Have you ever sat on good news so long you felt like your heart was going to burst? I’ve been keeping a secret “under my hat” for months, but now I can finally let you in on the celebration! I’m busy writing more books!
Yesterday, I signed a contract with Waterbrook Multnomah (a division of Penguin Random House) to write a three-book series set in the early days of the National Parks.
Do you see me dancing happily in circles? I’ve been dreaming about these characters for years and now God’s giving me the opportunity to bring them to life. I owe a huge thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah and to my agent Rachel Kent for taking a chance on this series. It’s a tough publishing climate right now and many fantastic authors and great stories are being turned away, so I’m honored (and a little stunned, honestly) to be given this chance. Please pray with me that God will shine through every single word.
I first sat down with an editor from Waterbrook Multnomah in 2010 at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. This was the first publisher to ever express interest in my work, even though I wasn’t quite ready for publication back then. Because of that early connection, I’m delighted to be working with Waterbrook Multnomah now. Beyond delighted…ecstatic!
More about the novels
Back when I was in graduate school, I worked two summers as a National Park Ranger at Mount Rainier in Washington. I’d been in love with the mountain since I was a child, but shortly after taking this job I also became enamored with the ideals of the National Park Service. These men and women proudly wear the big Smokey Bear hats (Though Smokey technically works for the US Forest Service) and serve as loving caretakers of our national treasures and wilderness. If they’re not hero and heroine material, I’m not sure who is!
Mount Rainier, Yosemite, and Yellowstone provide a romantic backdrop for these three stories set during the 1920s and 30s. These were key decades in the history of the parks and I can’t wait to introduce readers to some of the exciting–and sometimes dangerous–things happening in this era.
The first book is tentatively scheduled to release in 2017.
Now, to celebrate . . .
I’m in the mood to celebrate. How about you?
In honor of this great news, I think we should do a giveaway! Enter using the form below. [Book giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered.]
On Saturday morning, I’ll randomly choose one entry to receive a free signed book. The winner can choose from any of my books–Mistaken, Out of the Ruins, Beyond the Ashes, or (if you’re willing to wait a few months) Through the Shadows. (Contest closes 9 am Pacific Time, Saturday March 5, 2016).
Thank you to everyone who has supported me by praying, reading my books, and sending me encouraging messages. I am so grateful! I hope you’re dancing at this news, too!
I would love to visit the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
Yes, me too! I loved the novel, Christy. I’m pretty sure that took place in the Great Smokey Mountains, right?
Congratulations, Karen! All your hard work continues to reap rewards! I’d love to revisit Acadia in ME. 🙂 Karen
Thanks, Karen! I feel unbelievably blessed, especially since I know so many writers who are without contracts.
I don’t know much about Acadia. I’ll have to look it up. 🙂
I’ve had the privilege to visit several. I’d love to visit Glacier National Park.
I’ve seen wonderful pictures from Glacier. That’s on my list, too!
Probably the Olympic national forest/ Mt. Rainier since it’s the closest to me.
Congratulations on your contract!
You haven’t been to Rainier, Kimberly? You need to do that! I think I lost my heart up there, somewhere. 🙂 The Sunrise area is my favorite, but I’m setting the book at Longmire/Paradise.
Karen, That is great news! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you!
Thanks, Regina! I’m am ridiculously excited. And a little nervous, too!
Congratulations. I have visited a few National Parks, but the one I haven’t visited that I would love to is Yellowstone.
I haven’t been to Yellowstone in many years. I’m definitely planning a research trip in my near future!
I would like to go to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Glacier Bay is high on my list! In fact, when I was working for the NPS, I’d hoped to eventually work in some of the Alaska parks. It didn’t end up happening, but I’d still like to visit someday.
I am SO happy for you! I would love to go to either Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon!
I’ve never been to Grand Canyon. It’s definitely in my top 10 places I want to see. I hope to go back to Yellowstone soon. I haven’t been in many years.
What great settings for a story! I look forward to reading your stories. Congratulations!
I agree, Melissa! I’m so excited to be writing about the National Parks.
I would love to visit Yellowstone. 🙂
Congratulations! 🙂
Thank you, Lori!
CONGRATULATIONS!! 😀 The Smoky Mtns National Park is one I am always open to visiting. It’s my happy place. One of these days, though, I would love to visit the Grand Teton Natl Park.
One of the rangers I worked with at Rainier had previously worked at Grand Teton. She had some amazing stories about that place. It’s another one I’d like to visit!
Wow! I would love to go to Yosemite National Park! I’ve never been. Congratulations on your new book deal that I’d amazing!
Thanks, Dana! I’m really excited to be writing about Yosemite in book 2 of the series. It has an amazing history. I can’t wait to dig into that story.
I’d love to visit the Gauley River National Recreation Area because that’s where my books take place.
I hadn’t heard of that one, Kendy! I just looked it up on google–gorgeous!
Congratulations!!! Such amazing news!!!! I can’t wait! Woohoo!!!!
I’m crazy excited! I love our national parks system.
I would love to go to Yellowstone Natiobal Park. I’ve read so much about it, I think it’s time it had a visit from me.
Deana
I can’t wait to get back there. I haven’t been in years, but I’m overdue for a research trip. 🙂
Oops! Forgot to answer the question. I’ve always wanted to go to Yellowstone. That is my #1 choice on my national parks bucket list!
That seems to be a common favorite! I can’t wait to get back there again. 🙂
This is incredible news, Karen!! Congratulations! And your series sounds awesome!
Thank you, my friend! I can’t wait to hug you at Mount Hermon in a couple of weeks!
Congratulations! Sounds like a winning series to me!!!
Thanks, Tina!
Wohoo!!!! Standing to cheer for you, Karen!!! This is so wonderful. What a beautiful partnership between you and WBM! <3
Thanks, Amanda! I’ve dreamed of writing for them for years. 🙂
I would like to visit Yosemite.
Congratulations! Such happy news for you.
Tracie
Such an amazing place! I plan to go this summer and finish up my research for book 2 of the series. 🙂
That’s great news! I can hardly wait to read them!
Thanks, Kathy! I’m having such fun writing the first book set at Mount Rainier. 🙂
I would love to visit Yellowstone. Congratulations on your contract. God bless!
Thanks, Lucy! It sounds like a lot of people would choose Yellowstone. I can’t wait to get back there for some research. I haven’t been in years. 🙂
The national park I’d most like to visit is Yellowstone.
Yellowstone has so many interesting features! I can’t wait to return there. 🙂
Mount Rainier! It’s where we went on our honeymoon!
What a beautiful place for a honeymoon! Rainier will always be my happy place.
I love visiting National Parks so it is hard to pick just one but I think I would have to say Yosemite.
Congratulations on the new contract. I look forward to reading this series.
I’m going to Yosemite later this year for research. I can’t wait!
Karen, I’m so excited for you and I LOVE the idea for your National Parks series. I can’t wait to read them!!!
Thanks, Gabrielle! I’m having a lot of fun writing them. 🙂
Congratulations, Karen! I can’t wait to read these stories! I would love to visit Yellowstone again!
Thanks, Britney! And I can’t wait to get back to Yellowstone, either. 🙂
I worked for over 8 years at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site here in St. Louis, and I have such a fondness in my heart for the whole National Park System as a result. I have never been to the Grand Canyon, though, and want to rectify that soon! I can’t wait for your new series!
Isn’t the NPS wonderful to work for? There’s such a sense of pride there. I haven’t been to the Grand Canyon yet, either. It’s on my must-see list!
Congratulations!
Thanks, Marsha!
I want to see the Grand Canyon. 🙂
Me, too! It’s on my top ten list. 🙂
I would love to visit Yellowstone National Park!
Congrats on the new contract Karen, I’m so excited for you 🙂
Thanks, Trixi! I hope to travel back to Yellowstone soon. 🙂
Welcome aboard, Karen. It’s been a long time coming.
The park I’d like to take the family to next is Mesa Verde with its 600 cliff dwellings built into the rock by the Ancestral Pueblo people. There’s a setting for mystery.
Been very blessed to be able to visit many of these on the list – but not Yosemite yet. Or any in the NW.
