Spotlight on... Karlene Blakemore-Mowle

Today I'm happy to have fellow Wild Rose Press author Karlene Blakemore-Mowle on my blog. Welcome Karlene, will you please share with us a quick bio?

I live on the beautiful Mid North Coast of NSW in Australia. A certified small town girl, I’m most happy in a little town where everyone knows who your Grand Parents were. I’m a wife and mother of four children, working part time as a pathology collector by day, squeezing in writing whenever and however I can.


Your first book, FALLOUT, was released in February. Tell us about it and where we can find it.

Fallout is a story about a Detective, Tully Chambers who is on the run from the mob and her next door neighbour, the sexy ex military man Jake Holden who is determined to figure out Tully and her mysterious past.

It’s available from The Wild Rose Press now.

Here’s a blurb…

Risking their lives for others is second nature, but can they trust each other enough to risk their hearts? Tully Chambers is no damsel in distress. An up and coming detective, she had her sights set on promotion until the day her partner was murdered and she ended up on the run from the mob.

Jake Holden has demons of his own. Having served his country for over twenty years, he’s found himself wounded, alone, and without a plan for his future. What starts as a simple diversion--trying to figure out the feisty little waitress next door—turns out to be his most dangerous mission yet.

From the tropics of Far North Queensland to the rugged isolation of the Northern Territory in Australia, two modern-day warriors discover their greatest fear isn’t that of a madman’s revenge–but of laying their hearts on the line for love.

read an excerpt

Describe your writing in three words.

Action…Adventure…Passion


Why did you choose your genre?

I love a romance with a bit of action- even better if it has a military man or two in it.


What do you find is the hardest part of writing a book?


Initially, I find it’s the whole process of mapping out your characters and who’s who. Although I try hard to plot out my story-- being impatient-- I tend to just dive in and start writing and I often find myself reaching the half-way point with no clue as to where the story is going to go! I try hard to make myself muddle out a plan, but it just never seems to quite work out! I wish I was more of a plotter and planner, it would make life a lot more organized!

What writers have influenced you the most?

I love the Cross Stitch series of Diana Gabaldon- Jamie is the hero of all hero’s to me. I have a wide reading range. I love everything from military thrillers like Chris Ryan, and Andy McNab write, to action thrillers that Matthew Reilly does so well. These type of stories were great, but written from a male perspective if there was any romantic elements they were only lightly touched on and more time seemed to go into the nitty-gritty weapons description and I tended to skip those bits and get on with the story. This was were my desire to write romantic suspense stemmed from. I wanted the action and the military men- but with less attention on the technical aspects and weapons and more focus on the characters and the romance.


I also read a lot of Australian rural romance and mainstream fiction. Like I said- I have a wide variety of reading tastes and I think all of these contribute to my writing style in some shape or form.


What are you passionate about?


My writing- I can talk for hours about it…it’s just finding anyone bored enough to sit and listen to me talking about my writing that is hard to find!! I’m also passionate about Australia. I tend to base a lot of my writing in Australian locations. We have such an abundance of beautiful places. I love to show case them when ever possible.

Do you have a favorite character or one that you identify most with?


I think my favourite characters would have to be Tate Maddox and Summer Sheldon, who feature in my next book due to come out later in the year. I first wrote their story about ten years ago and it has undergone a lot of changes, but I always hate reaching the end of the book and it’s a real tug to let them go. Maybe it’s just that they have been through so much with me over the last ten years, or that I know them so well with so many rewrites! What ever the reason, I can’t wait to finally hold that book in my hands!!!! It’s been a labour of love all the way.


But I think as a writer, you love all your characters. You put so much time, effort and sometimes tears into creating them, that there’s a little part of yourself in each one of them.


What's next for you?


Well as I mentioned I have Operation: Summer Storm coming out sometime this year, and another book due out sometime in July- date yet to be set, and this one is a little different. The Cattleman’s Runaway Bride is an Australian Rural Romance, not my usual Romantic Suspense, but a story I really enjoyed writing and hope to do more of.


Where can we find you on the web?


I have a blog at http://karlybm.blogspot.com/ where I have character interviews up for Tully and Jake as well as all the latest news on my latest releases. I also have a web page with more info on my life and the area I live in for anyone who is interested at http://www.karlybm.webs.com/.


I would love to hear from you and would like to thank Sarah, so much for having me here.

Thank you, Karly.