Sunday, December 12, 2010

Tea with Karen Michelle Nutt


Today Toad welcomes author, Karen Michelle Nutt to her corner for a cuppa tea and a bit of chit-chat.

Welcome, Karen!

Tell us about the first genre fiction novel you read that has made a lasting impression on you... and why.

Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink. I read it when I was about nine years old. From page one, I was swept away. Baby Island is the story of two young sisters, Jean and Mary, who were on their way to join their father in Australia, but end up marooned on an island with four babies. How they manage to survive is both fun and charming in this engaging story. It was the first time a book thoroughly captivated me. I couldn’t wait to read another book and enter another world created by an author. My next pick was a paranormal, The Ghost of Dibble Hollow by May Nickerson Wallace and my love for the genre has never waned. I still have these two books on my bookshelf.

Out of all your characters, is there one who is especially dear to you?

I have to choose one? LOL! Okay, it would have to be Dougray from Lost in the Mist of Time. He has a wonderful sense of humor and I love that in a man.

If you could spend a day in his/her company, what would you plan to do?

I would meet Dougray for lunch at the The Long Dock restaurant that overlooks the Cliff of Mohr (Ireland.) I’ll order the fresh quiche and he’ll order the smoked fish. For dessert we’ll have the chocolate and pecan brownies. I’d say we’d share, but Dougray loves his sweets. Heck, what am I saying, so do I. After lunch, we’ll do a little exploring. One can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and the mountains in Conemara. The view is spectacular!

What are of your latest release's outstanding qualities and why should people read this story?

Creighton Manor - The story is a spellbinding time travel voyage, filled with passionate seduction, shocking deceit and grand adventure of discovery.

Where did you have your last holiday and did anything outstanding inspire your writing?

How about a virtual holiday? I came across a site for Bodie, a ghost town in California, and it brought back fond memories of my adventures with my cousin there. We did a little behind-the-scenes exploring. At the time, we didn’t realize we shouldn’t be in those areas. Oops, but what a wonderful time we had. The reminiscing had me thinking about a “steampunk” time travel. It’s a WIP right now.

If you were given three wishes, what would they be?

1. Enough time in the day to write would be wonderful.
2. Someone to clean my house. lol
3. The ability to time travel.

14 comments:

  1. Nerine,

    Thanks for having me here today. Since this interview, I've had a few more releases. lol A short story, Tempest Gate in A Halloween Collection-stimulating. Wanted is in A Christmas Collection-stimulating and the first book in my Fallen Angels series has been released, Eli: Warriors for the Light.

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  2. I just loved your interview Karen. I especially love Ireland, but then again I have family on Beare Island. I haven't gone to Donegal. Have you?

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  3. Hi Susan,

    I've been to Donegal. We toured the castle ruins there. What an impressive castle it must have once been in its time. I hope you don't mind, but here's a tidbit about the family: The O'Donnells were Ulster's second most powerful clan from the 13th to the 17th century. They lost their power during the "Flight of the Earls."

    County Donegal was one of the worst affected parts of Ulster during the Great Famine of the late 1840s and many of the people emigrated to Scotland.

    I haven't been to Beare Island.

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  4. Thanks for that info, Karen. My first boss was an O'Donnell by marriage. Her husband was a bit of a tear-away but definitely quite the go-getter all the way here in South Africa.

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  5. Nice getting to know a bit about you, Karen. Dougray sounds a fascinating character. Don't you love the way we talk about them as if they were real!

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  6. Bianca,

    They are real to us and hopefully to the readers, too. lol

    Thanks so much for coming by, Bianca. Nice to meet you.

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  7. Ooh, I love Ireland, but I've mostly spent time in County Cork and in Dublin. I'd love to see Galway and Connemara.

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  8. Wow Karen, you are so prolific. How do you find the time? I have been to Ireland too, My favourite place was Dublin. Dublin Castle was really something special.

    Regards

    Margaret

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  9. I agree on your wishes. I love to time travel but be able to come back to this time. Don't know that I'd like being stuck in another time.

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  10. My grandfather was born in Ireland, and became a merchant seaman then came to the US. I know I'll visit one day--probably after the kids are grown and we can afford it:)

    Heading over to your site to check out Creighton Manor. Oh, and hurry up with the steampunk story. *snicker* I love steampunk.

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  11. Stephanie,

    Ireland is beautiful. Did you kiss the Blarney Stone when you were in Co. Cork? The Blarney Castles grounds are lovely.

    In Dublin, my brothers and I visit St. Michan's Church and took the tour of the crypt. We were the last tour of the day so the tour guide let us go inside the crypt to touch the hand of one of the mummies believed to have been a Crusader. He told us it was for good luck. Of course, we all filed in to touch the mummy. It wasn't until we sat down for dinner that the ick factor took hold. I had just touched a dead guys hand. I couldn't wash my hands fast enough. lol

    Thanks so much for coming by and saying hello.

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  12. Hi Margaret,

    I wish I had more time. lol I have to say The Blarney Castle was my favorite. Though the whole trip was fantastic!

    Thanks so much for coming by.

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  13. Pasty,

    I'm with you. I'd love to visit, but I want a ticket back home. lol

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  14. Moonsanity,

    Thanks so much for stopping by to visit. You'll love Ireland. I hope you have the chance to visit where you grandfather grew up.

    So you like steampunk... :)

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