I'm delighted to bring you another guest today. I've dusted off the red carpet and prepared drinks and mince pies to welcome the lovely Karen Jones Gowen. Karen's giving us her view on refining the writer's voice.
Take it away, Karen!
Thank you, Shirley, for inviting me to guest on your blog today, as the final stop in my blog tour for House of Diamonds. It’s wonderful to be here!
My take on “voice” is that it becomes more distinct the more a writer writes. Like a musical voice, or an instrument, or any kind of artistic style and signature, the writer’s voice improves with practice. It becomes a distinct trademark, so that a reader can recognize an author’s work immediately. I suppose one could say it’s similar to writing style, but voice has something even more personal about it.
A strong writer voice can jump off the pages and make the reader feel a part of the story. It can have a personality all its own, and make people feel and imagine and sense things beyond what’s on the printed page.
One of the best compliments I can get is when someone says to me, “I love the way you write.” Because that means they like my voice, and if so, they’ll enjoy everything I write. Because like a fingerprint, a strong writer voice can’t be disguised, even from genre to genre.
(You can check out Karen's voice in her latest novel, House of Diamonds. Don't you just adore the cover?)
In this sequel to Gowen’s debut novel, Uncut Diamonds, she follows sisters Cindy and Marcie as they reach a crossroads in their lives. House of Diamonds tells the story of two women, one facing opportunity the other tragedy. Can their bond endure?
Marcie pursues her dream of becoming a published writer while Cindy faces a terrible tragedy. In this gripping story of faith, loss and the transcending nature of sacrifice, Gowen gives voice to a beloved baby who has none. She shows the incredible power that comes to families when they pull together to overcome challenges. It is at these times that a house of pain can become a house of diamonds.
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Born and raised in central Illinois, the daughter of a Methodist minister from Indiana and a school teacher from Nebraska, Karen has down-to-earth Midwestern roots.
She attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb then transferred to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. After converting to Mormonism at the age of 20, she transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, where she met her future husband. She obtained her degree at BYU in English and American Literature.
Karen and Bruce have lived in Utah, Illinois, California and Washington, currently residing near Salt Lake City. They are the parents of ten children. Not surprisingly, family relationships are a recurring theme in Karen's writing.
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You can learn more about Karen via her website or her blog, Coming Down the Mountain: A Writer's Blog.
House of Diamonds is available here: Kindle, Nook, Celerytree.com (print or ebook) or WiDo Publishing website (offering a 2 for 1 deal. Order print House of Diamonds and get Uncut Diamonds free)
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Thank you so much stopping by, Karen, and giving us chance to admire that gorgeous cover.
Help yourself to mince pies, everyone. And have a great weekend!