Author Spotlight: Karen Y. Bynum

Welcome to the Author Spotlight, Karen Y. Bynum!

Nicknames: *wants one*

Where do you live: near the beach, wish it were the mountains though

Your favorite dessert: Pineapple upside-down cake

Your favorite TV series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Last book you read: Winter Fairy by Lola Karns

Last movie you watched: Skyfall

Last song (or album) you bought: The Lateness of the Hour album by Alex Clare

A book/series you could read over and over again: Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

Coke or pepsi? Diet Coke

Day or night? Day

Pen or pencil? Pen

Summer or winter? Summer

Cat or dog? Dog

Tea or coffee? COFFEE

Plotter or pantser? Plantser? ;)

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil…short stories, poems, fan letters and diary entries. But I didn’t know I wanted to write young adult until I read the Twilight series. Yes, sparkly vampires inspired me! :)

What are you working on now? Currently I’m working on a dark and gritty New Adult dragon shifter story. I’m keeping hush-hush on the premise until I’m finished writing this one but am sharing snippets on my blog every Wednesday.

If you decided not to be a writer, what would your other dream job be? Why? Food critic, because I could eat and then write about it. How awesome would that be! And I’d love to be able to put my Culinary Arts degree to good use, without having to actually cook anything. LOL

What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done in your life? The first time I pitched at RWA Nationals. I was an absolute wreck! My heart raced, knees wobbled, palms sweated and I’m pretty sure at one point I forgot how to use words. Nothing scars me quite like public speaking.

What is one talent that you’re hopeless at, but you wish you had? I’d love to be able to sing!

What is one trait or physical characteristic that you are proud of/love about yourself? I’m really proud of my smile. My teeth were really crooked (way up in my gums) when I was a kid. My parents sacrificed a lot to get braces for me. I’m so thankful they did, because I love to smile!

Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? Set a word count/page number goal and then strive for it every day. Read inside your genre and out. Treat people the way you want to be treated. And remember that tomorrow is a new day.

About the author: Karen Y. Bynum is an author of young adult paranormal fantasy.  Her debut novel Witch Way to Turn is published through Lyrical Press.  She grew up in Hickory, North Carolina where mountains and magic surrounded her.  Even as a child, she wrote her own faery tales and prattled incessantly to her imaginary friends.

After graduating from UNC Charlotte with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media Communications, she went on to become certified in culinary arts from The Art Institute of Charlotte.  But it wasn’t until her aerospace engineer husband accepted a job in Virginia and they relocated that she knew what she wanted to be when she grew up.

With the support of family and friends, Karen embarked on a journey with the voices in her head.  They wouldn’t stop talking (yes, she does answer back) and their stories took shape.

Karen currently lives in coastal Virginia and enjoys reading, tweeting, writing and spending time with her husband and their spoiled rotten Vizsla named Rusty.

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Can you give one guy your heart and another your soul?

The last thing eighteen-year-old Breena Cross needs in her life is more complications. It’s all she can do to balance studying, working, trying to keep her foster-sister safe and drooling over the new guy at work. But things go from complicated to crazy when a fit of rage ignites the dark magic inside her and she finds herself fending off the supernatural underworld.

Myles, Breena’s drool-worthy coworker and vampire convict, is carrying a load of secrets–one of which is that he’s fang-over-lip in love with Breena and in danger of violating the terms of his sentence.

Orin is a soul-hungry assassin sent to kill Breena. However, he takes one look into her eyes and sees his own lost humanity. For once thinking of someone other than himself, he chooses not to end her life, even though it means risking his own.

Despite a convict and an assassin fighting over her, all Breena wants is custody of her sister. But to do this, she will need help from both Myles and Orin. And if Breena doesn’t learn to control the darkness within, she could lose her sister…forever.

WARNING: Contains strong language and some graphic content.

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Cheers,