What was your favorite book when you were a child?

I loved to read when I was young, but my favorite works were Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I still remember reading this excerpt from “The Walrus and The Carpenter” when I was a child: “The time has come, the Walrus said, To talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--Of cabbages--and kings--And why the sea is boiling hot--And whether pigs have wings.”

When did you decide to write your first novel? What inspired you?

I learned to read when I was four and fell in love with books. I immediately told my mom I wanted to be a writer. She helped me write my first work, and I’ve been writing even since.

What was the most challenging part of starting a writing career? What was the best part?

I find it extremely difficult to get noticed in the sea of books being released on a daily basis. Although I am the author of 10 published books, I still find it difficult to attract sales for my work. It’s also challenging to find time to write new books when I’m busy marketing and promoting my published work.

The best part of a writing career is when readers tell me how much they enjoyed reading my work. It never gets old. When readers appreciate my work, I feel like I’m not just writing for myself; it’s a gift I can share with others.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Write as much as you can and write often (every day is possible). It’s also important to take time to read other people’s work. I believe persistence is the key to success in any endeavor, so never give up.

Tell us about your publishing company Short on Time Books.

Short on Time Books are fast-paced and fun novels for readers on the go. All Short on Time Books are complete stories that can be read in one sitting. We offer titles for all ages and are continually adding new titles. Many of our titles are in the Chick Lit genre. All Short on Time Books are available in both print and eBook, and the eBooks are all $2.99.

What are you working on now?

I am an extremely eclectic writer. I work in both non-fiction and fiction, in multiple genres and I write for both adults and kids. I just published the biography of sports legend, Cindy McCoy, who was a Rookie Roller Derby Queen. I’m also in the process of writing two novels for teens: one is a science fiction/comedy/romance called Fracked, and one is a story about faith/family and music called The Mustard Seeds.

Thank you, Karen!

Dr. Karen Mueller Bryson is an award-winning, optioned screenwriter, produced playwright and published novelist. Karen has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books! When she's not at her computer creating new stories, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds. For more information, please visit Karen's website.

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