Location: Australia
Member Since: May 14, 2014

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Karen J. Carlisle

Biography

Karen J Carlisle is an writer and illustrator of speculative fiction - Victorian mysteries, steampunk, and fantasy. She lives in Adelaide with her family and the ghost of her ancient Devon Rex cat.

She has started various other long-term affairs with fantasy fiction, (tabletop) role-playing, gardening, historical re-creation and steampunk – in that order. From the age of nine, she longed to be a writer.

Karen has had articles published in Australian Realms Roleplaying Magazine and Cockatrice (Arts and Sciences magazine). She has written short stories, SF/comedy, non-fiction articles and speculative fiction. Her short story, An Eye for Detail, was short-listed by the Australian Literature Review in their 2013 Murder/Mystery Short Story Competition. Hunted, was featured in A Trail of Tales, as part of the 2016 Adelaide Fringe.

Karen has always loved chocolate - dark preferred - and rarely refuses a cup of tea.

She is not keen on the South Australian summers.

Smashwords Interview

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
When I was in my final year of highschool, I wrote a science-fiction/comedy. It was influenced by my favourite stories at the time - Star Wars, Doctor Who, Blake's 7, Asimov and many others. It took me a year to write and filled 210 hand-typed pages. I only ever let my best friend read it. She was quite miffed that I killed off her favourite character. I only recently found out that my brother had read it too. I really should try to find it, but that means braving the shed.
What is your writing process?
I have notebooks all over the house and in my bag. When I get an idea, I try to write down as much as I can. These notes get filed into a box for future reference. I waver between handwriting the manuscript in one of my notebooks or typing it into Scrivener. For shorter stories (under 24,000 words) I write the entire first draft before I review it. With a book length manuscript, I write a chapter or two, then review. My first draft is a 'splurge' or freewriting exercise - everything goes down on the page. If I am unsure about a word or fact, I put down all my options, so not to lose the flow of the words. However, sometimes the perfectionist in me will insist that I have to do that research before I continue. I have a few trusty beta readers who helps me with obvious errors, repeats or very loose ends. I belong to a writers' group (which includes published authors and editors) who help me with rewrites and suggestions.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Karen J. Carlisle online

Website: http://www.karenjcarlisle.com
Twitter: @kjcarlisle
Facebook: Facebook profile
Blog: http://www.karenjcarlisle.com

Where to buy in print

http://www.karenjcarlisle.com/shop/

Videos

Blood Ties
A dark mystery on the high seas. A James Findlay mini-adventure. A new series by Karen J Carlisle. Available 17th September, 2023 in eBook and paperback. Ever wonder what happened to Doctor Jack? Blood Ties is the first story published in the new series 'The James Findlay Journals' by Karen J Carlisle. The story continues James Findlay's (aka Jack) story after the events in the original story 'Doctor Jack' (first book in 'The Viola Stewart Adventures').

Series

The Aunt Enid Mysteries by
Daemons, fairies, magic: it's all real! The Otherworld is bleeding through cracks into our world. And Adelaide is ground zero. Aunt Enid is just your average seventy-something year old, and the only person standing between The Dark and the fate of the world.
Aunt Enid: Protector Extraordinaire
Price: $2.99 USD.
A Fey Tale
Price: $3.99 USD.
The Adventures of Viola Stewart by
Viola Stewart is a widowed optician with a penchant for detectiving, With Doctor Henry Collins at her side, Viola pits wits against a secret Society of Men in Grey, meets Jack the Ripper, mysterious strangers, ingenious scientists, and nefarious anarchists. This Victorian Mystery series is set in a steampunk fantasy world and has a gaslamp flavour.
Tomorrow, When I Die: A Christmas Adventure
Price: $1.99 USD.