Thank you so much, Shannon! I’m so excited to be writing this series for Waterbrook Multnomah. And you MUST get to the NW. Mount Rainier is an addiction with me. 🙂
Karen, this is huuuuuuuge!!! I’m so excited for YOU and for the subjects of your next three books! I so agree that the National Parks in their early days hold a lot of potential for historical fiction–and clearly you are the perfect person to bring that to life! Our family loves the National Parks, and our kids have collected about nine Junior Ranger badges so far. Can’t wait to introduce my daughter to your books some day!
Isn’t it crazy? I can hardly believe it! I’m so excited to be writing this series.
I have been to Smokey Mountains and Grand Canyon National Parks so I guess I would pick Yellowstone. Congratulations on your new contract and the books sound like they will be really good. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of one of your books.
Thanks, Stella! I’m in the exact opposite position–I’ve been to Yellowstone, but not to the Smokies or the Grand Canyon. I need to rectify that. 🙂
Karen, God is so good! I’ve been praying that you would get another contract. When I heard that your current publisher was stopping their fiction line my heart just hurt for you and the other authors as well.
These books sound wonderful. National Parks? Yes! The 1920’s and 1930’s? Yes!
When I was about nine or ten my family visited Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon National Parks. I don’t really remember them that vividly. One of them we drove through at night, so didn’t get to see it much. I would love to go back to any of these, but probably Grand Canyon the most. It’s just breathtaking. I have some acquaintances who live out there and have to drive through the Grand Canyon park to get to church every Sunday!
Thank you so much for praying, Sylvia! So many friends contacted me when Abingdon announced the closure of their fiction line. I was so touched! I was sad, but I had a strong sense of peace about it. I’m glad I can finally share this news with everyone. It took a long time to work out all of the details, and it was tough for me to keep it a secret.
Estes National Park! And, Yellowstone…and any in Alaska!
I’m not familiar with Estes. I’ll go look it up. 🙂 And yes–Alaska tops my list! Maybe a future book series will give me an excuse to plan an Alaska trip.
I’d like to go to Yellowstone National Park!
I can’t wait to go back! I haven’t been in so long!
I’d really like to visit Denali National Park in Alaska because that is a place I want to visit very much. My kids and I were just reading about it today.
Denali is the park I’ve always dreamed of visiting!
I would love to visit Yellowstone!
That seems to be a popular choice! I’ve been there, but it’s been many years. Now to plan a return visit…
Congratulations! It sounds like an exciting series. Can’t wait for the first book! I would like to visit the Great Smokey Mountains.
Thanks, Bonnie! I’ve always wanted to visit the Great Smokies, too. I’ve been close, but never close enough.
Congratulations!! That is awesome!
Thanks, Dana! I’m so excited about this series. 🙂
Congratulations on the new contract
Thank you, Shelia! 😀
I’m thrilled to hear the news!! I’d love to see Yellowstone someday! Look good forward to more books from you! 🙂
Thank you, Rachael! I can’t wait to get back to Yellowstone. I was just thinking about that. I need to put it on my calendar.
Congratulations! This sounds like an amazing new adventure God has given.
Thank you, Penny! That’s a great way to look at it.
Forgot to answer the question oops. Yellowstone would be awesome.
I’d love to visit Yosemite or Yellowstone. But any would do! I haven’t been able to travel much, and seeing some parks would be wonderful!
I have plans to visit both those parks over the next year. CAN’T WAIT!!! 🙂
I would love to see Mt. Rainier National Park – saw Yellowstone when I was much younger.
Congrats on the new series; it sounds really interesting!!
My heart is firmly lodged at Rainier. <3
I was so excited to get your newsletter and to read that you would be writing series set in the National Parks. My husband and I watched a PBS special about the establishment of the parks that was very interesting.
Congratulations on the new contract!
We’ve enjoyed a number of parks (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Bryce Canyon, Moab, and Zion NP), but I have yet to see Yosemite. It’s bucket list material! 🙂
Wasn’t that an incredible documentary series? I loved it! Do you remember the part about FDR visiting Olympic National Park? My dad was a little boy at the time and his mom dressed him up and took him out to the sidewalk to wave as the president’s motorcade drove by. I think that’s so cool!
