Karen Winn
Author Interview - Karen Winn
Author of Our Little World
Set in the 1980s in a small and idyllic New Jersey town, Our Little World is a lyrical coming of age novel with a looming mystery about two sisters with a relationship equal parts love and envy, whose lives are suddenly and irrevocably changed by a neighborhood girl's disappearance. In the aftermath, the sisters' little world cracks, both inside the home, as secrets, guilt and jealousy come between them; and outside of it, as the illusion of stability in their close-knit community is shattered.
Author Interview - Karen Winn
Author I draw inspiration from: Ooh, there are so many! If I *must* narrow it down to one, it's Emily St. John Mandel.
Author Interview - Karen Winn | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book: In our living room chair beside the fireplace. I can look up and see the kids' rooms from there, and once I know they've settled in for the night, then I can relax and read.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. I'm fairly certain she wouldn't want to be stuck in an elevator with me, so it would make for a fascinating encounter (and good writing fodder)!
Author Interview - Karen Winn | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: I can't recall a time I didn't want to be an author, or at least a writer. When I was in elementary school I made a book of poems (on my family's typewriter) and distributed it to family members. It was a proper book, with a dedication page and table of contents, and the badly written poems were even illustrated. As I grew older, I continued to write, switching to prose. But writing took a backseat for a while to my career: nursing. Then, in 2016, our house burned down in a middle-of-the-night fire. Luckily we all escaped and were fine. But it could have been a very different outcome. And that prompted me to take a hard look at my life and get serious about the novel idea I'd been kicking around for some time. I got to work on it, and now here we are!
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: Hardback or paperback. Or ebook. I'll also take audiobook. I'm not picky.
The last book I read: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan. It's both terrific and terrifying, and I can't stop thinking about it. I highly recommend it!
Author Interview - Karen Winn | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer: Computer for writing. Pen and paper for note taking. I have a large glass jar in my office with the word "Dream" etched on it, and I'll pop in my scribbled notes and ideas. I love that I have this treasure trove of creativity--hopefully I'll be able to make sense of my handwriting when I eventually pull out the notes!
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: When I was younger I wanted to be Diana Barry just so I could be best friends with Anne Shirley (from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery). As an adult, I still can't think of a better character I'd want to befriend.
Author Interview - Karen Winn | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: Nurse (I am one, actually). But in a different life I'd be an archeologist. Archeology has always fascinated me; I routinely read news stories about archeological digs and discoveries. I just read how tuberculosis was discovered in some inland South American remains that pre-date the arrival of European settlers, which means that these individuals were not exposed to it in marine mammals but rather through another species (animals, perhaps, or humans on trade routes). It's astounding to think of all we can still learn and piece together about history!
Favorite decade in fashion history: The sixties, for sure. So iconic. I'm a bit of a free spirit. My mom always says I was born in the wrong era. I set my book in the 80s, but that decade is definitely not my fashion favorite.
Place I’d most like to travel: Sicily--I'm actually going this summer! We are taking the kids and also traveling with my sister and her kids, and my mom. It's going to be a fantastic trip; I can't wait!
My signature drink: Tequila with a splash of soda and lemon. I also love a glass of dry red wine.
Favorite artist: David Gray. And Tom Petty.
Number one on my bucket list: Finish writing my next book and then publish it. (Does everyone say that?!)
Anything else you'd like to add: These are great questions, and they were so fun to answer. Thank you!
Find more from the author:
Twitter/IG/Facebook: @kbookwriter
Author Bio: Karen Winn's debut novel, Our Little World, will be published by Dutton/ Penguin Random House on May 3rd. She received her low-residency MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and also holds a doctoral degree in nursing. Born and raised in New Jersey, Karen now lives in Boston with her husband and children.
