Tena StetlerAuthor of Paranormal Romance/Suspense & Cozy Mysteries With Magic Spark!

Jun 6th Interview Sophia Karlson Author of Perfect Mistake

Give a warm welcome to  Sophia Karlson author of Perfect Mistake released today, June 6, 2018. Happy book birthday!

Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Sophia Karlson and her Perfect Mistake.

What inspired this particular story?

Perfect Mistake was inspired by a lot of little things. We lived in Tanzania for a couple of years, and this time, paired with working in the luxury safari industry, got my mind going. When, on one flight with a small aircraft – the DHC in the book – I saw how the two pilots actually had to push the throttle together, hand on hand, I was like…yikes, that’s some awkward handholding for you…and then, hmm, could be kinda hot and really intimate if you have to do that with a colleague you have feelings for. Spark…sizzle and BAMM… book in the making!

 Why did you choose the cover concept you did?

The couple on the cover have this perfect mix of love, intimacy, and hesitation in their bearing. This is a second chance romance, and on the cover it looks as if the man is trying to coax something out of the woman…which he is. He just doesn’t quite know that it is his secret baby! The story centers around poaching of elephant tusks, and therefore the elephants in the front.

Why should we read this book/series and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book/series unique?

One thing that sets me apart must be the location. There aren’t a lot of romances floating around that has East Africa as setting. The theme of conservation and how to conserve wildlife is important to me and I love to create awareness – this is my contribution. Every little helps!

 What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block? Telling myself there is no such thing as writer’s block! I find that if I hit writer’s block, something isn’t quite right in the earlier parts of the book. I used to be a pantser, now I’ve become an outline plotter. I think that helps with writer’s block. Or let’s just say, this theory is going to be put to the test in my next writing attempt.

What inspired you to write? And how long have you been writing.

I’ve wanted to write since I was thirteen and first started reading romances. Ever since I’ve always been writing, it’s a great escape from a boring job. I took my first writing course in 2009, but only got seriously involved in 2013.

Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?

Ha! It took me ages to ‘come out’. I only started telling people when a Canadian friend of mine, who is a life coach, told me she is going to help me come out if I don’t do so myself. Nothing like a bit of pressure!

Do you see yourself in your characters?

I think all writers reveal some of their inner self in their characters. Hopefully we hide it well enough in our books so that those who know us well can’t pick up on it.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books?

I love taking readers on a journey to a place they might never be able to visit. The best gift ever, to me as writer, would be to inspire a reader to travel to a far off destination, just because she’d read one of my books with that location as a setting. I’ve done this myself – I’ve been to Madeira because of a romance I read when I was only fifteen, and made a point of visiting Strassbourg because of Goethe (I studied German literature way back when).

Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?

I’m prone to get into bed and being unable to sleep as characters just start taking over in my head. Sometimes I write things down, but I’ve noticed that what Stephen King said is true: if it is a really good idea you will remember it in the morning.

Okay, you’re casting the movie version of your novel – who would you choose for the main characters? We’re talking dream cast. Richard Armitage would definitely be the lead male. I’d have Charlize Theron for the female lead, she’s South African too! She won’t need to work on her accent J

Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>

Favorite movie: The English Patient
Favorite book: Anything Georgette Heyer
Last book read: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Favorite color: Blue
Stilettos or flipflops: Flipflops
Coffee or tea: Tea
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Ebook
Pencil or pen: pen

Favorite song: Chasing Cars by Snowpatrol

Streak or not: Streak!

Favorite dessert: Ice cream

Favorite junk food: Burger and chips

Favorite thing to do to relax: Read!

Champagne or gin: Both, but not mixed in the same glass 😉

Paranormal or Historical: Historical

Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman

Favorite TV show: Masterchef (UK or Australia!)

Hot or cold: hot

POV: Third person (is this what you are asking 😉

I’d die if I don’t have: Books

Review or Not: Not, but lately more.

Tell us a bit about Perfect Mistake.

Simone Levin had a dream job as a safari pilot until an unexpected pregnancy clipped her wings. Tired of juggling motherhood with her demanding flight schedule, Simone applies for an office job, unaware that her new boss is Carlo Carlevaro, the man who’d ditched her before finding out he’d knocked her up. Carlo returns to East Africa only to kill another fire—Ivory trafficking from his lodges threatens to destroy his company. Finding Simone back on the payroll comes as a pleasant surprise. As his employee, Simone is off-limits, but she is the only one he trusts to help with his undercover investigation. With time running out, Simone and Carlo strive to expose the trafficking ring, but working together rekindles their mutual desire. When Simone is implicated as a trafficker, revealing her daughter’s existence to Carlo seems inevitable. Acting on her instincts might come too late as the syndicate retaliate and hone in their threat. Will they survive to give their love a chance?

How about a sneak peak between the pages of Perfect Mistake?

Simone went to stand next to him. “Why am I here?”

He turned to her. The dark shadows under his eyes were somehow more accentuated in the play of lamplight than in the bright sunshine. “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

“Where do you suggest? The guests are bound to arrive soon and you know we can’t walk around by ourselves after dark.”

“Come to my room.”

She inhaled sharply, her hands clenching into fists. “Is that why I’m here? Do you really think–”

With a soft groan, Carlo curled his fingers around her arm and pulled her onto the deck, away from the other people sitting in the lounge. “To your room then,” he whispered, “although I much prefer mine. And no scenes, if you please.” His hand was a ring of fire around her arm, propelling her to the wooden walkway.

He walked next to her but let go of her arm.

A few steps from her tent she stopped. “I don’t care who hears this. If you think we’re going to carry on where we left off four years ago you are very much mistaken.”

He didn’t blink an eye. “You seem to be singularly one-track-minded, Simone.”

Heat rose to her cheeks; it spread down her chest to her treacherous heart, which pounded at the thought of him. Why was he still able to do this to her? Being alone with him was the worst possible idea.

“Well, if not for that, why march me to my tent as if you would have your way–”

“You may still be devilishly tempting, Simone, but now that I’m your boss you’re completely off limits.”

About the author:

Sophia Karlson has lived in France, Germany, Tanzania, Madagascar (not the movie, the country!) and now finds herself back on home ground in South Africa. As a teenager, she devoured romances with far flung settings, loving to travel through books. After school her itchy feet took her around the world, but now she doesn’t get much further than the school run and the daily walk with her very demanding beagle, Phoebe. She writes contemporary and erotic romance, wanting to take readers on a journey of their own. She loves hearing from readers, follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.karlson.5, Twitter: @SophiaKarlson, on the web at www.sophiakarlson.com.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SophiaKarlson

FB: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.karlson.5

Website: www.sophiakarlson.com

 

It was wonderful having you with us today.  Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Perfect Mistake!

 

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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary, East Africa, Ivory trafficking, Perfect Mistake, romantic suspense, Sophia Karlson by Tena Stetler with 9 comments.