MUSE MONDAY
It's always fun to find out how an author's writing evolves. Karina has an interesting journey for Muse Monday on Discover...
Once
I made the commitment to put pen to paper, so to speak, my mentality changed a
bit. While I still wanted to strike a genuine tone, I was afraid to make my
stories very true to my own life. Though I love my home and familiar stomping
grounds in Ohio, I never wanted to base a story here. I thought that, if I did
so, readers wouldn’t be able to separate me from the tale, especially if they
knew me personally. Plus, I wanted to show off my imagination, and I feared
that I couldn't do that if I took advantage of the places in my everyday world.
When
it came to characters, I had somewhat of the same mindset. Apart from a few
special people I wanted to honor in my work, I didn’t want all of my characters
to resemble someone from my life. Along with the same reasonings I had about
the location, I also worried over upsetting people or making readers compare
the characters to the people who inspired them. Since I write fiction, I didn’t
want them to believe that everything I wrote about the characters happened in
the individual’s real life.
Little
by little, however, my approach pivoted back to the old adage, “Write what you
know.” Why? I saw the way readers responded to the characters that were based
off of real people. One of them was Mabel, a dear family friend I considered a
grandmother. I put her as a secondary character in my second novel, Forgetting
My Way Back to You, and my writing coach absolutely loved her from the
first draft onward. Eventually, that led to a prequel about her, Wrong Line,
Right Connection. Though I did have to clear up some curiosities about what
was true and what was fiction, a lot of the readers who were acquainted with
the real woman savored the opportunity to envision her in the plot.
Over
the years, I’ve grown to realize that your bond with a character resonates with
readers. In many cases, you can develop
that over time even with a completely fictitious character. When they are
inspired by somebody you have a personal relationship with, however, it can
give that extra spark to the character. You’re familiar with their habits and
personality, and when you implement those features, it doesn’t mean you’re
putting your imagination on cruise control. Rather, you can use your
imagination to convey such in a way that fosters a bond between readers and
characters similar to the one you have with the individual behind them.
My
upcoming release, A Craving for Chaos, is the most true-to-life portrayal
of people in my circle that I’ve crafted to date. My uncle and aunt were my
muses for the protagonists, with their dynamic personalities providing all
kinds of material to use! From their common expressions to fun family
anecdotes, I stirred in many dollops of reality. Need I worry about them shying
away from the spotlight? Nah. My uncle’s favorite phrase through this whole
experience has been, “Put that in your book!”
Yes, I’ve evolved a great deal from when I resisted to “write what I know.” I still haven’t set a plot in Ohio, but I wouldn’t rule it out in the future. All the same, I continue to use discretion with the approach, not basing every single character off of a person in my life and only using those who would be honored by a fictional counterpart rather than uncomfortable with it. When you find the right balance, readers can escape and lose themselves in the storyline, at the same time as enjoying that seasoning of authentic flavor you can provide through “writing what you know.”
The
retired detective and his wife retreat to Florida as snowbirds, but the
resurgence of Griffin’s final case thrusts Griffin back into the investigation
he thought he escaped. His once-trusted informant, accused of murder, appeals
to him for help after evidence surfaces that can exonerate him.
Too
connected to the investigation, Griffin teams up with bounty hunter Robin
Parker to unravel the cover-up that left him with a bitter aftertaste. As they follow
the breadcrumbs in search of the truth, can they put the icing on top of this
complex case? Or will their differences create a recipe for disaster?
Karina
Bartow hails from Northern Ohio. Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never
allowed her disability to define her. Rather, she’s used her experiences to
breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are
determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want. Her works include
a mix of mysteries
and love stories. She may only be able to type with
one hand, but she writes with her whole heart!
To learn more, visit www.KarinaBartow.com
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