Reading and Writing Challenges for 2017

January 1, 2017By Karen Barnett No Comments

I’ve spent today thinking about what lies ahead for 2017. Here are a few things on my list: Our oldest will graduate from high school We’ll be sending that same child off to college! Our youngest has ten gazillion dance competitions and performances coming up I have a book deadline . . . . . . and … Read More

Behind and Ahead, Part 1

January 1, 2015By Karen Barnett No Comments

I’m not much for resolutions, but I love to take the first few days of the year to look behind and look ahead. It’s good to look back and count your blessings. It’s also good to look ahead and dream about what might be in store. So, what happened in 2014? I’m only going to hit … Read More

A Writer’s Life: Juggling

February 4, 2014By Karen Barnett No Comments

Have you ever been curious about the day-to-day life of a writer? I’ve compiled a quick list of what my working life entails right now. I’ve also included a prayer request with each section. I’ve been feeling led to pray more earnestly about my career–I hope you will join me.1. Writing the second book in … Read More

5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Writers Conference

September 19, 2013By Karen Barnett 6 Comments

I recently returned from the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Annual Conference. Close to 600 attended this year, beginning writers all the way up to multi-published, best-selling authors. As far as writers conferences go, this had to be one of my all-time best experiences, partially because it was an opportunity to celebrate the release of … Read More

Happy Birthday, MISTAKEN!

July 2, 2013By Karen Barnett No Comments

Happy Birthday, MISTAKEN! Today is the official release day for my debut novel, Mistaken. It’s a bit surreal walking into a bookstore and seeing my novel sitting on the shelf. When you first start writing, you dream about this moment, but the rest of the process seems very private. You sit and daydream the story, … Read More

Celebration!

August 1, 2012By Karen Barnett 4 Comments

If you follow my FaceBook author page, you heard this great news months ago, but I have yet to officially celebrate here on my blog. Here’s the scoop: Time to CELEBRATE!!! At the end of May, I received the news that I had made the finals for the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest … Read More

Six Resolutions for Aspiring Writers

January 3, 2012By Karen Barnett 3 Comments

This is the time of year that many people dust off their dreams and make resolutions to help them achieve their goals. I did that several years ago and set out to follow my dream to become a writer. In case you’re just starting out, I thought I’d offer what I think are six of … Read More

Turning the Page on 2011

December 31, 2011By Karen Barnett 1 Comment

I just took down the old calendar and put up the new. It’s always a poignant moment for me, because I’ve made it a family tradition to decorate our calendar with family photos from the year past. I make them online and give them to my family for Christmas gifts. Changing the calendar on Dec. … Read More

Conference Fever

August 19, 2011By Karen Barnett 3 Comments

I apologize for being uncharacteristically quiet these past two weeks. I’ve been busy with writing conference preparations. This week I attended the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference and in a few more weeks (see the countdown clock to the lower right) I will be flying off to St. Louis for the American Christian Writers Conference … Read More