Interview with Karen E. Osborne

Karen E. Osborne is an author I've known for a while. She interviewed me in June 2021 for her YouTube series, What Are You Reading? What Are You Writing? The roles are now reversed as I talk to Karen about writing, interviewing, and her latest novel Reckonings, which is coming out June 16 from Black Rose Writing. We also talk about PTSD, starting a writing career later in life, and the generosity of creative people.

What have you learned from your interviews with other authors and publishing professionals?

Creatives are such generous people. I’ve interviewed visual artists, a musician, illustrator, voice actor, and authors of every genre. They share ideas, tips, leads. It’s been such a wonderful journey. Plus, exposure to books I might never have heard about. The downside is my “to read pile” is a mile high.

Is there something someone said in an interview that stood out for you?

When I interviewed Mike Titlebaum, professor of jazz at Ithaca College in upstate NY, he brought his sax and keyboard, and the backdrop was an amazing mural of some of the greatest jazz musicians and singers. He wrote a textbook for teaching jazz. Could have been dull, but it was super fun!

Let’s talk about your background. You said you started writing when you were twelve and started making up stories long…