Grand Canyon Nat. Park!!!
Yes! Grand Canyon is on my bucket list. 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I would love to visit Kings Canyon in California.
I’ve heard great things about Kings Canyon. I’ll need to do more research on that one. 🙂
Congratulations on your new book deal. 🙂 I would love to go back to the Grand Canyon and walk on the Skywalk. Also, I want to explore more of the Adirondack Park in my state of New York. I believe it is the largest park in the US.
Oh, my word! I hadn’t heard about the Skywalk. I just looked at some pictures online. WOW! I’ve got a fear of heights–that might be tough for me. But I’d force myself. 🙂
Congratulations, Karen. I am so happy that you’ve signed the new contract and I’m looking forward to those books. I have always wanted to visit the Redwoods in California.
Thanks, Kay! I’m going down to the Redwoods for a writing conference in a couple of weeks, but I haven’t been to the park there. I’ve dreamt of visiting Sequoia since I read a story about the redwooods in a schoolbook as an early reader.
Congrats, Karen! Hope this brings you much more success! I would love to go to the Grand Canyon, I have never been. Many blessings…
Thanks, Rj! I need to get to the Grand Canyon, too. I thought about setting one of the books there, just so I had a good excuse for a research trip. 🙂
Congratulations on your book contract! I love Yellowstone, Teton, and Glacier. They are my favorites.
I haven’t seen the Grand Tetons or Glacier, yet. They’re on my must-do list!
Grand Canyon
I need to see Grand Canyon, too!
I’d like to go to Yellowstone National Park again!
congratulations on your book contract…
Thanks, Deanna. I can’t wait to get back to Yellowstone!
Congratulations on the new contract. I don’t think I have read any of your books before so shall have to check them out!
Thank you for the opportunity to win one…here’s hoping!
I didn’t say what National Park. I have been to Yellowstone and wouldn’t mind visiting there again. Altho, there are quite a few others I should check out before I go back again to one I have already visited! Thanks again.
There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite! I’ve worked at Rainier and visited many, many times. There is still so much of the park I haven’t seen. 🙂
Mount Rushmore is the National Park I would most like to visit.
Mount Rushmore is amazing. Since I’m such a nature-nut, I’d scoffed at the idea of visiting a man-made monument. I was blown away, though. I’ve been there twice now. And I love the Black Hills of South Dakota. Beautiful country!
I would love to go to Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone is incredible! I can’t wait to get back there.
SO happy for you, Karen! Can’t wait for the new books! National Parks have always been very special to me, too. Congrats to you, my friend! 🙂
Thanks, Shannon! I’m very excited about this series. 🙂
Can I say all of them? 🙂 I guess if I could only pick one though…. maybe Yellowstone.
Yes, you can! No rules here. I dream of visiting them all, too. I’ve got one of those NPS passport books and it saddens me to see how many stamps I’m missing. 🙂
I’ve never been to Yellowstone, so I want to see it. 🙂 Cannot wait for this series!! Congrats!!
Yellowstone is every bit as amazing as people say. I can’t wait to go back.
Congratulations! I don’t blame you for dancing! I would love to visit Yellowstone Park because I’ve never been there! I would also love to win your book! Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks, Brenda!
I don’t think I have visited any national parks outside of the west coast. I live near the most awesome national park, though – Mt. Rainier. In fact, the town I grew up in has regular alarm testing in case of a real volcanic eruption. If Mr. Rainier ever blew, Orting, WA would be wiped out.
Outside of the Pacific NW, and California, I would love to see Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon and Rushmore National Park.
Terrill, you live in Orting? I used to love going there with my high school band for the last leg of the Daffodil parade. And when I worked at the Sunrise Visitor Center at Rainier, I frequently gave talks about the Emmons glacier–mentioning how Orting and several other Puget Sound communities were built on mudflow. It’s pretty scary to think about. But what a beautiful area!
Grand Teton and Mount Rushmore–awesome!
I loved Mount Rushmore! Haven’t seen the Grand Teton National Park yet. It’s on my list of places I need to go someday.