The Write Spot: Author Karen McCullough

Welcome to the fifth edition of The Write Spot, a bi-weekly author series spotlighting the many and varied places where writers write. This week, I'm delighted to welcome award-winning author Karen McCullough.

Karen tells me she's been writing for close to thirty years but her wide-ranging imagination won't let her stick to one genre for her storytelling. As a result, she’s the author of more than a dozen published novels and novellas, which span the mystery, fantasy, paranormal, and romantic suspense genres. 

Karen was born in New York and spent her early years in the Long Island suburbs before moving to the Boston area with her family. She travelled south to attend Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where she met her husband and graduated with a degree in Spanish and Anthropology. 

She worked as  a social worker, computer programmer, and editor with an international trade publishing company before finding her bliss writing fiction. Karen lives in Greensboro, North Carolina and has three children and four wonderful grandchildren.

Karen McCullough's Write Spot

Looks like a perfect spot for writerly focus, Karen. I'm intrigued by your big blue balance ball. I've often thought of getting one but, knowing me, I'd be constantly tipping over! Please tell us what makes this the Write Spot for you.

Ten years ago, when we did a major renovation of our home, we adapted an old attached garage to be my office, and a recessed corner (which our main builder referred to as 'the nooch') was the obvious place for my computer desk. With pictures of family members looking down and a few special animals for inspiration, this area just works for me.

I do have a regular chair, but most of the time I use the balance ball instead. It gives me a bit of extra exercise, particularly for strengthening my core, and it seems to help keep my bad knees from locking up quite as much. I had to try a couple of balls to find one that was the exact right height, but it really works well as a seat. I thought I'd be tipping over all the time, too, but it doesn't happen. However, it does tend to roll away whenever I stand up!

Other than your computer or laptop, what's the one thing you couldn't be without in your 'nooch' / Write Spot?

A cup of coffee. I run on coffee.

I hear you. Nothing gets done without the coffee! What are you working on now?

I've recently turned in the sequel to A Gift for Murder, in the Market Center Mysteries series, tentatively titled Wired for Murder, and another romantic suspense to Kensington/Lyrical, so right now I'm doing a novella in the Market Center Mysteries series.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

Readers can visit me at kmccullough.com and connect at the following social media sites:

Blog: http://kmccullough.com/kblog/

Facebook: facebook.com/KarenMcCulloughAuthor

Twitter: twitter.com/kgmccullough

Karen's romantic suspense, A Question of Fire, is available now. Get it here. 

When Catherine Bennett agrees to attend an important party as a favor for her boss, she knows she won't enjoy it, but she doesn't expect to end up holding a dying man in her arms and becoming the recipient of his last message. Bobby Stark has evidence that will prove his younger brother has been framed for arson and murder. He wants that evidence to get to his brother's lawyer, and he tries to tell Cathy where he's hidden it. Unfortunately, he can only manage to give her a cryptic piece of the location before he dies.

The man who killed Bobby saw him talking to her and assumes she knows where the evidence is hidden. He wants it back and he'll do whatever it takes to get it, including following her and trying to kidnap her.

Cathy enlists the aid of attorney Peter Lowell and Danny Stark, Bobby's prickly, difficult younger brother, as well as a handsome private detective to help her find the evidence before the killers do.

Read a chapter excerpt and access additional purchase links for A Question of Fire on Karen's web site.

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About The Write Spot:

I've always been fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes. Whether it's backstage photos from my favourite play, a peek into the kitchen where a chef is working her culinary magic, or simply a glimpse through an uncurtained window into a stranger's private world, there's an undeniable thrill of discovery, a sense of secrets shared. It's no surprise, then, that I'm immensely curious about where other writers do their work. I've blogged about it before in this post about my own 'write spot' and so enjoyed the comments, I was inspired to launch a regular feature here at Stillpoint. Watch for The Write Spot every other Wednesday and join me as I discover the many and varied places where writers write.

Stillpoint is the blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington.