Right now, Karina's giant blog tour is on! You can find out more at www.fabianspace.com.
I got Karina to answer some questions...
Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Since I'm a character-driven writer, I don't write myself into them, but sometimes, we share things in common. My characters tell me who they are--sometimes, they are like me (though not in any way I plan) and sometimes, they are like I'd want to be or wish I could be, and sometimes, they are very different.
I have written scenes or events that are very similar to things that have happened to me. It's interesting to see how the character reacts. Where I may get timid and cry, my character gets angry and strikes out or cool and resolves the situation with grace. That's one of the things I love about writing--getting to live someone else's life in a socially acceptable fashion. (grin)
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Besides than living other people's lives?
Rob and I had met through a mutual friend, Jeff, who knew we both loved Star Trek. In fact, while I was showing Jeff all my Star Trek stuff (I was big into it then), he stopped me and said, "You have to meet someone!" He called Rob and handed me the phone. I said, "Live long and prosper!" He said, "I'll be right over!"
I was a new lieutenant in the military and had gotten my first paycheck that day, so we all went out to dinner, and shopping and goofing around. At that time, I was not thinking of romance, but just hanging out with new friends. So when Rob slipped his arm though mine when we were walking to the car. I didn't know what to do, so I slipped my arm though Jeff's and started skipping and singing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road." It only took a minute before both of them were doing the same.
Rob said he knew then that I was the one for him!
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I've never claimed to be sane, just able to hide it well.
More seriously, writing and sharing my stories keeps me happy and emotionally stable. When you're doing what you're meant to do, the world seems to run with you.
How do you choose your characters' names?
Most of the time, the character chooses them--often with interesting stories as well. Joshua Abraham's Lawson--with the apostrophe, thank you--was named for his great-grandfather, a runaway slave who names him self for the Emancipation Proclamation--Abraham's Law. (The apostrophe is because his mom is a stickler for grammar.) My dragon Vern d'Wyvern was named by a pope who was better at holiness than humor.
When I have a lot of side characters, I try to figure out their nationality or heritage and look up names in a phone book from that area.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Steven (14 on Aug 22nd), Amber (12), Alex (8) and Liam (7). If I never had a story published, an article written or a book printed, I'll have created wonderful things because I have birthed them.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
I'm never any good at answering this question. I don't want to be an animal. I love sentience. However, if I had to be classified as an animal, I'd probably be a beaver, since I'm always doing something. It's a joke with my friends that, once we're comfortable in our friendship, I start cleaning their house when I visit.
What is your favorite food?
Really good Italian. Escargot when it's done right. It used to be pizza, but this year, I've done so much writing and working online with chats and groups that we've ordered way too much. I have half a pizza in my fridge right now and I can't even look at it.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
In the mental act of writing: transitions, because that's when my characters want to take a nap or read a book or do something that translates into * * *. So I go do something mindless for awhile and try to imagine what they'd be doing next, or I whine to my husband or my best writer friend, Ann Lewis, and they give me that one question or idea that lets me move on.
In the physical act of writing: typos. I have terrible typing, and my "new" laptop has been to the shop twice for faulty keyboards to no avail, so now I'm just living with it. I've also found that as I get older, I don't catch the typos like I used to. The only way I can combat this is to read things forward, then out loud, then backward, then give it to friends. This works well for stories and manuscripts, but not for casual mail or fast-deadline. Then, sorry to say, I do my best and take my chances.
In the "financial" act of writing: finding markets. I didn't major in English because I was no good at analyzing stories and I'm not much better at analyzing markets. So I do my best, talk to other writers and just keep plugging.
What would you like to tell us about Infinite Space, Infinite God?
Infinite Space, Infinite God is thought-provoking science fiction with a Catholic twist. I'll let you go to the website for synopses of the stories, the book trailer, and just about anything else you'd like to know about the book. http://isigsf.tripod.com
The thing I'd most like folks to know, however, is that just because the theme is how the Catholic faith meets the moral and social challenges of the future, it is not targeted to Catholics only. We've had overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics of all faiths, and it won the EPPIE award for best science fiction--competing against secular works.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
About Karina (with her blog): www.fabianspace.com
About Infinite Space, Infinite God: http://isigsf.tripod.com
About Karina's Dragon Eye PI universe: www.freewebs.com/dragoneyepi
On MySpace: www.myspace.com/karinafabian
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