Lyn Interviews Author Karen Kirst
I would have liked to show a photo of Karen Kirst here but none of the photos would “stick.” Here’s the link to Karen’s Website and her photo! http://www.karenkirst.com/about.html
BE SURE TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A BOOK! Here’s the interview with Karen:
Talk a little about your writing and real life.
I’m currently in the middle of my first series, Smoky Mountain Matches, which revolves around
the O’Malley family and is set in 1880’s East Tennessee. I live about forty-five minutes from
Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, so setting the series here was a natural
choice. When I’m not writing, I’m homeschooling my three boys, spending time with family
and friends, or planning my next tea party. I love books, café mochas, and tea rooms.
Was there a time in your life God challenged you to become stronger?
Early in my marriage, I had an ectopic pregnancy that resulted in emergency surgery and
ultimately, a miscarriage. I was told that because it wasn’t caught early enough, that my
chances of getting pregnant again were reduced. Although I already had a two-year-old son,
the loss crushed me. While my life had been far from perfect up until that point, losing a child
was the hardest thing I’d ever had to deal with. It made me question my faith. Question God.
Doubts poured in…maybe God doesn’t think I’m a good mother. Maybe He doesn’t want me to
have more kids. I struggled with anger and sadness. Then the day came when I took part in my
first Beth Moore Bible study and, as a result, my relationship with God deepened. He helped me
work through my grief. I learned that God knows best. The loss of that child forced me to trust
His plan, even when I didn’t agree or like that plan. Two years after the miscarriage, I became
pregnant with my second son. My husband and I were overjoyed. And almost two years after he
was born, we welcomed our third son. We are blessed.
What is special about your most recent book, The Husband Hunt?
This book is special to me because it portrays two friends/neighbors who fall in love. The
friends-to-romance story theme is one of my favorites. Something about the journey from
friendship to love fascinates me, so I set out to portray that with Nathan and Sophie. Tomboy
Sophie is strong-minded and independent, but she’s also impulsive. Nathan has had to rescue
her countless times. Because he’s naturally cautious, he disapproves of her antics. He wants her
to act like a lady. Mid-way through the book, Sophie reluctantly submits to a makeover in order
to snag a husband, something she’s forced to do in order to save her farm and keep her younger brother with her. Nathan’s reaction was fun to explore.”–Karen
To purchase, click cover.
Wanted: A Husband
Sophie Tanner gave up hoping for Nathan O’Malley’s approval—and love—long ago.
Getting married is the only way to protect her younger brother and keep her family’s Smoky
Mountain farm. As much as she’d like Nathan to be the groom, he can’t seem to get past their
friendship…or their differences.
Since they were children, Nathan has known Sophie was too impulsive, too headstrong. She’s
forever rushing into situations without thinking them through, like this scheme to snare a
husband in under a month. Nathan always thought he’d fall in love with someone like himself—
sensible, cautious, levelheaded. Sophie is his polar opposite. So why can’t he picture anyone else at his side?
Smoky Mountain Matches: Dreams of home and family come true in the Smoky Mountains
Website: www.karenkirst.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenKirst.author
Twitter: @KarenKirst
Thanks for being my guest, Karen. And I wish you many more books!
To have your name entered into the drawing for a copy fo THE HUSBAND HUNT, here’s the
QUESTION: Do you think that opposites attract? Did you marry someone opposite you?–Lyn
