Featured Author Karen Bedore

Featured Interview With Karen Bedore

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a band director, wife, mother of a 3-year old, and a coffee-a-holic that loves running. I grew up in Chicago and now reside in the ‘burbs(!) with my family and two pups. I love Doctor Who, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Gladiator, and…Bubble Guppies (thanks to my son). “The Bard” is my first complete published novel, but definitely not the last!

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always loved books, since the time my mom would read to me as a baby—I can’t remember ever NOT reading! I love to get inside the character’s heads and use my imagination to bring myself to their world. Still to this day I cannot end my day without reading something.

The “Choose Your Own Adventure” books hooked me in the 80’s as far as writing goes. I remember starting out by writing a St. Patrick’s Day play for my 4th grade class, and then a few short stories. Then in junior high I started poetry as well. I can’t even begin to tell you how many stories that I had written over the years, most of which have gone unfinished because I had gotten bored with them. Something…was missing. “The Bard,” however, is the first one that I truly fell in love with and want to keep the story alive—hence, the trilogy idea. I have also written numerous concert band works (for local bands at all levels) and a full-length country/folk album called “Shades of Autumn.” Writing for me—regardless of the form–is how I communicate best.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
David Baldacci, Steve Berry, Umberto Eco, and James Patterson have been some of my favorites in recent years to both read and become inspired by. Historical Fiction is my all-time favorite genre to read, but I also love most other genres as well.

Tell us a little about your latest book?
“The Bard” is part of a (soon-to-be-) trilogy. I am a musician and a hopeless romantic that loves mystery and suspense, with a fancy for Renaissance Italy. So… it was only fitting that amongst the suspense and mystery, my heroine falls in love with a hopeless romantic musician—in Renaissance Italy, of course.

“The Bard” was started as a fun NaNoWRiMo banter amongst some people to see how many words I could get for the NaNo of 2014. While I made it to around the 35K mark (which to ME I thought was pretty impressive!) I did not reach the 50K goal. I DID, however, have so much passion into what I was writing, that I did not stop–and thus, the first of the trilogy was born by the end of December. By the time all the editing and stuff was finished, the e-book became available in April, and the paperback in May of this year (2015). Oh, and yes…it’s definitely over 50K! 🙂

I love all of my characters—I can feel their passion, their anxiety, and I have even gotten mad at them for some of the stupid decisions they made. I don’t write by an outline, because I don’t want to feel trapped. My characters have developed on their own with their own unique personalities, and “The Bard” ended up taking a much different route than I had originally anticipated. I do jot down ideas when I get them, however, and if I know of certain events taking place sequentially, I actually figure out approximate days and times so it is realistic.

If I had to pick a “favorite” character, I would have to say Lord William Gordon. He’s hot, he’s romantic, and he’s strong without being afraid to show some vulnerability. (Remember I said I’m a hopeless romantic?)

Here is the blurb for “The Bard:”

After losing her mother and fiancé, Alcinia and her father travel west to Turin in the Duchy of Savoy to begin a new life. Getting adjusted to a new way of living in Renaissance Italy, Alcinia falls in love with a mysterious bard, and through their secret rendezvous is beginning to find happiness once again. Until…she finds out that her small-town father isn’t who she thought he was. Alcinia gets caught in a web of intrigue, and sets out to save her father from a scientific organization bent on using a biological weapon to destroy all men of the cloth. Her father’s life might be the only way to stop it… When she discovers the truth, it will change her life forever, for better and for worse.

Without giving TOO much away, here is a short excerpt:

…a few moments later, another man appeared. He was dressed simply unlike the gaudy clothing of the man playing before him, which made his striking physique all the more visible. He was not a large man, but it was obvious that he was strong and did not indulge in too much drinking or dining. His dark hair was kept short under his cap, and he moved quite gracefully as he took his seat. The thing that threw her off-guard was that they could not see his face—most of it was concealed by a dark mask that covered his eyes and nose. It gave him a mysterious appearance which made it all the more attractive. Alcinia now knew what Cassia meant.

Cassia saw her gawking and said, “Oh, you just wait, honey, he hasn’t even started playing yet. His voice will melt your insides like butter.”

Sure enough, that was the case. He was a bard, telling stories through song, never speaking without singing. Alcinia could tell that he put forth plenty of personal emotion into his music, and she was captivated.

“So? Was I right?” Cassia nudged her arm.

“Oh, yes and then some!” Alcinia said. She could listen to him sing all night if he would. “What is his name?”

“No one knows. He simply calls himself ‘The Bard.’ Rumor has it that he shows up, performs, and leaves without ever speaking to anyone. He is as mysterious as he looks. Perhaps I have even seen him in town and never even knew it!”

Alcinia and Cassia fell silent, watching and listening, falling captive to the music. Then, just for a moment, the Bard’s eyes set upon Alcinia and lingered—just a little longer than one tends to do. As their eyes met, Alcinia’s heart seemed to stop beating as she felt the warmth creeping up her neck.

“He’s got his eye on you,” Cassia leaned over and whispered to Alcinia.

“Nonsense,” she replied, “I’m sure it was just a trick of the shadows.”

“You tell yourself that,” Cassia said, “I’ve been around long enough to tell when a man fancies a lady. That’s one of those looks. Tell you what. You come back a few more times and see if it happens again. Then you can tell me it was a trick of the shadows and I’ll believe it.” She smiled.

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Karen Bedore’s Website

Karen Bedore Facebook Page