the chance to read it until this weekend. Wow did I miss out. It just goes to show you, never underestimate the little people. Because of this I am actually going to try to do a special each month for smaller publishing companies with great authors such as Karen to get the word out about their books. Now enough babbling and on to my review....

Carly lives with her abusive step-father and adorable little brother. Her stepfather's a "sick fuck," and begins taking out his anger not only on Carly, but her little brother Mitch as well. It all becomes too much for her and she begins "clicking" herself into this other world, a limbo you would say. Throughout the whole story, Carly opens up her soul to the reader. Reading about her life you are at the edge of your seat wondering how can such a young girl suffer this alone.

And the storm world... wow the concept is completely amazing!! I don't want to give anything away so I won't explain more, but if you are a fan of emotional novels and/or Sci-Fi, I think you will love this novella. I only wish that there were more pages so I could learn more about this limbo world, learn more about Carly's past, see more of her future... but I think one of the beautiful things about this story is that you don't need to know her past or future to know that Carly is strong. This is an absolutely perfect read for stormy days (whether the storm is outside or inside doesn't matter, you'll still love it.)

This Thursday I will be posting an interview with Karen herself and a giveaway of  three e-book copies of In the Storm. If you don't win, definitely buy it on Amazon for only $2.99!!   Buy In The Storm

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 5/5