Books

The Case of the Forgotten Letter by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 8,250. Language: English. Published: November 1, 2022 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
Dr John Watson is devastated. Mary Watson, worried about her husband's prolonged melancholia, engages Mrs Hudson's help. He needs an adventure - a challenge to prove he can survive without his dear friend. A favour is called. A mystery concocted. A plan is afoot… until a misread number sends it all awry. Now Watson is tracking Moriarty's gang as they both search for a missing letter.
Mrs Hudson Investigates by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 6,760. Language: English. Published: July 30, 2022 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Short Stories, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
We all know the stories. A mystery. A brilliant detective. Mystery solved. But what if he went missing? Who would solve them? A secret communique from the the French government has been stolen. Holmes has been engaged to find the thief to prevent the message falling into the wrong hands, but he's nowhere to be found and Dr Watson is off to find him. So, it's up to Mrs Hudson to investigate.
A Fey Tale by
Series: The Aunt Enid Mysteries, Book 2. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 76,670. Language: English. Published: December 5, 2021 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Fantasy » Historical
Aunt Enid is back! But something's changed. A deal with fairies...                                           to solve a mystery...                          and prevent a war. It's up to Aunt Enid and the Protectors to solve the mystery, return the kidnapped heir and save the humans from Otherworldly retribution. It's now a race to save the
Another Twist of the Nib by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 11,080. Language: English. Published: October 6, 2020 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
Another Twist of the Nib is the third collection of speculative fiction short stories by Karen J Carlisle, this time with a darker twist. Here be ghosts, vampires, apocalypse, and humans with nefarious intent. Another Twist of the Nib is full of quick-read stories - reading times from under two minutes to under thirty minutes per story. Perfect for commuting, waiting in line or when time is short
Quarantine Reads: Escape to Adventure by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 8,630. Language: English. Published: April 6, 2020 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author, Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
When times are dark, fiction can whisk us away to other worlds to find new friends and have fantastical adventures. This collection of short fantasy, steampunk and fairytale fiction was created to entertain those in isolation or quarantine, or anyone needing to escape the worries of the world for a while. Stay safe.
Aunt Enid: Protector Extraordinaire by
Series: The Aunt Enid Mysteries, Book 1. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 56,330. Language: English. Published: May 27, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy
Daemons, fairies, magic: it's all real! The Otherworld is bleeding through cracks into our world. And Adelaide is ground zero. Aunt Enid is just your average seventy-something year old. - and the only person standing between The Dark and the fate of the world. When people start disappearing, Sally is drawn into a secret world and soon discovers her Great Aunt Enid is a Protector Extraordinaire.
Tomorrow, When I Die: A Christmas Adventure by
Series: The Adventures of Viola Stewart, Book 6. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 15,480. Language: English. Published: August 15, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Steampunk & retropunk, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
A life is in danger. Is it part of another plot by the mysterious Men in Grey? Viola must find out the truth before it is too late. A knock on the door could change everything. It's all just a matter of time. A Viola Stewart Christmas Adventure. This adventure is also published in 'The Illusioneer & Other Tales' (The Adventures of Viola Stewart book 3)
With a Twist of the Nib by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 10,750. Language: Australian English. Published: February 6, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Science fiction » Short stories
A collection of ten speculative fiction short stories. Dwarves, vampires, time travel, detectives, steampunk adventures or supernatural events - take your pick. With a Twist of the Nib is full of quick-read stories - reading times from under two minutes to under fifteen minutes per story. Perfect for commuting, waiting in line or when time is short.

Karen J. Carlisle's tag cloud

absent holmes    alternate history    alternative history    australia    cosy mystery    dark fantasy    doctor watson    dragons    fairies    fairy tale shorts    fairytale    fantasy    fantasy mystery    fantasy short    female sleuth    fiction sci fi    gaslight    gnomes    historical    historical fantasy    historical mystery    holmesian mystery    mrs hudson    mystery    mystery detective    mystery victorian    novelette    paranormal mystery    scifi shorts    septuagenarian hero    short fantasy    short stories    shorts    shorts collection    south australia    steampunk    steampunk alternative history    steampunk mystery    stories short    supernatural    time travel    vampire    victorian mystery   

Karen J. Carlisle's favorite authors on Smashwords

S. M. Kemmett
Latest book: Dragon's Heart.
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