Exploring New Horizons: Karen Harmon’s Growth From Memoirs and Biographies to Fiction
With joy comes pain, and with humour comes tears. Life is hard, but it can be equally, if not more, lovely. Communication is the key, and trying to find the silver lining is a tremendous asset toward making a difference in your overall well-being.
Karen Harmon
Karen Harmon began her writing journey with memoirs and biographies before venturing into fiction. Her work, including the Book Excellence Award Finalist Looking for Normal, delves deeply into personal and family struggles. A sought-after guest on prominent media platforms, like CBC Daybreak with Shelley Joyce and the CFJC Midday Show with Tanya Cronin, Karen shares insights on her inspiration, the transition between genres, and advice for aspiring authors. Her experiences highlight the joy of exploring new creative paths and the importance of relatability and authenticity in writing. Stay tuned for her upcoming release, Class of ’56, a prequel to her successful novel Class of ’78.
Looking for Normal was a Book Excellence Award Finalist. Can you share what inspired you to write this memoir and how it felt to receive such recognition on such a personal story?
I wrote Looking for Normal because both of my parents had passed away. My children never got to meet my father, and yet they had beautiful memories of my mother. When my son was 13, I used to tell him stories about my father riding the rails during the Depression at the age of 13. My dad’s life had been one adventure after the next, so my son kept telling me I should write a book. So I did. I was nervous and apprehensive, but I knew my parents’ story would be relatable to so many. When I received recognition in the category of Women’s Health, I was surprised and pleased. My mother struggled with mental health issues during a time when such topics were hush-hush and swept under the carpet. I know my parents would be very proud of me, and now my children have our family’s legacy.
Your memoirs, Looking for Normal and Where is My Happy Ending?, delve deeply into personal and family struggles. What message do you hope readers take away from your experiences?
The message I hope my readers take away from these two books is how relatable all of our stories are. With joy comes pain, and with humour comes tears. Life is hard, but it can be equally, if not more, quite lovely. Communication is the key, and trying to find the silver lining is a tremendous asset to make a difference in your overall well-being.
What made you choose Tellwell as a partner in creating your book series?
After I wrote Looking for Normal, I had yet to learn how to get it published and out into the world. One day I was scrolling through social media when I came across Tellwell Publishing. I filled out the questionnaire and agreed to a phone call. I chose Tellwell because of their different packages and the friendly, no-pressure style in which they market themselves.
Did you plan to do a series from the get-go, or did you decide to create more books after your initial releases?
I had only ever thought of writing one book for my family. After Looking for Normal was recognized, I got more or less the writing bug. But the #MeToo movement made me want to share my story of growing up in the 1960s and ’70s. I met a lot of unsavoury characters, but I also had many adventures. I knew my heartache and heartwarming moments would be relatable to so many people. We had a lot of fun back then. The music was great, the disco scene memorable, and sometimes we learned how to get by the hard way.
Your book Fat and Beautiful tackles the challenging subject of bullying and body image. What was your relationship to Linda? How did you go about writing her story?
After I had written and published my first two books, my older sister Linda (13 years older) asked if I could write her story. At first her request sounded impossible and daunting, but at the onset of COVID I began phoning Linda regularly. She lives in a seniors’ home in Kamloops. Both our parents had passed, and there was something about that two- to three-year disruption in all our lives that changed how we viewed our relationships. It was during our one-hour conversations, once a week, that we became very close. I realized she had a remarkable story; indeed, a tale of love, pain, and courage. She also has a fabulous sense of humour. Body image, body shaming, and the beautification industry are considerable topics in today’s world. Fortunately all genders are speaking out more, and I knew I had to write my sister’s story to add to the narrative and bring light to the topic. She chose Fat and Beautiful because, until she was 70, she used those words to describe herself. I added the subtitle: A Story of Love, Pain and Courage.
Class of ’78 is your first novel after three memoirs. What prompted you to switch genres, and how did your writing process differ for this book?
Such a good question, because after Fat and Beautiful I felt there was not much more I could say about family dysfunction, addiction, heartache, humour, and heartbreak, but I still wanted to write. It was my 22-year-old son who said, “Mom, why don’t you write a fiction?” Writing non-fiction can be a vulnerable experience. There are many elements to consider: people’s feelings, the truth sometimes hurts, and how our family and friends might view us afterwards. But when writing fiction, the sky is the limit! I had so much fun creating characters and visuals that every time I went to my computer, I felt like I was watching a Netflix series unravel, and I could hardly wait for the next episode; as in, what would my characters do next?
The setting of MeadowBrook in Class of ’78 is vividly described. How did you go about creating this fictional town, and did any real-life places inspire it?
This question makes me laugh because I grew up in a small town, so the theme and characters in Class of ’78 are reminiscent of my teenage years. I always considered myself a plain-Jane wallflower type, and it wasn’t until my ten-year high school reunion that I learned others did not view me that way. It seemed as though all the cool kids I had put on a pedestal were not very different from me. Or perhaps none of us were the stereotypes we once were? I also love fashion and music from the ’70s and ’80s, greatly influencing my writing. I am unsure if you know this, but Class of ’78 recently won an award for best cover design and a second award as a finalist in the category of Best Chick-Lit. Thank you, Tellwell!
Your books have attracted fans from all over the world. What would you recommend to first-time authors who want to reach new audiences outside their community?
Feel free to market yourself, but try not to make all your social media posts about your book(s). Be transparent; people want to see you living a life. Share your hobbies, your struggles, and the things you love. Most of us enjoy relatable people and things that inspire us, but at the same time we do not want to be inundated with the me, me, me syndrome. For example, I use Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to share my highs, lows, and what makes me tick. I post exercise videos (I teach fitness), my dog, my family, YouTube skits with my husband, writing tips, and some of my successes with my books. Giving back is also a great idea. I will give books away for a brief book review or to a good cause. I donate my books to libraries and seniors’ homes. I enjoy speaking publicly and was invited by my local library to teach a memoir writing course. All my successes have come about through trial and error, but I genuinely want others to succeed, so I find great joy in helping and encouraging others. It’s all about liking what you do and doing what you love. Meanwhile, I call myself an open book, LOL. No pun intended.
Visit
karenharmonauthor.com
Keep an eye out for Karen’s next book, a prequel to Class of ’78 called Class of ’56, out in the new year through Tellwell Publishing.
