Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway: Karen Mueller Bryson

Today we're welcoming author Karen Mueller Bryson to the blog on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for her contemporary romantic comedies, "One Last Class" and "Twyla's Last Trip" (we reviewed this last one here).

The author is giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. So comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

Karen was kind enough to answer all my questions... thanks, Karen!

I would imagine writing romantic comedy can be difficult. Why did you choose the genre?

I write in several different genres but romantic comedy is one of my favorites and it seems to come most naturally to me. I like entertaining people and making them laugh. I also enjoy creating humorous characters and placing them in funny situations. I also try to find the humor in most life situations, when possible.

Do you have any habits or rituals to get you in the mood to write?

Because I work full time as a university professor, I use most of my free time for writing. I don’t often have the luxury of writing rituals to “get me in the mood.” I have to use what little time I have to put words on the page! One thing I must have when writing is silence. I don’t like listening to music when I write and I don’t like to be distracted by any noise, if possible.

Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

My best ideas for stories and characters usually come when I’m in the shower or in the car and I don’t have the ability to write my ideas down! I have to memorize them until I’m out of the shower or I pull over (when driving). I’m always grateful for ideas whenever they come but they never seem to come that quickly and easily when I have a pad and pen handy.

What's a typical day for you?

I have an unusual work schedule at my full time job, so days are not typical. When I teach in the evenings, I try to spend time in the morning writing and marketing my work. When I’m not teaching at night, I do my writing and marketing in the evenings. I generally get more writing done on the weekends, when I have blocks of free time available to write.

Who is your favorite character in literature? Why?

I have two literary favorites, Alice (from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) and Dorothy (from the Wonderful Wizard of Oz). Both are strong female characters, who have become cultural icons, and both take journeys in which they meet a host of interesting characters. My first two romantic comedies, Hey Dorothy You’re Not in Kansas Anymore and Where is Wonderland Anyway, were inspired by Dorothy’s and Alice’s incredible adventures.

Anything new coming up you'd like to share?

My company, Short on Time Books, fast-paced and fun novels for readers on the go, will be releasing its first Young Adult romantic comedy called Retro Geeks, and I’m incredibly excited about it! I have also been hired to write a biography of sports legend, Cindy McCoy, who was a Rookie Roller Derby Queen. That’s what’s on my plate for the next few months!

Anything you'd like to ask our readers?

I would love to know what some of their favorite romantic comedies are and why they like them so much.

In the romantic comedy, Twyla’s Last Trip, twenty eight-year old, Lucinda Starr is an uptight research psychologist, whose deadline to complete her doctoral dissertation is completely derailed by her estranged mother, Twyla Starr's sudden death. Lucinda must take her mother's ashes on a road trip on Route 66, in order to fulfill the requirements of her will and inherit her fortune. To make matters worse, Lucinda finds herself forced to travel across the country with her mother's easygoing country lawyer, T.J. Yates, who drives her crazy, and his drooling bloodhound, Dakota, who Lucinda finds revolting.

In the romantic comedy, One Last Class, thirty-two year old, Zak Spencer, is a washed-up teen idol, who decides to rebuild his life by returning to college in Arizona. Trouble ensues when Zak falls in love with the young professor, Amy Campbell, who teaches the one class he needs to complete his degree.

Karen Mueller Bryson is an award-winning screenwriter, produced playwright and published novelist. She has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books! Karen is thhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife creator of Short on Time Books, a series of fast-paced and fun novels for readers on the go. When she’s not at her computer creating new stories, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Website: http://www.ahorsewithnoname.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karenmuellerbryson
Twitter: http://twitter.com/karenmbryson
Blog: http://shortontimebooks.tumblr.com/
Short on Time Books: http://www.shortontimebooks.com