Interview with Author Karen Metcalf and International Contest!

Today I am welcoming Karen Metcalf, as part of her Blogger tour for her debut, In the Storm. 

GC: When did the idea for In The Storm first come to you? What idea first sparked your interest?

KM: The very first thought hit me while lying in bed, listening to an awesome thunderstorm one night. I thought of Mitchell first, and that someone would be comforting him during a similar storm. The next morning I wrote what ended up being the first chapter.

GC:What did your planning look like? Did things ever get confusing when you were attempting to explain certain aspects- such as the continual branches of the life tree?

KM: Much to all of my English teachers’ dismay, I am not a planner. I hate brainstorming. The most I do was jot down a few ideas, though in no particular order. For the most part, the story developed in my head at exactly the same pace as in the book. The single thing that was planned was Mitchell’s fate.

I didn’t get too confused writing the crazier parts, though I was worried about how it would come across on paper. I broke the rule of never letting people read your writing too early, and sent a few chapters at a time to select friends and family. When I knew I hadn’t lost anyone, I just kept writing.

GC: How long did it take you to write In The Storm, from first thought to final draft?

KM:The first half or so was written over Christmas break of my Senior year in Undergrad. I sort of lost my flow when I visited my family, but most of them read what I had written. They demanded that I finish it, so not long after returning home, I did.

GC: What personal experiences, if any, did you draw from to write In the Storm?

KM: Gratefully, none of the horrible things that happened to Carly have happened to me. Unfortunately, none of the awesome stuff did, either. However, I had pretty serious anger management problems as a kid, and I can still remember what it was like when the anger took over. I drew from that. I also have a deep passion for thunderstorms, which is why Carly does.

GC: What is next for you as an author? 

KM: I don’t want to say too much yet, but I am starting on a separate piece. It will be in the same genre, and most likely longer. You will be one of the first to know!

Interested in winning a digital copy of In the Storm? All you have to do is leave a comment with your follower name, your e-mail address and as a bonus my International followers may enter, too! Hooray! You could be 1 of 3 WINNERS!